After my last editor’s note, I realised that it might seem that I do not like cats, or think they do not make good pets, which is simply not true. Yes, I am a dog person, and do prefer dogs as pets, but, I am in actual fact a huge animal lover, and do get along with most of the citizens of the animal kingdom.
I have always been a huge fan of Garfield, the lazy, lasagna-scoffing, Monday-loathing cat, and more recently, became quite a fan of Grumpy Cat as well. I have also been in the position to share my living space with a real-life cat, leading me to believe, yes, cats are cool, too!
And, even though it is said that dog is man’s best friend, a cat lover knows (and will tell you!) that this isn’t accurate, because cats can also be our best friends, from sweet snuggles at night to head bumps and kneading during the day.
The bonds formed with these fuzzy fur babies are truly deep and long-lasting, and this is why I did some research to find some absolutely purr-fect reasons to have a cat. (Or, if you want to be a little more accurate, purr-fect benefits to being owned by a cat!)
• They love you with rapt adoration, which is evident when they are curled up in your lap, gazing up at you with the most loving look in their little kitty eyes.
• If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping, you might not have realised that all you needed was a purring cat, which can be more comforting than a white noise device.
• Some cats have an uncanny way of realising when you’re sick; and will stay by your side until you feel better.
• Even though they are solitary creatures, they love to play. It can be fun to grab a toy mouse, a feather wand, or a cat laser toy and take your cat on a “hunt” around the house.
• You don’t have to worry about killing bugs, spiders, and other crawly critters; your cat will take care of them long before you need to! (But watch out! They may also leave the creepy crawlies as presents for you to show their love.)
• Cats are great at providing entertainment, and this is doubly true if you have two! They will chase each other around, have mock fights, and sometimes even do their own versions of hide and seek.
• They inspire you to watch the most ridiculous internet videos. Let’s be honest; the longer you have a cat, the more you want to learn about cats. But this inevitably leads to watching videos about cats. And there are some really “special” cat videos out there.
WATCH:
• They make great companions, and love to snuggle in your lap and keep you company. They want to play “hunt” all around the house. Many cats will even wait at the door for you to come home!
• Believe it or not, cats can be good for your health! Petting a cat can lower your blood pressure. Some research indicates that having a cat can even lower your risk of heart disease, your risk of stroke, and decrease the number of times that you have to visit a doctor.
• Not only will you see physical benefits from having a cat, but you can enjoy improved mental health, too. Animal-assisted therapy is often used as a treatment for depression. Having pets like cats can also reduce your cortisol levels, which can in turn lower your stress.
Until next week, look out for each other and stay safe …
