A cat’s guide to social distancing

Before social distancing became the lifesaving trend it is today, cats everywhere have been practicing this age-old social decorum since before the beginning of time. Over the years, like all cats, my cat Sushi has also perfected this art, and here is what I learned from her successful distancing endeavours.

Staying aloof

Sushi has a reputation for being slightly reserved and at times, unsociable. She withdraws from her surroundings and remains engrossed in herself. If someone were to interrupt her trance, she would remain unresponsive, keep her cool, and walk away. Now, no one bothers her or forces her to interact with them but leaves her to her own mysterious imaginations and meditation.

It may be difficult for us to master the art of aloofness in such a short time, but behaving socially reluctant and being consumed by our own thoughts is a start.

Self-appreciation

We often crave attention from others to feel like we belong, to feel appreciated. This need for validation and approval pushes us to interact with others. However, Sushi is not like that. She knows her worth and loves herself dearly. She does not need to constantly hear how adorable and pretty she is from us, she already knows it. She enjoys her own company and enjoys learning about herself in her own fortress of solitude, teaching us the value of spending time with ourselves.

Self-entertainment

During social distancing, keeping ourselves occupied is challenging. When I look at Sushi, I see how she finds joy in the littlest of things. Chasing bugs, climbing the curtains, playing with paper balls, staring into the abyss — are some of the activities Sushi enjoys on her own. Such activities might be mundane to us, but reading books, painting, playing video games, learning to cook or a new craft, watching cartoons and sitcoms are good ways to keep ourselves entertained.

When she does want some attention, she simply knocks something over. Not for validation or physical contact, but to entertain herself in her destructive ways and to show her human how moronic it is to seek joy among others.

Knowing when to surface

One might lock themselves in their rooms to socially distance themselves. At some point, they must come out of hiding. But which moment is the right moment to show yourself?

Sushi tends to go missing, hiding in corners and tiny spaces for hours. It remains a mystery what this cat does and where she goes, but she always reappears at the most crucial times, lunch and dinner!

Yes, Sushi only surfaces when she knows she is going to be fed and when no one will bother her. Years of observation has given her a profound idea of her human's daily routine.

What we can take away from this is getting out of the house or interacting with others should be done based on necessity. Getting groceries and medical supplies. Leaving one's room only to eat, like Sushi, is a little extreme, but nevertheless a good way to socially distance yourself.

Distancing tactics

Sometimes, even if we are socially distancing ourselves, people around us behave like human magnets. It becomes difficult to avoid interactions at close proximity. Sushi has effective ways to avert any kind of interaction, which can easily be adopted by us in variations.

Sushi hisses, scratches and bites every time someone gets too close. Indeed, if we as humans did so, it would make social distancing a lot easier, but there are subtler ways. Saying "no" to social events and being 'the cousin that never shows up,' telling your friends "my mum said no" when they insist on coming over or going out to catch-up.

Sushi's social distancing principle is to find comfort within herself and in her solitude. The thought of being left to her own devices does not frighten her but rather, makes her more adventurous.

We human beings are social creatures, but for now, when social distancing is a necessity, we ought to look at these innocent furry animals and take away some things from their way of living. Maybe they have always been the superior ones, while deceiving us with their helpless act. No wonder there are statues of them littered all over Egypt.

Photo: Sania Aiman