Since JOJO came into my life, I have embarked on the path of scientific cat – raising. I began to study comprehensively by buying books and consulting professional cat experts, delving deep into the characteristics and personalities of different cat breeds. Through this process, I’ve gained a profound understanding of JOJO, my Thai cat, which is often mistaken by the public as a Siamese cat.
Thai cats have distinct and unique personalities. They are cheerful and active, seemingly with boundless energy, constantly exploring every corner of the house. JOJO’s intelligence is truly astonishing. It’s eager to learn and highly curious, showing great interest in everything new around it. When I first brought it home from the rabbit cage, I thought it would hide under the sofa due to the unfamiliar environment, like many other cats. However, it confidently jumped onto the sofa and fell asleep on my lap, showcasing its remarkable adaptability. Compared with the Shandong Linqing Lion Cat and the tortoiseshell cat at home, JOJO’s intelligence stands out, which deeply attracted me to the Thai cat breed. My initial thought that its “black face” was inauspicious has long vanished, and now I find its black – faced appearance uniquely charming.
However, as time went by, especially after I started operating a pet store and our family grew to include more cats, some of JOJO’s “little flaws” as a Thai cat gradually emerged. The Thai cat’s love for escaping and longing for freedom are vividly demonstrated in JOJO. From my experience, many Thai cat owners share similar concerns, with these little fellows having a staggering escape rate of over 90%. JOJO is a frequent “escape artist.” The most terrifying incident occurred on the sixth day of the Chinese New Year in 2016, when it jumped from the 12th – floor kitchen balcony, resulting in a broken wrist bone. Looking at the photos of its treatment, my heart ached with distress and helplessness.
JOJO also exhibits the Thai cat’s strong jealousy. When the fourth cat, a British Shorthair Blue named Pangpang, joined our family, JOJO urinated and defecated on my bed for three consecutive days to get my attention. Even now, whenever it’s unhappy, it marks its territory in the doghouse, using this way to remind me to pay more attention to it. Facing JOJO’s actions, I’ve felt angry and frustrated at times, but mostly, I understand and tolerate it. Because I know these are the characteristics of a Thai cat, its unique traits.
Some may ask, what’s the difference between Thai cats and other breeds? In fact, choosing a cat is like looking for a life partner. Everyone has their own preferences when choosing a partner, whether they prefer someone thin or fat, outgoing or introverted, talkative or quiet. The same applies to choosing a cat. When we decide to bring a cat home and make it a part of our family, it must meet certain expectations in our hearts. My encounter and companionship with JOJO are precisely because of its unique personality, which attracted me and made me willing to accept and love it, flaws and all, after understanding its strengths and weaknesses. “What kind of person raises what kind of cat.” Perhaps it’s because we see something in the cat that resonates with us that we embark on this wonderful cat – raising journey, writing our own warm stories in mutual companionship.
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