10 Reasons Why Cats Make the Best Pets

This is dedicated to my lovely big boy, Joe. He was rescued from a garden in Barking, London, after his owner died and her family left him in the garden to survive on his own when they sold her house. He lived in the garden for four months, in the cold, rain and wind with no shelter. The Chestnut Cat Sanctuary took him in after a neighbour brought him there. He had cuts to his ears where he had been attacked by other cats. The sanctuary fed and watered him, they really are an extraordinary charity who give cats a second chance at life, then a month later, we came to the sanctuary and adopted him to come and live with us. He is the best pet and the best friend a girl could ever have.

1. Independence

If you are at work full time like me, it is difficult to own a dog because it would be unfair on them to be left alone all day. That is the great thing about cats; they don’t need your constant attention. If you’ve got a cat door (flap) you can just leave the house in the morning and a cat will please his or herself until you get home. Depending on your cat’s preference they may like to spend their day inside your house, or if you have a cat like mine, he is dying to get out in the garden as soon as he wakes up in the morning. If you get a cat door that has adjustable locking mechanisms, you can choose whether to let your cat go out or indeed whether to let it in the house. These mechanisms are also great for stopping unwanted cats from coming into your house and eating your cat’s dinner!

2. Intelligence

Another great thing about cats is that they are very clever and after a while will learn your daily routine. Our cat Joe is always waiting for us in the garden when we get home or he comes running out of nowhere to greet us when he sees the car pull up; and he always knocking on our door at 7:30am asking for his breakfast, which means that he doubles up as a great alarm clock when you’ve accidentally forgotten to set yours! Cats also know the sights and sounds of when they are going to be fed, no matter where they are in the house, if they hear that cupboard door opening they are there in a flash. Joe has also recently learned how to open doors and can often be found lying in a pile of my handbags in the bottom of the wardrobe.

Depending on whether your cat spends more time with you or more time with other cats, they will begin to alter their body language and vocal communication to be more in tune with their surroundings. If you have recently bought a cat from a shelter and it is very vocal (meows constantly) it is likely that they have been an indoor cat previously that has learned that people use their mouths to communicate so is trying to do the same.

3.       Cleanliness

Unlike other pets, cats don’t need a high degree of grooming. Unless you have a long haired cat, most cats will groom themselves and only require occasional brushing. Be sure that they have a good diet so that their coat stays glossy and make sure that they are wormed and protected against fleas. Cats are also naturally clean animals by their very nature which makes them good housemates, it also means that if you have a litter tray for your cat, it must be kept clean otherwise your cat will give you some very clear signs that he/she doesn’t want to use it.

4.       Affectionate

Some people have a view that cats are aggressive and spiteful animals who only think of themselves. I have heard them referred to as the ‘teenager’ of the animal kingdom. Whilst it’s true that some cats, those who have had difficult lives for instance, can develop bad habits but if you give your cat affection, treat it with respect and ensure that it understands the boundaries of living in your home, it will give exactly the same back to you. You only get out of a cat what you put in. Most cats are affectionate, loving creatures who like nothing more than a warm place to sleep, which is often your lap, and a good cuddle (much like all of us!). If you ensure that you do the above, your cat will be the most loyal companion in your life.

5.       Companionship

Just like dogs, cats can also be great companions. They will want to spend time with you and will thank you in purrs when you stroke them. In fact they purr even when they are near you. Cats get excited when you come home from being away or from work and sometimes want to chat with you (usually to tell you that their hungry).

6.       Make a House a Home

Many people have previously said that having a cat makes a house a home. If you are alone they are a comfort to have around and they never moan about what you are watching on TV so long as they can nestle down in your lap to watch. They occupy certain places in the house where they like to sleep and they can turn what was a cold room into a welcoming place just by their very presence in it. They are unobtrusive, unlike dogs, but as soon as you own a cat the house won’t feel the same if they’re not there lying on your lap, on the radiator and sometimes in the wardrobe!

7.       Affordable

No pet is cost free but healthy cats require relatively little routine medical intervention, equipment and their food can be quite cheap depending on what you buy. My advice would be not to buy a great deal more that the basics, cat litter tray, cat food and water bowl, scratching post and maybe a bed. Whenever I have bought, what look like exciting toys or cat treats, Joe has generally ignored them and preferred to play with the buttons on my jacket, or the tie strings on my bathrobe. He is also quite happy with ordinary wet and dry cat food and often turns his nose up at ‘treats’. All cats will be different but it’s best to start simple until you know your cat, their likes and dislikes.

8.       Protective

If you’re a keen gardener like me one advantage to having a cat is that other cats will generally avoid entering your garden to use it as their own personal toilet. I tried for years to stop my neighbours’ cats from digging up my bedding plants or using my cherry slate as their litter tray. I tried orange peel, citrus sprays, high pitched sound devices, padding down the soil in my borders with mesh wiring, none of these things were as effective as owning a cat who will see your garden and his/her territory to protect.

9.       Trainable

It’s not quite as easy as training a dog but you can train cats to do certain things. Most cats will be litter trained within their first three months, cats can be trained how to go through cat doors, how to open doors, not to sleep on your bed and claw your carpets. For really patient owners who have a lot of time on their hands, I have also heard that you can train a cat how to use a human toilet and flush it.......please let me know if any of you have managed this!

10.       Fun

One of the most important things about owning a cat is they are fun to be with. Each cat will have its own little personality, likes and dislikes, and quirky behaviour. They will never bore you and will often do things to make you laugh like trying to eat your dinner or chasing spiders and flies. There are a range of toys that you and your cat can play with together – other than toggles on your clothes. They will jump over and sit on the most extraordinary and uncomfortable things just to be with you. They will find interesting and unlikely places to sleep and will all look adorable when they’re curled up asleep. If you do ever decide to buy a cat or are already a cat owner you’ll understand what I mean when I say you would be lost without them.