Celebrating the Many Ways Felines Enrich Our Lives
Today is National Cat Day, and I invite you to take a few minutes to reflect upon and appreciate the unique ways your kitty offers you unconditional love and companionship.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Today, October 29th, is National Cat Day!
The purpose of this special day is to honor and celebrate cats, and remind the public of how many need to be rescued each year
Felines may be the perfect pet; they’re very adaptable to their humans’ needs and fall into step easily with the pace their guardian sets
Cats are also easy to house (litterbox) train, handle most grooming chores themselves, and can give their humans space when needed without pouting
National Cat Day was founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and author, and is celebrated each year on October 29th (August 8th in Canada) to bring awareness to the number of cats who need rescue each year, and to encourage cat lovers to celebrate the felines in their lives. From the National Today website:
“Cats remind us that just when you think they’ve lost interest in you, they’ll turn around and melt your heart.
When it appears they’re too busy staring out at passing cars, chasing nylon mice, and sending tiny multi-colored balls to their under-the-refrigerator graves, they’ll somehow let you know that their very world revolves around you. Just wait. It’ll happen when you least expect it. Cats have their own timetable.”1
Like dogs, cats feel everything their humans do. They sense our moods and emotions — and act accordingly. Feline family members often give up many of their natural instincts and behaviors to cohabitate peacefully with us, so I encourage you to take a few minutes today on National Cat Day to appreciate the unconditional love and companionship they offer.
Why Felines May Be the Perfect Pets
Interestingly, unlike dogs, cats follow their owner’s lead when it comes to how much involvement they have with each other.2 For example, some cat owners prefer a lot of interaction with their pet; others don’t have much time to devote or simply prefer less interaction.
Kitties are quite adaptable to their humans’ needs in this regard and fall into step easily with the pace the owner sets. They do this without complaint, and their independent self-sufficient nature helps them get along without a need for the same level of interaction their canine counterparts demand.
Research also shows that when a cat interacts with her human, she can discern whether her owner is sad or anxious. She then reacts by increasing her communication signals — perhaps rubbing against the owner more aggressively or meowing loudly. This strong reaction is obvious to the cat owner. It’s comforting to know a loved one, whether on two legs or four, has noticed you don’t feel well and shows concern for your welfare.
In a 2007 study,3 researchers demonstrated that cats form attachments to their owners similar to the way infants attach to their mothers (or fathers). When their humans were in the room with them, the kitties in the study were more relaxed and willing to explore an unfamiliar environment.
5 More Reasons Cats Make Great Pets
Housebreaking takes about a minute — Just tuck a litterbox with clean litter in an out-of-the-way spot in your home, and voila! Fluffy is fully housetrained!
You don’t have to give up being a clean freak — No need to worry about a dirty, smelly kitty rolling around on your carpet or your furniture. Healthy felines keep themselves clean from head to toe.
No guilt trips — Unlike your dog who will drop his tail and look at you with a forlorn expression when you can’t stop what you’re doing to play with him, if you need to put your kitty off for a bit, she’ll wander away, not seeming to mind. You’ll find her later stretched out contentedly in her favorite napping spot.
Have carrier, will travel — Most kitties don’t relish trips in the car or visits to the vet, but if you have a cat carrier, it’s a whole lot easier to move an unwilling, anxious 12 pound cat than an uncooperative 50 or 60 pound pooch.
You can stay warm, even in the dead of winter — As most folks owned by cats can attest, there’s nothing that compares to the coziness of a kitty curled up in your lap, or wrapped around your neck, or perched atop your head as you recline in your favorite easy chair — or stretched out down the length of your legs as you fall asleep in bed at night.
If you’re planning to add a feline to the family, please skip the pet stores and backyard breeders. Visit your local animal shelters and cat rescue organizations to find the perfect new adult cat or kitten for your family. You can also go to Petfinder.com and search available kitties in your area.
Despite their popularity as family pets, only 2% to 5% of all kitties turned in to shelters are reclaimed by their owners, and over half the cats in shelters never find new families and are euthanized. There are wonderful, deserving cats of all ages in every city and state waiting patiently for a chance to fit perfectly into a home and family of their own.
Healthypets Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. Dr. Karen Becker cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Your pet's medical protocol should be given by your holistic veterinarian.