Written by Cheri-Lee Wilson
“There is the little matter of disposal of droppings in which the cat is far ahead of its rivals. The dog is somehow thrilled by what he or any of his friends have produced, hates to leave it, adores smelling it, and sometimes eats it…The cat covers it up if he can…” – Paul Gallico
Cats…most of us hate them, some of us love them and then there exists the elite who understand them. If you really spend enough time with cats you’ll come to realize that these fickle felines operate on a different level than your average domestic pet as the above quote illustrates so well. Shockingly, they actually appear quite human in their mannerisms and outlooks. At times that we do find ourselves getting frustrated with these cunning cats, it is simply because we do not understand this fundamental fact; Cats have perfected the art of domestication long before us. Humans do not keep cats, if they find us useful they might decide to keep us.
The easiest way to decide whether a cat is the right pet for you is to weigh up the pros and the cons.
Pros: Well suited to small spaces provided it is an enriching environment
No more “poop-scooping”
They don’t bark excessively
Gone are the days of moronic blank hazy eyes when talking to a cat
Hours of great entertainment
Pest control deluxe model with extra features
Brutal honesty, a quality that most of our closest friends are still perfecting
Cats will definitely NOT eat you out of the house
Top-notch self-grooming skills so you don’t have to smell like wet dog
A cat takes itself for a walk
If I carry on you’ll miss your favourite TV show
After the “Ah huh” moment you will be bonded for life
Cons: Self-grooming = occasional hair balls on your expensive Persian carpet
The kitty litter starts stinking after a while
If your feline is not fixed, he/she will reproduce like another furry, the rabbit
Annual vaccinations necessary to keep away the baddies
Many people are allergic to cats*
Not loyal at all if the boarding, feeding and extras aren’t up to their standard
Don’t cope well when their homes are relocated
Will mark excessively if they feel the item/area doesn’t smell like them in an
attempt to establish ownership
Cats can become obese if YOU over feed them
As with any pet, you are making a time-, financial- and emotional
commitment, therefore think about it
Personally, speaking from a completely unbiased point of view, every home isn’t complete without a good cat. If you are the allergic type there is great news, they have recently discovered how to breed cats that don’t secrete the specific protein in their saliva to which people are allergic to! So what are you waiting for, the worst that can happen is that you’ll build an amazing bond with an animal that is gunning for world dominance. Look on the Brightside, for once you’ll be batting for the right team. Happy catting!