I guess it is inevitable that when you adopt a baby cat into a house with a dog, the cat is going to pick up on some canine-like behaviour. The other night after I had dinner, I retired to my bed to lay down, watch some Korean TV, and cuddle with my kitten. She climbed up onto my neck and commenced on licking my entire face with her rough, sandpaper-like tongue. It really started to hurt as she got to sensitive areas like my upper lip, but I didn't stop her because it was soooo cute and dog-like of her. Even Keiko doesn't lick faces anymore.
When she wants to be all energetic, she'll mount Keiko (the way Mimzy does) and bite her everywhere she can reach. She'll bite her bum and her back, but mostly she enjoys going after the paws and legs. She'll dig her claws into Keiko's fur, so even if Keiko stands up or re-adjusts positions, the cat is still clinging to her like some weird black growth. I don't think Keiko can feel anything because she just sits there looking at me in this sad pathetic dog-look way. It is ever so cute.
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The animal situation here is one of the saddest things to see, making it one of the hardest things I had to adjust to. My first week here, I took Keiko for a walk and it was clear to me that I would be the only dog owner walking her dog. Dogs we met on the way really just shattered my heart. They were filthy, anorexic-ly thin, and chained up, tethered to a tree or a dog house. The chains are normally a meter long, some are shorter. The dogs have nowhere to move, except stand up, take two steps, shit, and lay back down. These dogs eat watery rice and its a rarity to find water for them anywhere in sight. These images were the only time when I thought I would hate it here and I missed home. But not to be dramatic, I'm pretty over it now. Well, I avoid going to see these animals for sure. Keiko also gets nervous around them, they don't give off the happy energy she is used to.
I guess I cant judge them. Koreans aren't used to having animals as pets to care for, especially out in the country where I am. Its a shame really. I should bring my kitten into class and show the students that they are harmless and can be domesticated with the right attention and nurturing. And the kids here just need the right knowledge. I do think things are looking up though, and hopefully progression will turn this into an animal loving country in the future.
The experience has also made me a lot less judgemental when I see video clips of babies hanging around tigers in Indian homes, or when the late Steve Irwin dangles his baby in front of an ancient crocodile.
People here react to tiny dogs that way, like they are hundred pound beasts, but its only because they don't know any better. Maybe education is the first step to changing animal rights.
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