"It is impossible for a lover of cats to banish these alert, gentle, and discriminating friends, who give us just enough of their regard and complaisance to make us hunger for more"

Agnes Repplier’s words capture the paradoxical allure of cats, creatures both subtle and enigmatic in their expressions of affection. Lovers of cats are keenly aware of the profound attachment that grows through the animals’ unique blend of reservations and tenderness. The impossibility to banish them arises not only from fondness but also from the intricate relationship cats encourage, one that is built on respect, patience, and seduction. Repplier labels cats as “alert, gentle, and discriminating friends,” underlining the undeniable intelligence and sensitivity these animals display. Their presence is never intrusive, always measured, yet consistently significant.

Cats are discriminating in their affections, offering their regard to humans in doses that never satiate. They offer companionship on their terms, manifesting independence but also subtle gestures of trust, a purr, a nuzzle, an attentive gaze. These gestures, while sometimes fleeting or unpredictable, create a longing within their human counterparts. Unlike dogs, known for their eager and boundless displays of affection, cats are more reserved; it is precisely this reservation that bewitches their admirers. Their sparsity of affection transforms every headbutt and every slow blink into a carefully measured gift for which the recipient hungers.

Furthermore, Repplier alludes to a fundamental aspect of human emotion, desire is often fueled by that which is not easily obtained. Cats, through their reserved yet undeniable presence, keep their human friends enthralled, awash in anticipation for another fleeting moment of connection. The hunger for more is not just for affection but for understanding, for gaining even greater trust from the discriminating animal who has chosen the human as companion. The relationship becomes an ongoing interplay between companionable presence and the yearning for deeper interaction, sustaining the bond through curiosity and hope. Repplier’s words, thus, serve as a testament to the nuanced ways that cats enchant and endear themselves to those who love them.