June 7, 2018 Back Home

Being a Cat Parent: The Benefits and Realities

What’s it actually like to be the proud owner of a cat? Well, first you must admit that the cat owns you not the other way around. And, if you’re expecting a cat to act the total opposite of a dog, you should know that’s only true to a point. Cats can be just as vocal and rambunctious as dogs, but they’re usually a bit cleverer about it.

3 BENEFITS OF OWNING A CAT:

1. Cats make excellent companions.

Cats can read the room extremely well, and their brains process emotion very similarly to humans. This means they can tell when you’re sad, happy or angry, and they’ll often respond by either giving you your space or coming to snuggle and help you calm down.

2. They’re pretty low-maintenance.

Your cat will spend around 18 hours a day sleeping. This means there are 18 hours a day when you don’t need to worry about their well-being or if they’re destroying all of your furniture. They don’t need to be taken on walks twice a day or tied to a leash because they can expend most of their energy playing indoors.

cat parent playing with white cat under lap desk

3. They’re little balls of fun!

Playtime can get pretty intense with a cat. You never know when they might want to stop mid-pet to paw at your hand. Cats can climb high places, jump tall heights and crawl into tiny spaces – so playtime can be pretty unpredictable, which is what makes it so great.

3 REALITIES OF CAT PARENTHOOD:

1. Cats are extremely sassy.

So you were busy and ignored their request for a pet one time… they’ll give you the cold shoulder for a full day to spite you for it. They’re great at giving you the stank eye, and maybe even giving you a little smack when they think you’re being annoying – *Leave me alone, Mom.*

2. They’re smart enough to get their way.

Cats can pick up on your behavior, which means they can also try to manipulate it. They’re able to learn that if they meow enough times you’ll eventually give in and hand them a treat. They also know how to use their voices to mimic baby cries to really tug at your heartstrings.

3. They’re unbelievably picky.

You’d think a cat would be happy to get any treat but, nope! They’ll turn their nose up at anything that doesn’t fit their fancy. The litter box is an even bigger struggle because anything from location, to smell to texture could turn off your cat. Luckily, there are more options for alternative litters and superior performance litter than there used to be, so you’re bound to find one that works for you both.

Cat parenthood! It isn’t always perfect, but it is a surprising, rewarding and fulfilling endeavor. With cats, you never know what you’ll get, but you can be sure that they’ll steal your heart no matter what.