Charles Dickens once pondered, “What greater gift than the love of a cat?” Often, cats get a bad reputation. Cats are (falsely) marked as snooty, aloof, and just plain mean. However, those of us who love our feline friends know them to be great companions. For those who have ever loved a cat, you know how special they can become. Here are just a few reasons to love a cat.
1. Cats are independent.
I'm not saying I don’t like dogs. I happen to be very fond of a well-trained dog. However, there is no denying that dogs are a lot of work. In order to maximize a dog’s potential as a good pet, its owner must rigorously train, socialize, and teach it. Not to mention, even the most well trained dogs need to be taken out regularly and exercised. That is a lot of responsibility for a young person who is moving to a new place, starting their career, and most likely living in a small apartment. For those who want a furry friend without so much stress, a cat is the perfect choice. Cats clean themselves, are potty trained, and don’t need any exercise beyond the attention you give them through playing with them. Cats are a smart choice for those who don’t want their entire life to revolve around their pet.
2. Cats are loving.
Often, those who are not fond of cats say they're bad pets because they are aloof and couldn't care less about their owners. As someone who has had cats their entire life, I have found that people who make this statement often have never spent time around a cat. Sure, if you go to your friend’s house every once in a while and said friend happens to have a cat, most cats aren’t going to be all over you. Cats hide in the presence of strangers because that’s their way of assessing if the stranger is 1) going to hurt them or 2) is even worth their precious time that could otherwise be used doing more productive things like ripping newspapers apart or contorting their furry little bodies into the smallest box they can find. However, once a cat learns to trust and befriend a person, they can be just as loving as any other animal. Whenever I come home for break, my cats are just as happy to see me as any of their canine counterparts would be when being reunited with their person, minus almost being knocked over and having fur all over me just from being in the same room as them.
3. Cats are useful.
Sure, many animals are useful. However, for a house pet that was not gotten for a use beyond companionship, cats pull their weight around the house. A cat’s natural instinct is to hunt, and if they get the chance to hunt, they will. At some point, all homes will get a mouse in the basement. Instead of spending money and time trying to get the mouse out, cat owners can leave the job to their furry friend. A cat doesn’t even need to be trained in pest control—they just do it. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty awesome that cats will do a job for free (well, maybe for some attention and treats) that you would otherwise need to pay a person $50 an hour to preform.
4. Cats live awhile.
One of the huge downsides about having any pet is the fact that most animals have very short lives compared to us humans, and we will have to say goodbye to them before too long. An average, well-taken care of cat can easily live for over 15 years. In the grand scheme of things, 15 years is not really that much longer than the 9-10 a dog might live, but the fact is, every extra year we get to spend with our pets is a blessing. One of my cats lived for 17 good and healthy years, and he became as much a part of our family as any of the humans in our house. When he finally did pass, I was so thankful for every year I spent with him.
5. Cats are economic.
Obviously, being a responsible pet owner means spending some money making sure your animal is spayed or neutered, getting their shots and health maintained, eating appropriately, and playing with a vast assortment of toys. However, beyond these basics, cats require almost no cost. A basic house cat grooms itself, meaning no expensive trips to the groomer and no money spent on special soaps and shampoos. If you’re going away on vacation, cats don’t need much supervision. They just need someone to check in on them every few days. When it comes to toys, cats will make anything into a toy. You don’t need to spend money to entertain them. Even getting a cat is cheap. Since there are so many cats in need of a home, a lot of people give away free kittens, and shelters will only charge adopting families to spay or neuter the animal and give them shots. Other animals can cost thousands of dollars just to get them, let alone everything else they need. For those who want a great companion without breaking the bank, a cat is the best choice.
A lot of times, cats are seen as “lesser” than other pets, particularly dogs. However, cat lovers know this could not be farther from the truth. Cats make great pets. They are loving and loyal to their owners without being overbearing. They are perfect for anyone who wants a companion without the same work as raising a child, and they won’t break the bank. In the future, when I am well established in my life, I might consider getting a dog. But for now, cats are the furry friends for me.
