How have cats improved your life?

[AfterTheRainComesSun]

Never had one but would love one soon

Cats are so weird - why do they choose to live with us? They clearly do and that's the attraction. They are the only animal that domesticated themselves. For me, that's the essential part.

My boy is an Arabian Mau - when you see him, you can absolutely see how cats domesticated themselves. Actually he rescued himself from being a street cat by hanging around a mad cat lady's house.

He loves nothing more than hunting a mouse - if you have mice on offer, he'll be round yours like a shot
He is also ridiculously confident and nosey - if you leave a door or window open, he'll be in and checking your place out
He is massively entitled - clearly you meant that nice spot near the heater for him, what other reason could there be?

His whole life is like he is doing you a favour. 50% of the village think he is awesome, the other 50% think he should be banned.

Yes cats size up people and assess them. They have these skills. I don't know of any other animal with that kind of attitude.

Mostly animals avoid humans because we eat or present danger. The cat is the one that says "let's relate". So odd

This thread made me think of my girl who passed too soon a few years ago. She had a special sense for when someone in the family was sad, or ill, and would come snuggle up for as long as it took to feel better again. It never took long. She hated all other cats in existence apart from her own kitten who we adopted with her. But she loved her people. And food.

@RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance she was beautiful ❤️

Thank you! 🐱

Your kidding right? They haven't, I've been demoted to cat slave but its good to know who my overlord is, and very cute she is too! 😂

My cat turned up as a thin, flea ridden, unloved tuxedo. He's now a chubby, clean and most loved house cat.

He's the light of my life and he's brought me so much happiness.

My current pair are extremely affectionate and always near me - not that they have much choice, being indoor-only cats in a small retirement unit! But given the choice, unless there's a lot of sun coming in the back window they'll be on the bed and preferably on me (I get lots of "Why are you sitting in the lounge instead of on the bed with me?" messages from the younger one). They're also good at emptying my bank account - one has IBD and has to have the outrageously expensive Royal Canin anallergenic food ($100AU for 4kg), and the other has megacolon and has to have Cisapride pills (two per day, compounded - chepaest price I've found yet is $72 for 100). But they are my darlings, I'd never want to be without them.

Slaves to the ofurlords is humans' proper role in life! 😸

My cats are rubbish. They puke on the rugs instead of the tiled floors, they are currently pooing in the garage if there is the slightest hint of rain. They cost around £50 a month to feed. They are all over me because I feed them, the minute I sit down I have a cat on me. They won't go near my husband which he finds upsetting, they were rescue cats and we think they may have been maltreated by a man.

Not getting any more once they die. Only good thing about them is that the kids like them.

As others have said, they light up your life in different ways. I’m so grateful with mine, they cheer me up when I’m upset, they keep me company so much, a hot water bottle when they snuggle up to you and they manage to do their hypnotic purring so you go to sleep lol 😺

Make us laugh many times each day and keep us company/warm in bed and when we’re unwell. The sounds are very soothing.

Hot water bottles!!!

The cats get the love my wife doesn't return.

Honestly my cat starts spraying doors whenever we go on holiday as it stresses her...which us funny as she evidently appears to hate us!

Mine is currently sitting outside refusing to come in despite clearly wanting his dinner.

We have the same cat toy - I call it the fat brown sausage and our cat loves it when I spray catnip on it 🙂

OP, Cats are soft, furry and very lovely and our home would feel sad and empty without one 😍

Purring is the best sound in all the world. Antiphonal purring is even better.

We have far fewer spiders since the cats.
They are spectacularly soft and cuddly.
Sometimes a bit of a pita fussing about food and i have one who costs me a fortune in medication. But I adore them!

The little sod has finally come in. After being bribed with his dinner, thrive chicken and lastly kibble.

Apparently kibble is the highest food value in his eyes.

One of my cats, very much like others, spends most of the planning on how to kill me. Laying on the top step to trip me, gets on my face when I’m asleep, jumping on me from trees, following us when we’re walking the dogs and other dogs come flying in after him before he runs up a tree, laying in the middle of the drive just as we turn into it having to break quickly. He’s made me happy because he keeps us on our toes and ensures that we know our place.

My three bring me so much comfort fun and joy

Cats share 95.6 per cent of their DNA with tigers. If you watch them, they have so many similar mannerisms - chasing, hunting, sleeping, stretching etc.
Cats also share 90.2 per cent of their DNA with humans.
I have two cats and a dog and I love seeing the interaction between them. The dog, a Staffie, is completely bossed about, especially by boycat, but will persist in trying to play with him. You can tell from the cat's disgruntled expression he is cursing the day ddog joined the household. Girlcat is very timid and politely turned her face away when ddog sniffed her. That didn't work so she has bravely progressed to hissing and swiping at ddog.
Boycat is very fat and lazy and doesn't go out much these days but loves a cuddle. Girlcat has never sat on my lap but sleeps by my side in bed and I love that she trusts me to keep her safe.

More hot water bottles!