For the Love of Pets

Many people buy a lot of stuff to demonstrate a lot of love…

I asked, “How come your cats have so many toys and beds?” Karen said, “Because I want them to know how much I love them. I feel guilty that I leave them alone all day while I’m at work.”

Karen was self-aware, gainfully employed, and had a beautiful aesthetic, yet she arranged her home around the comfort of her two gorgeous cats. The living/dining room had seven cat beds on almost all flat surfaces, including the coffee table and eating table. 127 (we counted!) cat toys were everywhere. We gathered them up in one large bowl on the floor in a corner. The room was out of balance, so we first rearranged the furniture for Karen’s comfort and removed other clutter. Happy with the results, Karen agreed to keep the climbing tower and only one blanket out for her cats.

After a few sessions, Karen realized that her cats were just fine with less stuff, and more importantly, that her new “sanctuary was holding.” No new clutter had accumulated. Only about ten cat toys were out of the bowl, which her cats got to keep. The rest of the toys and blankets were donated to a shelter. Pride replaced Karen’s embarrassment, and she invited friends over for dinner to celebrate.

I asked, “How come your dog has four beds, and you and your husband only have one?”

Laughing, Robin said, “Because I want my dog to be comfortable wherever he is.”

Robin’s intentions were good, but getting through the first floor rooms was difficult because you had to weave your way around the large beds. They took up a lot of space, and threw the rooms off balance. We talked about it, and Robin decided that her dog’s comfort was more important to her than a balanced room. “OK”, I said, “but can you let go of one of them.” That she could do. We removed the one that blocked the flow between the living room and dining room/kitchen. Just that made a big improvement to two rooms.

I asked, “How come your dog has so many different snacks, and a cabinet full of toys?”

Jill said, “Well, because he loves them all. I only buy what’s on sale. I love a bargain.”

Jill thought she needed to renovate her kitchen for more space. The cabinets were stuffed. Things were old, half used, lost in the back. She rarely finished what she had before buying more – on sale, and it was easier to buy more than to look harder. When we took everything out and sorted, she could see the sheer volume and waste for herself. We laughed while Jill picked her dog’s favorites: three toys, and three snacks. Jill began to understand that buying for love (dog and bargain) cost a lot in money, frustration and space. We moved onto human snacks and kitchen gadgets, and found the same pattern. Instead of renovating her kitchen, Jill replaced a few unproductive habits. She saved a lot of money and there was now plenty of space for what she and her dog loved and used.

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Enjoy, Laura