Are Cats The Ideal Pet?

Today's domesticated cat has become the pet of choice for a people around the world. In the United States alone, over 30 million pet cats now eclipse the dog population by many millions, with the gap growing ever wider every day. Why has the household cat gained in popularity? What is it about this puzzling creature that appeals to so many of us?

The answer to this certainly has to be the enigmatic nature of the cat. Highly intelligent, it possess an exceptional combination of characteristics not found in other houshold pets. Beguiling and quiet, poised and self-sufficient, fastidious and athletic, the domestic cat is rarely needy. It appreciates company but is also content to spend time alone for hours at a stretch, making it an ideal pet for single people especially, let alone a family.

This autonomous streak, a result of cats in nature living a largely solitary life, gives the domestic feline a slightly haughty attitude about 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 capacity cats have to survive, with or without the help of humans could perhaps be one of the main reasons why we like them so much. Emotionally needy pets (or people) tend to grate on the nerves after a while; cats are charming egocentric creatures. This, combined with their beauty, grace, dignity, and ease of care, always makes them dsireable.

We also like cats for their ability to say, " we are your roommate, not your servant," and for their ability to realise the value in taking a nap. And who does not appreciate the cat's clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? Good luck getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter tray!

Cats enjoy all the consideration we humans give to them, though they will, given the chance, never confess it. They are perfectly happy to stay with us because we love them and carr for them, but if we vanished from the planet anytime soon, chances are the cat would mourn somewaht, meow some, and then get on with the business of finding a furry morsel to eat - all the while laughing at the millions of aimless, doleful pooches wandering around aimlessly, wondering what to do next.

If my life experience is anything to go by, closer bonds have been developed 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".