Hi Neighbor!

If you are not a “cat person,” this article is not for you.

JUST KIDDING! This article is for EVERYONE, especially the person out there who has convinced themselves they are NOT a “cat person.” I am here to sway you to the cute, fluffy side, because cats are awesome, independent creatures who just might make the perfect pet.

A few months ago, someone said to me in passing that he is not really a “cat person.” Now every time I see this person, his words pop into my head. What does that even mean? How could you not be, unless of course you are allergic, and then I genuinely feel badly for you because you will never know the joy of holding a kitten in the palm of your hand or having a senior cat curl up in your lap as you read a book.

I, on the other hand, have always been a “cat person.” I grew up in a household with a menagerie of pets over the course of my childhood:  dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, white mice from my brother’s school science experiment, and a chameleon (also my brother’s) who escaped and tried to camouflage himself as chameleons will do. As a kid, cats were my favorite, and I have been fortunate to have had one as a pet for the majority of my adult life.

Cats are cool; there is no doubt about it. Cats clamor and claw and crawl around like mini versions of their ancestors, the BIG cats. They show slight indifference to almost everything, they create chaos in their wake, and they behave like rambunctious children on a rainy day. But…they also tucker themselves out quickly and frequently, thus napping for a good portion of the day and making the chaos they created forgivable. 

Cats are cute; there is no doubt about that either. They are soft and cuddly and purr affectionately when they are happy and content, which is mostly when they have their little faces pressed up against you. They chase their tails when they are kittens, are extremely curious (NOTE: Curiosity has never killed a cat on my watch!) and are willing to offer unconditional affection but on their own terms.

Those Nine Lives everyone talks about? Yeah, I think it is true. I have had cats fall out of windows (they always land on their feet), bring various creatures from the outdoors to my back door including mice, birds, and the occasional snake (all species were kept outside), and get inadvertently locked in a closet or outside overnight yet live to tell.

If my brief endorsement still has not convinced you that you too can be a “cat person,” here are my Top Five Reasons Why Cats Make Great Pets:

Number 5:  Cats are independent. You can leave them all day at home alone and they will fend for themselves. Will they miss you? Sure, but they will survive. Heck, if you leave food out, you might even be able to make a weekend of it. That is independence.

Number 4:  Cats are self-sufficient. See Number 5 above. Plus, they bathe themselves and do not need to be walked. Enough said.

Number 3:  Cats love to be photographed. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. I love to take pictures of my cats and send them to my adult children because cats are so darn cute! They are always doing something adorable, even if it is simply sleeping. 

Number 2:  Cats’ love is unconditional. Sure, they can be stand-offish; it is their modus operandi. But they get it. You are their meal ticket, and they will not forget that simple gesture. They will wind their way around your legs in adoration and follow you from room to room just to be noticed. Underneath the steely stare is a smile – for real – reserved just for you.

Number 1: Cats are entertaining, lovable fur balls. With little to no effort, they will amuse you, especially on your worst day. Should a fly find its way indoors, well, that will keep your feline occupied – and you entertained – for hours. They will find their way into your heart quite easily.

No, these furry domesticated pets do not even have to try hard to be loved and to return love. They are good for the soul. And that, my “cat person,” is pretty darn cool.

Purrfectly peaceful,

Jackie