In 1998 I lived in a teeny, tiny studio apartment in Chicago. We’re talking like, dorm room size — I’m not even kidding. At the time only Basil and Hopper lived with me, and at that point in my life I had been smoking for 12 years. I was never a heavy smoker — just a half pack a day of Marlboro Lights, box, please. On the weekends I tended to smoke more, sometimes up to a pack-and-a-half, especially if I had a paper to write. It was my senior year of college, you see.
One day, maybe night, I took a look at my cats. Or who knows? Maybe one of them looked at me, the way Basil did when I took this picture a few days ago, and I made the horrible realization that if they ever got lung cancer, it would be entirely my fault. When I worked at an animal hospital, there was a cat who was often treated for asthma, yet his owners continued to smoke. I didn’t want to be like them. Never mind my own health; I was, and continue to be, concerned about my cats’ well-being.
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I didn’t do it cold turkey or start smoking a brand with lower tar and nicotine, like I had in the past when I made a few half-hearted attempts at quitting. Instead, I stopped smoking inside my apartment. Since my place was at the end of the corridor, I was near the fire escape and smoked out there. The most difficult time was when I was on the phone. Cordless phones are nice, aren’t they? Eventually, I quit buying (it was $2.45 a pack back then) and just bummed from my friends at school.
That was it. I don’t know how, except for my own conviction and commitment to my cats, but by November of that year I had quit. Up to a year later I occasionally had a social smoke when I was out with friends, but nothing more than that. I haven’t had one since, and Basil and Hopper, now 10 and 11, will be around a lot longer. Heh. And so will I.
I was reminded of all this when I came across Stop It! (dead link) while blog surfing yesterday. The blog is for people who want to quit smoking, and is a place to post ongoing experiences. Since it’s a community blog, you have to register to have posting privileges, but it doesn’t cost a thing. However, the blog is also a challenge. Here’s the catch: if you slip, you donate $10 to the ASPCA. How cool is that?
Angelo says: More pet pics are available for your viewing pleasure at this week’s
Friday Ark. If you post your own pets’ photos, leave them a trackback or comment and you’ll be listed there, too. And remember — they don’t limit pictures just to cats!
Friday Ark #78…
We’ll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and….? Alert: The Fri…
Thanks for the trackback
I hope both you and your cats are doing a lot better without the smoking 
That’s a great story! Very cool. Hope you and the cats have a great weekend!
I am hugely proud of you! I quit after 30 years, back in 2003 (I think). I’m sure I’ve damaged my body, but it could be worse. That cat is so cute…those eyes!
Look at that cute kitten face!
Congrats on the quitting smoking!
I remember you telling me that before when I posted about me smoking in front of my dogs.
That is a cool idea about the blog and if you slip you donate $10.00. For one of the best causes in the world to me. I love my animals
I keep telling my mother if she doesn’t stop smoking her little 3 pound Yorkshire terrier is going to die of lung disease. I’m not joking. I dont know how the poor little thing can stand it.
Hooray! Now I wish everybody else would stop, too. There do seem to be fewer and fewer of them, although we still have at least 3 people I know of at my office who smoke! I scold them occasionally (then I feel hypocritical because of my own sugar addiction! LOL).
Love that photo of Basil with his “love me!” look.
Cute cat…good job on the quitting smoking. I still do a little unfortunately…my bf really hates it.
love it, barb! i’m going to register for that site.. you know, i’ve thought about trying the whole “not smoking in my apartment” thing – i’ve just never actually done it. *sigh*
that is one handsome cat and i’m not even a cat person!
That is awesome, Barb! I, too, had my pup in mind when I quit. My aunt’s cat died of lung cancer, she didn’t even smoke! I freaked and thought how I would never forgive myself if my sweet pup died of something I could have prevented. Yay us!
That’s great that you quit smoking. I quit years ago. I had only smoked for about four years when I quit. I still miss them sometimes but I know it was the right thing to do.
What a touching story. It is so sweet you were thinking of your “babies”. It not only helped you…but them also.
My mom died of lung cancer at age 59. While she was in the hospital dying, she asked me to buy her some cigarettes. Even dying, she couldn’t stop, so I am sooo proud of you.
You did great!!! and I bet your babies are proud of you too!!
Let’s see here, I’ll be 29 on the 19th of next month, so that means I’ve been smoking for 14 years now.
I’ve tried just about every method possible to quit. All of the crap products you’ve seen on television, prescription methods, quitting cold turkey and even hypnotism. Nothing seems to work. I wish I could quit because I have noticed a difference in my breathing as of late.
Very cute!
Pets are part of the family!
What a beautiful feline. Good luck to you with your smoking. I still smoke, but not in the house. My hubby quit over 8 yrs ago, so out of respect for him and my animals I go outside. I will quit when I am ready, I’m not ready yet.