I’m a rescuer at heart, and when it comes to cats, I usually gravitate toward the older adults—the ones who get overlooked and have a harder time finding homes. My plan was just to visit a local adoption event. No commitments. No kittens.
Famous last words.
I was playing with one of the adoptable kittens and chatting with a volunteer. She mentioned a group of shy kittens that would be tough to place and asked if I’d ever consider a baby instead of an adult. I said sure, thinking it was a purely hypothetical question.
It was not.
She took me to the foster home, scooped up one of the shy babies, gave him a quick snuggle, and handed him to me. And that little rascal immediately melted into my arms—purring, relaxing, and placing one tiny paw on my chest like he’d chosen me.
I asked if he was always like that.
She said, “Oh, absolutely not. It took me weeks to earn that kind of trust. I’m a little jealous.”
Reader, that kitten came home with me.
He’s incredibly sweet—but he’s also full-throttle kitten crazy. Determined to be directly involved in everything I do. His name is Hobbes, and apparently he has decided that cross-training is a team sport.
First, Hobbes discovered strength training.
His favorite activities include:
Untying my shoelaces
Swatting at my hands and feet
Trying to play with my weights
Sitting on my stomach during core work (he’s hefty enough that he actually adds resistance)
Hobbes, my judgy feline assistant, giving me the “your form could use work” look.
And then, last night, he discovered yoga.
Hobbes is particularly passionate about Child’s Pose and Savasana—mostly because they involve me being conveniently close to the ground.
The moment I stretched out for Savasana, he came sprinting over, climbed onto my stomach, and settled in like I was his personal heated mattress.
Other yoga enhancements Hobbes has introduced:
Untying my shoelaces—again, always a classic
Climbing on me any time I’m on all fours
Sitting directly under me during Downward Dog and attacking the strings on my pants
Rubbing his head on my hands any time my arms touched the floor
Honestly? I choose to find it all adorable. I know he won’t be a kitten forever. (Although, truthfully, there are moments when I’m eagerly awaiting the mellowing-out years.)
Which raises the question:
Why isn’t cross-training with pets more of a trend?
Sure, there’s yoga with kittens, rabbits, and capybaras. I’ve done kitten and rabbit yoga in my own home, but I’d love to try the others someday. My animal-yoga wish list currently includes:
Baby goats
Capybaras
Otters
Don’t laugh—these all exist. I’ve seen the ads. I’ve watched the videos.
But honestly? Strength training with a kitten adds a surprising cardio component and an undeniable entertainment factor.
It’s much harder to hate a core workout when a tiny, judgmental feline is perched on your stomach, staring down at you like your personal furry fitness coach.
No comments:
Post a Comment