Why Do Cat Lovers Love Cats?

What could make a cat lover happier than celebrating Happy Cat Month, with 30 days devoted to their favorite furry friends? And while it may be just a coincidence, it appears that someone out in cyber space has discovered my predilection for kitties, since all of a sudden my email box is bursting at the seams with lots of wonderfully interesting feline-related photos, stories and articles.

And since it was just a few days ago that we featured a blog item about Happy Cat Month (which mentioned the variety of things which will keep our beloved cats smiling), I ran across another delightful article about why cats make great pets posted on the CATalyst Council’s web page. After reading the article, I started thinking about why there are so many felinophiles abounding. Speaking from purrsonal experience, I will attempt to numerate some of the reasons why we love cats.

As far as this writer is concerned, nothing trumps feline entertainment. Our two Oriental Shorthairs have an extensive assortment of toy mice (the safe variety) at their disposal. I love watching them carry them around the house (often making funny little murmuring sounds), stalking them from behind a chair, then tossing them up in the air, catching them and on occasion, even offering them up as a special gift.  And even though the mice are often soggy and limp from being toted from room to room, I always feel deeply honored.

I completely agree with what CAT Stanley said about cats being intuitive. There is hardly a time when I am feeling blue or generally out of sorts that Sir Hubble Pinkerton, our white Oriental Shorthair, fails to find a way to get me out of the doldrums. His fabulous sense of humor is so contagious that generally within minutes my mood lifts and I am feeling better. Sometimes I wonder if he is genetically related to the Cheshire cat, because Sir Hubble Pinkerton actually smiles. His genuine concern along with his frequent eye blinks (which translate in the feline language to kitty kisses) just melts my heart. How in the world could anyone resist this feline’s charms?

Another reason for loving cats is that they are so intelligent. When our two are not eating or curled up together on the couch resembling spoons in a silverware tray, they seem to be always opening cabinets or pantry doors looking for something other than their toy mice with which to play. And I swear they can tell time because they are always right at the front door of my office, when, according to my schedule, my work is finished for the day. Dr. Hush Puppy always greets me with his “happy tail”, purring and fanning out the fur at the base of his tail.

The American Veterinary Medical Association's U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook states cats sharing their homes with humans in the United States outnumber dogs 82 million to 71 million. Can you think of any other reasons that account for the rapidly growing number of cat lovers? Share them in a comment.