Are Cats The Ideal Pet?

The domesticated cat of today has become the companion animal of choice for a people around the world. In the USA alone, over 30 million domestic pet cats now overshadow the dog population by several million, with the gap growing ever wider each day. Why has the household feline gained in popularity? What is it about this puzzling animal that so many of us find appearling?

The answer to this certainly has to be the enigmatic personality of the cat. Highly intelligent, it possess a remarkable amalgamation of personality traits not found in other domestic pets. Beguiling and quiet, self-sufficent amd poised, fastidious and athletic, the cat is seldom needy. It appreciates company but is also content to spend time alone for hours at a stretch, making it the perfect pet for single people especially, let alone a family.

This independent streak, a result of cats in the wild living a largely solitary life, gives the domestic cat a slightly haughty attitude for life; for them, the sun does not rise and set with humans, although they will take us when they can get us, thank you very much.

The talent with which cats survive, with  or without humans may just be one of the top reasons why we like them so much. Pets (or people) that are emotionallly needy tend to become increasingly irritating after some time; cats are charming narcissists. This, combined with their beauty, grace, dignity, and ease of care, always makes them dsireable.

Humans also love cats because they say, " we are your roommate, not your servant," and for their ability to recognize the value of a good nap. And who can fail to appreciate the cat's clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? Try getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter box!

There's no doubt that cats enjoy all the attention we humans lavish upon them, though they will, given the chance, never confess it. They are perfectly happy to stay with us because we love them and provide for them, but if we vanished from the planet tomorrow, it#s more than likely that the cat would mourn somewaht, meow some, and then get on with the business of finding a furry morsel to eat - all the while lampooning the millions of aimless, doleful dogs aimlessly wandering about, wondering what to do next.

In my experience, closer ties have been forged with a cat when an owner enables the cat to decide for itself when and where it wants affection from its owner. As my grandmother used to say: "You'll never own a cat but one may choose to live with you".