Friday, November 11, 2011

Top Ten Reasons to Love a Cat

By Julia Williams

Ah, to love a cat. What’s not to love, really? Well for starters, there are those nights when you get up to use the bathroom and your bare feet step in something squishy. I don’t love my cats all that much in that moment. And then there are those days when they are naughty for no other reason than because they just want to see how red your face can get. But other than that, there are plenty of reasons to love a cat. One that won’t make my list, however, is the oft-used “they give you unconditional love.” I’m pretty sure my cats have at least one condition, which is that they be fed regularly. If I withheld their food for very long, I’m thinking they’d give their love to a neighbor without so much as a backward glance at me. But I digress. Here are my top 10 reasons to love a cat.

10. Cats are such good little helpers around the house. They keep the tub from getting water spots by licking it dry right after you shower. They make sure any crumbs that fall to the floor never need to be swept up. They help you decorate by re-arranging your knickknacks. They keep the coffee table free of clutter, and they make sure your bookshelf is always dusted (with a built in duster no less!). 

9. Cats are always willing to give fashion advice. Case in point: the hilarious feline ‘Catfoodbreath’ posted my favorite tweet ever – “I napped on your outfit to keep you from leaving the house looking like someone who didn’t own a cat.” Having a cat also serves as a deterrent to wearing drab black too often. (Black pants are THE biggest fashion faux pas if you have a cat!).

8. Cats are remarkably self cleaning. There are very few good reasons to give your cat a bath, and considering how they react to being submerged in water, it’s not something you should be doing anyway.

7. Cats help you accessorize your furniture. They graciously make sure the couch is always covered in cat hair so that when your visitors leave, they take about half-a-cat’s worth of hair home with them on their behind.

6. Cats help you lose weight by stealing food from your plate. They usually do this right in front of your nose, which serves to remind you that you shouldn’t really be eating all of that food anyway.

5. Cats make sure you never, ever forget what it feels like to be embarrassed! I still cringe when I recall the time my friend emerged from my bathroom with a look of horror and said, “There’s some kind of dead animal in there.” I didn’t need to look to know what it was. My cats are such giving souls they frequently leave these types of “presents” for me.

4. Their purr motor makes a great “white noise machine” that can lull you to sleep like nobody’s business. And a kitty head-bonk can make you feel better no matter what ails you.

3. Cats make great, energy efficient bed-warmers on a cold winter night. Who needs an electric blanket when you can have cats plastered to both sides of your body? Honestly, the serious body heat these tiny creatures can generate never ceases to amaze me!

2. Cats provide thousands of jobs for people in the Carpet Cleaner industry. In fact, one of my worst nightmares is opening the cupboard to discover that my favorite spot cleaner is almost gone. Nothing prompts a trip to Target more than an empty bottle of Folex!

1. And the Number One reason to love a cat? Because they love you back! No, not unconditionally…they do have that one demand I mentioned early. But keep that food bowl filled with FELIDAE, and you’ll have a never-ending source of love, healing head-bonks and purrs.

Photo by Jonathan Crowe

Read more articles by Julia Williams

25 comments:

  1. We loved this list, it was great. The mom says there are times that while she loves us very much, she doesn't like us much. Okay, okay, she only said that to Nicki. Ha.

    The mom never was a "cat" person, though. Cats were barn mousers when she was growing up. It was only in her late 30s, when she adopted "angel" Chumley, that she really began to appreciate their companionship. :-)

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  2. Great top ten list, Julia! I especially love numbers four, three and one! :)

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  3. They keep us humble, too...at least mine do; they are always ready to point out some character flaw--lack of scooping, attention, fudz, petting, play...the list goes on and on!

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  4. That was so wonderful, and all ten are important!!! Have a purrfect weekend!

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  5. Those are some mighty good reasons and we totally agree with all of them. I just plain like their company and the fact that they are so forgiving and they are my best friends. Great post. Have a super week end.

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  6. Wonderful post! I especially like number 3 and 4.

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  7. These are 10 excellent reasons to love us! Our mom laughed particularly loud at #9 because she wears black pants a lot to work and always seems to take some of me with her!

    Wally

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  8. I take some of the Admiral with me EVERYWHERE I go. Her fur (she is long haired anyway) is pervasive.

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  9. I agree - what's there not to love? Seriously!! All people ought to come to their senses and understand what they're missing out on. People who do not love cats must for sure have been a mouse in an earlier incarnationl, lol!! Love your list - all points so recogniseable. I especially love the fact they're such great bed-warmers - yum in winter time. And ah yes, aren't they sweet the way the leave presents?! :)
    P.S. Thanks so much for your comment on GLP. It seems not really civilised the way the Greek people perceive (or treat) cats - but I'm thinking and hoping that for each person who treats cats with respect and compassion (and luckily we're a good number on this island alone) it shows a good exampelship and people actually do get inspired to do more for the cats.

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  10. Love this post! I might add that if you have a black cat (which we do) wearing black is not only a fashion statement, it is a necessity.LOL!

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  11. #7--um, YEAH!

    Dunno about all that love-stuff though.

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  12. Now I completely understand why my neighbours have so many cats!

    Great post!

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  13. Those are great Julia! Regarding number 3 - I thought I was going through menapause with all the hot flashes I was having recently. Turns out, having seven cats sleeping on top, next, or near you in bed will cause the same symptoms... who knew?

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  14. You hit the nail on the head with #8!!!!!!

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  15. Aww !!!! I'm blushing here..Can you see Red through my fur...MOL
    Me and Mom like your list. and she said Cat is the first boss, she is dying to be a good slave ...Ha..Ha..Ha

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  16. Awww these are all the reasons why I love my cats - they are so good for your health (see no.6!) !!! Yay! Take care
    x

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  17. Mommy can't go anywhere without being covered in Angel hair! Well, and Sadie hair too. :)

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  18. Loved this! It is quite similar to the guest post I had on my blog last Monday from Trupanion Pet Insurance who listed the Ten Reasons She Was Thankful For Her Cat"

    It's always interesting to read everybody else's reasons

    As they say........"Great Minds"

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  19. I totally agree on your top ten reasons to love a cat!!! WE have loved cats for as long as I have been alive!!! And dogs.....
    xx, Zoie & Fern

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  20. Uh oh, you are not making it easy for me to convince Mom that cats are the enemy...hee hee!

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  21. I totally agree with the part about me: "the hilarious feline ‘Catfoodbreath’.... and please don't forget that I am cute, too.
    -Catfoodbreath
    http://www.catfoodbreath.com/

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  22. Hi Julia, that is a great post about us cats! You have great points...we like to help out as much as we can!

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  23. Loved your list. Yeah my cats love to cuddle on a cold day:). Beats any kind of heat.

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