Pet Express Dog & Cat Expo 2016
as proof of love while others feel more appreciated if they are given quality time.
In the same way, cats express (and expect) love in ways that may not mirror those of a dog’s. They do not wag their tails and bark in excitement, but they head-butt you fondly and stalk you loyally from room to room. They do not jump on your lap and look at you with smiles on their faces, but they offer you dead mice, roaches, or even snakes as devotional offerings. Learning the love language of cats has helped open my mind (and given me a few scares, as I’m sure you can imagine), disproving the misconception that cats are unaffectionate and ungrateful.
Besides, even if some cats actually turn out to be unaffectionate little ingrates, it will be too late by the time you realize it. By then, you will have been converted into a faithful cat slave, one who delights in serving feline masters. Welcome to the club! You’ve seen people chew with their mouths open and talk with their mouths full. You’ve seen people push and shove instead of waiting patiently in line. Most cats, however, will do nothing of the sort. They walk, eat, and even sleep with poise. Some may wolf down food like hungry beasts, yes, but even in these rather undignified moments, they still manage to look more regal than some equally hungry people. You can tell outright that some girls (and guys) are high-maintenance based on how they behave. With cats, you’re in for a pleasant surprise: Although they do act like royalty, caring for them is so easy! They like cleaning themselves so you don’t have to worry about daily baths. If you catch a cat looking rather filthy, chances are he’s sick and incapable of self-grooming.
Cats also don’t like it when their poop or pee stinks up the room so they use the litterbox religiously, taking great care to bury their “gold.” You will find yourself always coming home to a clean house!
Okay, I admit, maybe you will find them tearing your stuff apart once in a while. (Many cat parents, however, will be quick to say that’s your fault. Why didn’t you cat-proof your home in the first place?)
Good for you! Cats share your passion – they have a natural inclination for interior design.
They like the deshabille look in particular, preferring torn curtains over brand-new ones. They are also experts at “revamping” your furniture, puncturing couches with holes which, in their opinion, is a labor of love.
Cats dabble in fashion as well. Want your shirt to look grunge? Leave it lying around and your cats will know what to do with it. Thanks to their preferences in home décor and clothing, you and your house will look, well, different!
Mountaineers may be experts at scaling sharp inclines, but I bet they’re no match for a cat’s gravity-defying skills!
Wall climbing is a cat specialty. My youngest cat, Mimi, prefers scaling screen doors and windows. My oldest cat, the grumpy black cat named Merlin whom I was talking about at the beginning of this article, scales indoor walls like a pro. You will find his paw prints all the way up our white walls; it’s amazing how he can do that without hurting himself or the paint job!
Cat people know that cats won’t act sick even if they are. Show weakness when they’re ill? Not a chance.
Dogs whine when they’re in pain. Cats don’t. They will stare you down and walk with their heads up, even when they’re seriously ill. Cats are martyrs when it comes to health issues. These secretive creatures don’t want anyone to know they’re sick. That means cat parents have to be extra attentive to their habits: Any change in behavior may be due to disease. Cats are very good at one thing: enslaving humans. They can meow, purr, and lovebite their way into your heart, convincing you despite your fascination for canines that felines are just as deserving of your praise, if not more so.
Be warned: All it takes is one cat. One cat, I tell you, and you’re doomed to a life watching cat videos and buying cat stuff for the rest of your life.
Just like many people who grew up with dogs, I didn’t even know I loved cats until I had one! Once you go cat, you never go back.