I love cats. My cats are my babies, and my admiration has grown throughout the years. In fact, it's been a process getting to the place where I am today, so without further ado, I present to you: the 10 stages of being a crazy cat lady

1. You simply see a cat.

You admit that they're cute. They're fluffy and tiny and, don't lie, you want one...or four.

2. You look up cats on social media.

Look on the various Instagram cat tags and profiles. Look up cats on Tumblr. You Google pictures of cats. You start to follow a bunch of cats on Instagram and Tumblr. Why hold back when they're there? They're just waiting for you to follow them.

3. You look into getting a cat.

How much would it cost to buy one and everything they would need? Am I financially stable enough? Can I stomach changing their litter? Can I love it forever? Of course. The answer is always yes.

4. You buy cat things.

Oh, look at this cute cat notebook. LOOK! A cat mug! You have to have it. Suddenly, your last paycheck went to buying necessities and things with cats on them.

5. You buy a cat.

You go to an animal shelter. You are surrounded with a million of the cutest cats. It's a hard decision. You've been waiting for this moment, and you have saved your money to give a good home to a cat. Eventually, you come across one that absolutely suits your lifestyle.

6. You buy another cat.

Your sweet kitty needed a playmate. Duty calls, and you must go get another cat so that your first cat can have a friend. Common curtesy, right?

7. You start an Instagram for your cats.

Follow ingridthekittybutt on Instagram. It happens. She's cute.You start to wonder if it would be too much to make a Facebook account for the kitty?

8. You buy another cat.

Your other two kitties needed another playmate! I mean, look at that little face. Oh, looks like someone shared a post about a cat needing a good home...and it's so cute. You know what to do and you know you'll love it. It's okay, message them.

9. All of your t-shirts have cat graphics. You buy prints and mugs and things, too.

My mother buys me cat toys, cat plush toys, cat socks, etc. She knows me. You can't help it! It's all too cute. Look! This one looks like my cat!

10. You accept that you are the crazy cat lady that you were warned about.

And that's okay. These creatures need a home, and what better way to give back to the world. Recycle, conserve water, give a kitty a home. Embrace your inner cat lady and accept that you just want all of the kitties in a little basket and you want to take care of as many as you can. It's okay to scream as you see a cat on campus because it is so darn cute. I've been there too. Let's start a club.

Overall, cats are the best, and even if you say you don't like them, you know deep down you really do. So recognize the stages, embrace your inner crazy cat lady, and go adopt a cute kitty!