The Truth About Owning Cats

Here is our tiger cat, the absolute sweetest boy

Student Essay by Isaac Wood

     When society thinks of cats, they say that cats are these vicious, mean fur-balls that hate everything, but is that truly the case? Is this stereotype of felines truly justified by their behavior? Or is it just a ruse that dog lovers use to influence future pet owners toward their preference? Hi, I am Isaac Wood, and today, I hope to open your eyes to the wonders of cats and convince you that owning them is not as cut and dry as people make it out to be. However, I can assure you that, if you follow these steps, you will be pleased with the outcome!

     Now, the first thing I want to bring up is how friendly cats are. By nature, domesticated cats are actually quite friendly, and will snuggle right up to humans that they trust. They can also sense when their owners are sad and will try to comfort them as best they can. Not only that, but cats are nature’s entertainers. They’re always bumbling around, playing tag with one another nonstop, and sometimes even getting into a little mischief. We’ve had 28 cats over the course of 15 years and we’ve loved every single one!

     After hearing all of this you might be thinking, “I want to get a cat right now!” Hold on a minute. There are a few things you should know before trying to get a cat, here’s the most important ones for new owners. 

1. Cats need to warm up to new environments.

     A new place is scary to a cat and they’ll probably hide for the first couple of days, but for more nervous cats this might take a few weeks! Don’t try to force yourself onto them during this phase. Just wait until they approach you first. Then calmly stroke them until they learn to trust you.

2. Let them know where home is.

     If you plan on letting your cat outside, be sure to not let them out for the first few weeks. Otherwise they might get confused on where home is and get lost. Once they have gotten used to you and your house, that’s the green light that they can explore the outdoors.

3. Cats may want to be the only pet.

     Many wildcats are territorial, and house cats can be no different. If you plan on having 2 or more cats it’s best to get them at the same time or if they are already bonded before living with you. You can adopt more cats after already owning one, but make sure to not leave them alone together until they are on good terms.

                                                                    

     One stereotype that is very true is how mischievous cats can be. It’s not uncommon for them to jump onto places you don’t want them on. Sometimes they will wake you up during awkward hours in the morning just so you can feed them. Other times  they won’t get out of your face when you’re trying to work. They’ll even knock cups off of tables and send them careening off the edge! (Got a lot of experience with that!)

Here's one of our cats on our table (she is not allowed there!)

     Although occasionally problematic, I’m sure that many a cat’s charming personality will leave you absolutely enamored. I do hope that I have given you a new perspective on these furry friends, and have given you some useful steps toward adopting a new member of your family.