They say that a dog is a human’s best friend, but every cat lover knows this isn’t accurate. Cats can also be our best friends, from sweet snuggles at night to head bumps and kneading during the day.
We can form bonds with our fuzzy fur babies that truly are deep and long-lasting.
Here are 17 absolutely purr-fect reasons to have a cat. Or, if you want to be a little more accurate, these are 17 purr-fect benefits to being owned by a cat!
1. They Love You With Rapt Adoration
When your cat curls up in your lap, starts kneading your leg, and gazes up at you, they have the most loving look of adoration in their little, kitty eyes.
To your cat, you’re their parent, their source of comfort, and their security. You are their everything, and they show it in their eyes. It’s the sweetest thing!
2. A Cat’s Comforting Purrs Can Help You Sleep
If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping, you might not have realized that all you needed was a purring cat.
When a kitty curls up next to you at night, their purrs can be more comforting than a white noise machine. Many cat parents fall into a deep slumber when they’re next to a warm, purring cat.
3. They Sense When You’re Sick
Some cats have an uncanny way of realizing when you’re sick. I’ve had cats who hover like a worried mama hen and curl up next to me until I’m feeling better.
Some people say that cats do this because your increased body heat from a fever attracts them. But I prefer to believe it’s because they’re worried and want us to feel better.
4. Cats Love To Play
Sure, cats are solitary creatures and can do fine on their own for a couple days if you go on vacation. But they absolutely need your attention and “play time” when you’re home.
It can be really fun to grab a toy mouse, a feather wand, or a cat laser toy and take your cat on a “hunt” around the house.
5. They Kill All The Bugs
When you have a cat, you don’t have to worry about killing bugs, spiders, and other crawly critters. Your cat will take care of them long before you need to!
But watch out! They may also leave the creepy crawlies as presents for you to show their love.
6. They Keep You Entertained
Cats are great at providing entertainment, and this is doubly true if you have two! They will chase each other around, have mock fights, and sometimes even do their own versions of hide and seek.
Even if you just have one cat, you’ll probably get to watch them chasing invisible prey around the house, seen only in their kitty imagination.
7. You Can Teach Your Cat Tricks
Cats respond really well to clicker training. With the proper techniques, you can teach your cat to come when you call their name, to sit, and to even jump on stools or though hoops on command!
We have more details on clicker training in this article.
8. They Can Inspire Fun Art Projects And ‘Catification’
“Catification” is the name given to adding fun furniture and décor to your house that has a cat focus.
For example, you might add “art” to your wall that doubles as a perch for your cat to sit on and watch the world. Or you might add a litter box that looks more like a planter than a traditional litter box. Or you might install cat climbing shelves that look like pieces of beautiful art.
9. They Inspire You To Watch The Most Ridiculous Internet Videos
Let’s be honest; the longer you have a cat, the more you want to learn about cats.
But this inevitably leads to watching videos about cats. And there are some really “special” cat videos out there. Take the “100 Ways to Love a Cat” video above as an example.
There are more weird and wild cat videos where that came from! Check out our story about them here.
10. Cats Keep Your Reflexes Sharp
Cats are unpredictable and can have a tough time leaving things alone. They love to jump on bookshelves, tables, and counters.
After a while, curiosity will get to them, and they’ll want to know what it’s like to knock something off that counter too. That’s when quick reflexes come into play!
You’ll definitely get faster as you try to catch things before they hit the floor.
11. They Make Great Alarm Clocks
If you have a cat, you don’t have to worry about sleeping your day away. If you’re not free feeding, you can be assured that kitty will wake you up when you’re late setting out breakfast.
But even if you do leave food out, your cat will get bored if you sleep for too long. You’ll inevitably find a paw on your face, as kitty seeks to get their companion up so they can have some company.
12. They Do Well In Almost Any Environment, Even Small Apartments
Cats don’t need a huge backyard to run around in, unlike some breeds of dogs. As long as you give them plenty to do and have toys available to keep them entertained, cats are happy.
If you live in an apartment that’s smaller, you’ll just need to provide more vertical space for a cat to move around in, such as cat trees and cat “shelves” that are mounted on the wall.
Cats can often adapt easily to smaller living environments if you give them a lot of vertical space.
13. Cats Keep You From Being Lonely
Cats make great companions. They love to snuggle in your lap and keep you company. They want to play “hunt” all around the house. Many cats will even wait at the door for you to come home!
Cats show their appreciation in many ways. When you adopt a kitten fur baby, you don’t ever feel lonely.
14. They Help You Realize Just How Fascinating The Outdoor World Really Is
Have you ever known a cat who wasn’t just absolutely fascinated with the outdoors? Raise the blinds on your window, and your cat will watch your backyard as if it were an action movie.
Until you have cats, you may never realize just how fascinating outdoor life is, from watching visiting birds to following the trail of quick-moving lizards.
15. They’re Low Maintenance
Compared to having a dog or many other types of pets, cats are very low maintenance. You can leave a cat for a day or two, and they’ll be just fine, as long as they have plenty of food, water, and a litter box. With a dog, you have to make sure someone’s around to take them outside for potty breaks.
Cats also groom themselves, so they don’t need frequent baths. They’re very self sufficient.
16. Cats Actually Lower Stress & Improve Your Physical Health
Believe it or not, cats can be good for your health! Petting a cat can lower your blood pressure.
Some research indicates that having a cat can even lower your risk of heart disease or stroke and decrease the number of times that you have to visit a doctor.
17. Having A Cat Can Improve Your Mental Health, Too
Not only will you see physical benefits from having a cat, but you can enjoy improved mental health, too.
Animal-assisted therapy is often used as a treatment for depression. Having pets like cats can also reduce your cortisol levels, which can in turn lower your stress.
If you don’t have a cat yet, these 17 benefits have probably convinced you that it’s time to go visit an animal rescue or shelter and adopt a furry friend! Check out our adoption page that lets you search for adoptable pets in your zip code!
If you do have a cat, give your kitty a special treat as a “thank you” for all the benefits they bring to your life every day.
Do you know any other reasons that people should have cats in their lives? How does your kitty make your life better? Let us know in the comments below!
