One reason that cats are happier than people
is that they have no newspapers.
Gwendolyn Brooks

My happy cats.

Teddy and Jack have no interest in the newspaper. Actually, they really don’t like the newspaper. I don’t pay attention to them when I am reading the paper and doing the daily puzzles. That doesn’t exactly make them happy. And they are very good at getting my attention. Jack meows loudly and taps my legs without stop. Teddy pushes at the paper until he is in my lap and laying on the paper.

It doesn’t take long for me to stop the newspaper nonsense and pay attention to them giving them scratches and chin rubs and sweet talking them. When they are satisfied that I understand what’s important they happily go off for morning naps.

I think what makes them happy isn’t that they don’t have newspapers but that they can use the newspaper to make me remember what’s really important in the world and why Patricia’s Place is a happy place no matter what the news reports have to say. And truthfully, if it wasn’t for the puzzles, the news ain’t all that great and most days could really get me down if not for my catkids.