Cats are wonderful, adorable creatures that I love very much. The reality that I'd be leaving behind my precious kitties when I went off to college didn't really register until the first time I was in my dorm for the night. The hole in my heart grows with every thought that my babies are back at my house without me and probably not missing me nearly as much as I'm missing them (they are cats, after all).

My cats are pretty awesome, and they've never failed to make my day better by just making me smile and laugh. And, I mean, how could anyone not think cats are great?

1. Cats are Entertaining

Cats are weird. They're almost always doing strange things at odd times and sometimes they just absolutely flip shit and start performing extreme parkour around the house, or they chase the light reflecting off your phone. Not to mention, they kind of go a little nuts hunting down that pesky little red dot from a laser pointer. It's honestly the best thing to watch.

2. Cats Know How to Relax (And Help My Anxiety)

Did you know that petting a cat and listening to them purr will help calm you down? Even a few minutes with your cat will lower cortisol (a stress hormone) levels and raise serotonin (a "feel-good" hormone) levels.

When I left for college, I didn't realize just how much I relied on my cats to curb my anxiety. Now that I'm here and it's been almost a month without them around, it's getting a little hard to breath. Whether they simply curled up near me and let me pet them or actively sought out my attention, my cats always knew when I needed them and helped calm me down.

3. Cats Are Adorable

Maybe I'm a bit biased, but cats are absolutely adorable and I'm pretty sure they know it. I mean, do you see that gif?! Too cute! And while cats have a reputation for plotting the destruction of the human race, they're actually super sweet. They show their affection in adorable ways, like when they bump their little heads against your leg or hand or twine between your legs while they just give you that look that's begging for you to scratch them behind the ears and under the chin.

Adorable. Just adorable.

Okay, so maybe these aren't the greatest or most persuasive reasons as to why cats are awesome. But if you don't already think cats are awesome and adorable when you look at the goofy felines, then there might be no hope for you until you have a cat of your own. Because we all know, if you weren't a cat person already, you won't be one until you have your own cat. They're pretty magical like that.