Life Lessons from a Curmudgeonly Cat

The Art of Letting Go

If you want to stop being a control freak, adopt a cat.

Mister Kludde adopted us a couple of years ago. He belonged to my neighbor, who moved away, leaving him behind. I couldn’t bear the thought of him having no one to care for him, so when I moved, Mister Kludde came along too.

Mister Kludde is no cuddly lap cat. He’s a curmudgeon with a strong sense of independence. At first, he ignored me entirely and swiped at Sophie, my dog, any time she dared pass by. But over time, something remarkable happened. Sophie and Mister Kludde reached a truce, and after two years, he decided I was trustworthy too.

Here’s the thing about Mister Kludde: he does what he wants. I never know if a stroke will earn me a purr or a sharp swat. He marches to the beat of his own drum, and I’ve had to learn to let him.

A subtle truce between Sophia and Mister Kludde

In letting Mister Kludde be who he is, I discovered something unexpected: he knows what’s best for him better than I ever could. I stopped trying to control when he should come, go, nap, or eat. Instead, I adopted a simple mantra: “up to you.” I didn’t worry about him.

This practice of letting be—of releasing control—didn’t stay confined to my relationship with Mister Kludde. It started spilling over into other areas of my life and other relationships. When I catch myself thinking I know best, I remember him. People, like cats, know themselves better than I do. It’s not my job to push my agenda or interfere.

Mister Kludde has reminded me that everyone is responsible for their own decisions. By letting him be, I’ve learned to let others be too. And in doing so, I’ve found more peace—for them and for myself.

You never know where your teachers will find you. In my case, my furry friends have been some of my best teachers.