opinion

by Silvio Sirias

Latin Americans are dog people. Overwhelmingly so.

I certainly was a dog person --- that is, until my wife introduced me to cats. Once upon a time, I used to enjoy tormenting students who were feline-lovers by proclaiming, in class, my disdain for cats. I confess that the look of horror on their faces delighted me. Now, though, I’ve seen the error of my ways.

Over the past six years, my wife and I have adopted four cats --- two in Nicaragua and two in Panama. We also have a dog, a parrot, and several love birds. Our Panamanian neighbors smile indulgently when they see how protective my wife is of our animals. I’ve heard them say that she treats them as if they were our children.

“Los gringos son locos por sus animales,” a woman once said to me in Nicaragua, not knowing that the person she was specifically referring to was my wife.

It’s a stereotype Latin Americans have about people from the states. But most folks here fully appreciate the affection Americans display toward their dogs.

Cats, on the other hand, are another matter. You rarely see them in homes. In fact, I think that my wife and I are the only cat owners on the entire block. Here, cats have a utilitarian purpose: many of the families that own one keep it as a safeguard against rodents. What’s more, popular belief dictates that cats need to be kept underfed; otherwise they’ll neglect their duties as pest-controllers.

Living in a society that places little value on cats as companions makes it difficult for those of us who own indoor ones --- especially when it comes to buying kitty litter. Few stores carry this essential product. What’s worst, they are often out of stock. Because of this, my wife and I are always on the prowl for kitty litter, and when we do find the precious commodity we buy the entire lot.

“How many cats do you have?” the clerks sometimes ask.

“Four,” we answer.

“That’s a lot of cat food for only four cats.”

It would be pointless to explain, believe me. We’ve tried.

Still, in spite of the bother, I’ve become a cat person. (And I continue to love dogs as well --- it’s one of the benefits of having a liberal education.) I’ve bonded with my feline clan, and I have learned to take pleasure in their refined, sophisticated company.

Nevertheless, I do wish that being a cat lover would come with less stress. As it is, I find myself often worrying if there’s going to be yet another kitty litter shortage in Panama next month.

Silvio Sirias is the author of the novel Bernardo and the Virgin (Northwestern University Press, Latino Voices Series) as well as of other books on US Latina and Latino literature.  He resides in Panama.  For more information you can visit his website at http://www.silviosirias.com