If you’re a cat owner, you could probably name dozens of reasons off the top of your head as to why they make great pets. And much of the world would agree with you, as cats are the most popular pets in Europe and the second most popular pets in the United States. But if you’d like some reminders, or you need to be convinced, of why cats make such wonderful companions, FreshPet has got you covered.
First, they note that cats are quiet. Yes, they might start meowing before dinner time or try to have a conversation when they want to play. But they’re nowhere near as loud as a barking dog, and their volume levels definitely won’t lead to any complaints from neighbors. Plus, if you have a sleeping baby in the other room, a few meows probably won’t be enough to wake them up.
Another reason why cats make elite pets is because they are very low maintenance in comparison to dogs. They use a litter box, so you don’t need to take them outside every time they need to do their business. And most are perfectly content staying indoors, without needing walks or supervised outside play.
In the same vein, you can leave your kitty at home alone while working an 8-hour shift, and they’ll be just fine when you get home. As long as they’ve got food, water, toys, a clean litter box and somewhere to get cozy, you can even leave your cat alone overnight without any worries. But of course, you won't want to leave your adorable pet alone too often. Because you won't be able to stand being away from them!
If you still haven’t been convinced that you need a cat, have we mentioned that keeping one around might actually benefit your health? Healthline reports that interacting with a kitty can decrease your cortisol levels while improving your cardiovascular health, boosting your mood and increasing your levels of oxytocin. Plus, having a little kitty companion is a wonderful way to combat loneliness.
Another wonderful thing that you’ll learn when you have cats is that they have long lifespans. Unfortunately, most dogs only live between 10-13 years. However, cats, on the other hand, typically live between 13 and 20 years. This means that your little furry friend can be by your side for so many important moments in your life. I know people whose cats from college are now best friends with the children they’ve gone on to have a decade later. We're so lucky to have so many years to build strong bonds with these precious creatures.
Now, we all know that cats are special. But how many fun facts do you actually know about them? According to PetMD, only one fifth of orange cats are female. And it’s estimated that only 2-5% of all cats are orange, similar to how only about 2% of humans have naturally red hair. So if you happen to have a female orange cat, don’t forget to tell her just how unique she is!
Is your cat a picky eater? Mine will eat almost anything, including tofu, black beans, corn tortillas, pizza, cookies, yogurt and more. But apparently, he can’t actually taste any of those things very well because cats only have about 473 taste buds. Meanwhile, humans have about 9,000 taste buds on our tongues, and dogs have about 1,700. Cats also can’t taste sweets, so there’s no need to share your ice cream with them (no matter how hard they try to get a taste).
