To have a cat or not?
Since volunteering for Cats Protection I have met a lot of people, with widely varying views on cats. Some like them and some don’t. Some are dog people rather than cat people. Some like both. Some treat cats as members of the family, while others simply see them as vermin eradicators. In between are those who think a cat is just something that gets fed once a day, a decorative addition to the house but something to be kept in its place, only allowed in designated ‘animal areas’.
These differences of attitude towards cats are not new. The Egyptians worshipped them and mummified them when they died. They believed there was a Cat God called Bastet (though that name might be open to misunderstanding if shouting it from the back door at a cat that is digging up your lettuce bed.) Conversely, cats have been thought guilty of spreading disease, and thousands of them were killed when a rumour spread that they were responsible for smallpox. Black cats were seen as unlucky in the Middle Ages, strongly associated with witchcraft, while white cats were thought to bring good fortune. In other countries it was the reverse, and even Britain came round to thinking black cats are lucky.
It has been scientifically proved that stroking a cat reduces your stress levels and calms your heart beat, reducing your risk of heart disease, cancer and stress. A cat, in fact, could be just the medicine you need. If this sounds like persuasion, yes, I am of course always on the lookout for people who might consider giving a home to a bereft or needy cat – but there has to be a good reason for taking that step. If you already see cats as members of the family this article isn’t for you! You already know why you have a cat and are familiar with the pleasure it brings. For the others, what can I say to encourage you to see a cat as a friend?
To start with, cats are inherently clean animals and unlike dogs, will cover up their toileting and prefer to go outside to do so. If they are elderly or have an illness its kind to let them have a litter tray, but a healthy cat in mid-life should go outside. You never have to bother taking a cat for a walk. Iin fact, it may think you are being slightly insane if you try -but a cat may willingly come with you, providing you don’t go beyond its known territory. You don’t need to stay at home all day with a cat. It eats less than a dog, and is cheaper to insure, if that’s something you consider. Cats live longer than most dogs, so you will have your feline friend a good few years. Cats are quiet, usually. They don’t bark, and their purring is very relaxing. Some owners say it often sends them to sleep.
So why should you have a cat? Well – why not?
