How have cats improved your life?

[AfterTheRainComesSun]

Never had one but would love one soon

In many ways. They are entertaining, beautiful, affectionate, great companions, keep me warm in bed (one snuggles into my neck and it's toasty) they feed my need to love and nurture. They make my DD and my DH happy and we can always talk about the cats! You chat with other cat people - mutual cat ownership and reciprocal cat care is the cornerstone of some of my friendships with neighbours too.

look at the sweet face lol

Such lovely company and easy to care for

Well @Beamur said it all really.

Also mine eat spiders for me. Company in the garden. Someone to talk to. They love you - mine are vv shy around other people but adore me so that's a lovely feeling.

They bring such happiness when they arrive in your life.
The kinking tail end when they trot up to you in happiness, the stress reduction by sitting quietly stroking a cat on your lap. My DH said he never expected the stress reduction aspect.
The all encompassing love you feel for them.
They make a house a home (also an unexpected side effect!).
Ah I could go on forever. They are wonderful.

So lovely just to have life in the house. They are such funny creatures. And lovely company.

Honestly my cat was important in my divorce! Not only as a stress relief but also in negotiations on finances. The cat had to go outside and this meant I needed more equity and a place with a garden.

I joke he cost 25 pounds and is the best investment I ever made. And of course he gets much fuss and is sweet creature.

He also coiled one out next to the OW in the garden once when she overstayed her welcome.

Excellent beast.

I don't think it has, honestly.

I see it once or twice a day, one of which is always during the night. If he doesn't get fed he scratches my bed or bites my feet. He's not much for affection. Bit of an unsatisfying pet all round 😆

They make the house not empty.

They are soft to stroke.

They are very pretty and nice to look at.

Their purrs are really soothing

They do daft things to keep us entertained

I luffs them so much, the furry little bastards.

Saved my life, literally. I was in an exceptionally low place, actually feeling suicidal. But my darling Boycat snuggled up to me staring in adoration (and not a single rational thought) and I realised that with his mental issues he wouldn't cope with losing me, which pulled me back from the brink.

In general, the affect they have had on my mental health has been phenomenal. Stroking a cat calms me, and their purr has been proven to be at a frequency that encourages healing. Even after being here for nearly 8 years, sometimes the beauty of Girlcat catches me unawares & I catch my breath at her grace and elegance. Tobias's funny little ways make me laugh and lift my mood, and watching him progress from a terrified, somewhat aggressive ex-street cat into someone comfortable in his own skin and happy, playing like a kitten, is very rewarding.

There is a downside of course. Smelly poos & having to clean the litter tray. The fur Tobias sheds everywhere despite being short haired. Life logistics being based around the cat's routine & needs. The cost - vets, food, litter etc. And of course the total heartbreak when my beloved Boycat had to be PTS at only 8 years old due to terminal illness.

But I wouldn't have missed a day of my cats being in my life. Getting them was the best thing I ever did.

We got our cats at an extremely difficult time in our lives. We loved them as soon as we saw them and they made us smile, which was rare at the time. They are now fully grown and still make us laugh. They pick and choose when they want to be affectionate but they do seem to know when we need them. I hope they are having a good life because they've really helped us. They are so much more full of personality than I ever expected.

What can I say? They’re either looking into your soul, or imagining a huge plate of chicken. You’ll never know, but that’s what makes them so delightful!

So many touching comments, thanks for sharing these stories❤️

They are such characters, really fascinating & often hilarious. I'd never be without a cat.

I don’t have a cat ant the mo, and my last one wasn’t snuggley.

But I have a memory as a child of our cat coming into the bed with me and lying on my chest purring into my neck, and my hands stroking his fur.

The combination of the weight, the softness, the warmth, the vibration on my chest, the noise of the purr close to my ear is my idea of nirvana. Relaxation on steroids.

Better than chocolate, cake, spa days, everything!

Im renting at the mo, but planning on fostering as soon as I move.

Our cat was a total 'impulse buy', DH saw her previous owner's advert on FB, showed me and DD and we were in the car an hour later to go and fetch her. No idea why, we weren't planning to get another cat (still had my old boy at that stage) but we somehow knew she was meant for us. And she definitely was, she settled immediately and has been the centre of our household ever since. She walks into a room and we all dance attendance on her while she comes to us each in turn for a fuss. She likes to lie on the back of the sofa behind my head so it's like having a warm, furry, purring pillow while I watch tv, she waits outside the bathroom for DH at bedtime and then obstructs his path so he has to pick her up so she can push her head and face into his and get kisses. We must laugh at her antics at least 10 times a day and she can cheer me up when no one else can. She cost £25 too bombastix and I often say it was the best £25 we ever spent, she's just a joy to be around.

Just realised I forgot my cat tax, here she is.

Perfect for soothing the soul of the stroppy teenager. Mends bridges and never asks anyone to tidy up/get out of bed.
(Actually, I stand corrected, he quite often asks people to get out of bed.)

Cat tax. Also keeps house vermin free

This is Magic and he is everything to me. He snuggles into me every evening on the sofa. I'm his favourite person and that gives me a huge boost.

They're amazing for mental health, very low maintenance and excellent company.

We have three at the moment and I'd never be without a cat or two again.

Our two youngest here - the black one is 3 and the ginger kitten is 5 months. We have an 8yo but he doesn't do photos 😂

Cats are beautiful. They fill your home with cat company. Purrs, playfulness, affection, not to mention all the gifts from the garden like mousies brought in just for you ☺️

Our cat has had such a soothing effect on my boys (with SEN), they love stroking his fur.

Hmm they cost me a fortune in cat food, flea and wormer

My carpets need replacing where they dug them up

My neighbour doesn't speak to me anymore- actually that might be a good thing!

One of them bit me so I needed intravenous antibiotics and I'm now allergic to penicillin

Sleep is always disrupted by one of them shouting and the other trying to climb under the duvet

But they are so cute and cuddly and they love you so much I wouldn't be without them

Not my prettiest cat but this one chose us. He does have massive eyes though!

I live by myself and have just got home soaked to the skin after getting caught in a thunderstorm. So now I am in my pyjamas with my lovely cat purring on my lap and warming me up. It's so nice to have someone to come home to and we spend hours snuggling together. She is the furry light of my life.