With online classes, I find myself staring at my computer screen for most of the day. As my back is facing my doorway, sometimes I get the feeling that someone’s watching me. More often than not, someone is: four legs, giant ears, pink nose, fluffy tail and all. While it’s difficult for us students and our instructors to continue to make the transition, those of us with furry friends know all too well the feeling of being stared down for directing our attention elsewhere. After all, certainly in my case, it is their house and their rules.
With their unspoken rules, it’s hard for my cats to grasp the concept of online classes. After being sent home in March to finish out the Spring Semester and most of us beginning this Fall Semester remotely, I have certainly been around enough to impede their otherwise normal routine. It’s easy for us to understand that while this might not be the favored form of taking classes, it is without a doubt the safer one. For our pets, however, remote learning and working from home as an entirety have surely thrown a loop in their home alone schedules that we can only imagine.
From the eyes of my cats, what would usually be watching me gather a few things to leave the house and return later, has turned into watching me really only leave my bed to sit at my desk. They watch me sit there for hours, wondering what I have to be doing that could possibly be more important than their full attention ... only when they want it, of course. All of the noises and mixtures of different voices blaring out of my computer disturb what normally would be their silent house. Their schedule has completely changed, and they pay no mind to the fact that mine has, too.
Classes with specific meeting times via Teams or Zoom have been the greatest difficulty in this alteration of my cats’ schedules. During this time, there is no greater desired place for my cats to be than right on my desk in front of the camera or sprawled on top of my keyboard, causing obvious disruptions. Pets are surely and hopefully happy to have us around, but they are not as stoked about the idea of scheduled times where we humans are occupied.
On one hand, the added attention with being home that I am always happy to give makes my cats happy. On the other hand, I am able to feel my unwanted presence when interrupting a nap by making lunch. Whether or not I am necessarily happy about my current online situation, I am able to stay rest assured that my cats probably are not thrilled either way.
Lauren Patterson is a sophomore studying journalism. Please note that the views and ideas of columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Lauren? Tweet her @lpaatt.
