Cat Woman
The Cat Woman
Flowers
“My, what lovely violets,” said Sanura. We had stopped to admire the carefully planted flowers on a small terrace at the front of a shopping area. “Look at these blossoms; their colours are so vivid.”
Just then….out of nowhere…a cat leapt onto the terrace and made its way towards Sanura, still fixated on the flowers.
Mostly black with patches of white on its feet, chin and throat, it walked right up to her—and smooched her elbow.
“AAAHHH!”
Jolted, the cat darted off the terrace and ran off.
Speechless
“WHY didn’t you WARN me?!?” Sanura nearly shouted after regaining her composure.
“Well…I was too stunned by what had taken place,” I replied. “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was so…UN-real. It left me completely speechless.”
Truth be told…I wasn’t about to interrupt the unfolding drama. I still though my eyes had been playing tricks on me. It was as though Sanura and that stray cat had been intimate friends since…child and kittenhood.
So Sanura hadn’t been joking after all.
Attraction-Repulsion
She had told me on numerous occasions how cats and dogs seemed to gravitate towards her. Equally mysterious was the absolute dread she felt towards them.
The usual scenario unfolded as follows: we would be walking down the street. A dog, either a stray or a pet out for a walk with its owner, would approach us from the opposite direction.
I would suddenly feel my arm put under vice grip. Simultaneously Sanura positioned herself behind me and the oncoming canine, as though it a wild beast and I a shield.
Often it would be a poodle or terrier.
Grandmother’s Cottage
Apparently the root cause of her phobia went back to her early, formative years (age four). It took place during a visit to her grandmother in the countryside.
She and her grandmother had gone out for a walk in a nearby field.
As Sanura gathered wildflowers, admiring their bright colors and scent…she suddenly felt something brush against her.
Sanura let out a scream — and dashed into her grandmother’s arms.
“Oh, now sweet dear,” said her grandmother hugging and comforting her. “That’s just my darling. You have nothing to fear.”
It did, nevertheless, leave a lasting impression on her.
Ever since that moment, Sanura had been terrified of cats. And dogs. Indeed anything with fur no matter how cute and cuddly they might be to everyone else.
But in an odd twist, these creatures, in turn, are attracted to her.
Botanical Gardens
Once again I had the chance to witness this phenomenon.
During a teacher’s outing after some big exams, our entire school staff, some 30 in all, went to a botanical garden.
After a leisurely stroll and a picnic, we all sat down under some trees and relaxed.
Some time later…out of nowhere…a calico emerged. It walked about the maze of teachers and eventually made its way — to Sanura.
As she conversed with to a colleague, the cat then began rubbing itself against her leg.
Sanura shrieked.
Everyone roared with laughter
Everyone, that is, except for the biology teacher. “Animals can somehow detect certain ‘vibrations’ that emanate from living organisms,” he explained. “With you it’s literally a case of animal magnetism.”
Tappings
Finally, fed up with her lot, and at the recommendation of a colleague, Sanura went to an expert who claimed to be able to eliminate phobias.
After some 45 minutes of some funny tapping procedure….it was GONE!
The expert then took Sanura over to a neighbour’s who happen to have a cat. As they sat down on the living room sofa, the neighbour then brought out an orange tabby and approached Sanura.
To Sanura’s own astonishment, she experienced no adverse reactions whatsoever.
She even found herself taking hold of the cat, placing it on her lap, and began patting and stroking it. “Nice kitty,” Sanura said sweetly.
A few second later, the cat jumped off and ran out of the living room.
1. Sanura had a pet dog. True or false?
2. Sanura was afraid of cats and dogs because she though they would bite or scratch her. Yes or no?
3. Were cats equally afraid of Sanura?
4. Why did almost all the other teachers laugh? Why didn’t the biology teacher laugh?
5. Did Sanura’s condition remain the same?
A. Do you or your friend have any phobias? If yes, what are they?
B. What may be the cause of phobias?
C. Can phobias be cured?
D. Do you have any problems giving a talk or speech in front of an audience?
E. Do you or your friend have any pets? If yes, what are they?
F. Some doctors recommend that the elderly keep pets. Why?
G. Are there stay cats and dogs in your area?
