Cats are awesome. Admit it, anyone who âhatesâ cats is clearly suffering from a serious case of denial. After all, once you get to know a Felis catus, theyâre irresistible!
Some cats like water. Did you know that cats donât naturally hate water. Most felines freak out, not because itâs water, but because theyâre unaccustomed to the sensation. Cats have multiple layers of fur, giving them an essentially waterproof coat.
Note: My cat, Dexter, was a stray whoâs undoubtedly found himself drenched in rain. Unlike my other cat, Zeno, he purred during his one and only bath. (He had flees.)
Cats are the introverts of the Animal Kingdom. Any hardcore introverts out there? Ever been accused of not caring about someone? While dogsânatureâs extrovertâprefer to be in a pack, catsâa solitary creatureâneed some alone time throughout the day. Still, that doesnât mean a cat is incapable of love. Just search âCat ProtectsâŚâ on YouTube if youâre in doubt.
Catnip. Need I say more? Is there a dog equivalent? I donât think so! More so, each cat has their own reaction to this strange plant. Some go crazy, others roll around. Someâlike my cat, Zenoâeat it, then fall off their perch.
The purr. Used by mothers to comfort nervous kittens, cats purr throughout their entire lives. If youâre upset, some cats will purr to you. The amount of purring depends on the cat. Dexter, for example, will purr just because you looked at him. Zeno, however, makes it a challenge. (He also has different levels of purring: deep rumbles to high squeaky trills.)
Cats are self-sustaining. Someone once told me that if you leave a cat in the country, itâll hunt. If you do it with a dog, however, itâd starve. While I hope this isnât true, thereâs something to be said for cats. Growing up, I had a cat named Buster (whom we called âGabooâ.) Even though declawed, he still managed to climb trees, hunt squirrels, and kick the fluff out of any stray cats unfortunate enough to underestimate his awesomeness. Simply put, cats are survivors.
Things my cats have taught meâŚ
Perseverance. Cats have a hard time with the concept of âNoâ. Simply put, if they want something, theyâre going to find a way to get it. A closed door? Ha! Clearly, youâve never heard of cats that can open doors.
The importance of body language. Youâve probably heard that the only reason cats meow is because humans donât understand cat-talk. Did you also know that cats have a complex system of non-verbal language? My favorite is the slow blink. Imagine saying, âI love you.â Blink on âloveâ. If you do this with your cat, theyâll often blink backâshowing their trust and love.
Comfy is key. Have I bribed my cats into favoring my room above others? Of courseâcats also teach you to play dirty at times. A heated blanket is key. Not only will your cat love it, but you will too!