Cats can teach patience
“Cats can teach us to love and accept people for who they are, even if we can’t change them,” Siracusa said. They are independent by nature and will not change for the sake of a person, but they give him very special love and support. “The presence of cats in our lives is often delicate and unnoticeable. They like to have fun, but they also like peace and quiet.”
Scientists have explained why people love cats
Why do we love cats so much? There are many versions: from banal toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease carried by cats and affecting the psyche, to the parental instincts they awaken.
Of course, humanity does not live by cats alone: no less often than ardent cat lovers, you can meet equally radical dog lovers. There are people who feel love for one type of animal, and intense hostility for another.
But cats are more often adopted - and not only because it is easier. Why is this so, the Reedus correspondent looked into it.
Anna Dolgareva // Reedus
Ethological scientists who study animal and human behavior have their own point of view on this issue. They believe that this love is genetically determined. Large cats were among the most dangerous predators for our ancestors. To survive, we needed to track and notice their habits, observe them, and admiration became a by-product of our interest, gaining a foothold in the course of natural selection,” psychologist Maria Plyusnina told Reedus.
According to the expert, people “are fascinated by the grace and harmonious graceful movements, in which the danger that is under our control is easily read.” Konrad Lorenz, an outstanding Austrian zoopsychologist, in his book “Man Finds a Friend” argued that cats, with the exception of a few decorative breeds, “are not domestic animals at all, but truly wild creatures.”
Wild? Maybe.
However, for many, interacting with them is a way to receive and share unconditional, selfless love. The meme about “forty cats” as the choice of a lonely woman in old age is not accidental: if it doesn’t work out to create a couple, then a person can try to escape loneliness in the company of pets.
Anna Dolgareva // Reedus
Many will call this method a surrogate - and, of course, it will not replace a full-fledged family.
However, communication with a finicky, capricious, sometimes gentle, and sometimes biting cat can save you from loneliness - to wait out the “darkest hour.” A person has needs for emotional intimacy, for contact with others and communication, to take care of someone - and pets satisfy these needs to some extent.
Another property of cats is the ability to awaken the parental instinct.
“Ethology, the science of behavior on the verge of biology and psychology, believes that love for cats is a consequence of the parental behavior inherent in us, or rather, even the need for its implementation. We take care of our little brothers, be they cats, puppies, snakes or praying mantises. And in a sense, meowing is mimicry of a child’s cry,” says psychologist Ksenia Shiryaeva.
Anna Dolgareva // Reedus
It turns out that the notorious “forty cats” are a sublimation of unrealized parental instinct. However, there is another version. The fact is that cats are not only cute, fluffy, defenseless animals, but also the embodiment of grace and selfishness. This is what captivates many people.
“This is the age of narcissism. And cats meet the ideal criteria of many - flexible, slender, elegant bastards. Their behavior is in many ways similar to narcissists, provided that we are talking about the average person. That is, humanization is characteristic of man. Humans attribute human reactions and emotions to animals. So, the instinctive behavior of cats is easily humanized into a narcissistic personality. And now it is precisely such people who are in trend - the cult figures of modern cinema successfully prove this,” says psychologist Nina Sergeeva.
Facebook // Tatyana Sertun
There are other versions.
For example, from a biological point of view, human love for cats may be due to fear of an ancient creature, which was hunted by owls and seals (as we know, humanity is also not indifferent to owls).
Over time, humans became smarter and grew larger, while cats, on the contrary, decreased in size (although not all of them). However, the perception of the cat as a part of reality that initially attracts attention, that is, an external stimulus that generates nervous excitement, remains. But the emotion has already become different.
Facebook // Tatyana Sertun
By the way, how do cats themselves perceive us?
Biologist John Bradshaw from Great Britain believes that a cat perceives a person as a big cat - only rather stupid and dependent. Well, like a kitten. That is why purring is used as communication. Kittens begin to purr when they ask their mother not to move away while they suckle.
Adult cats don’t use this method of communication much among themselves, but when they’re around people they purr—maybe that way something will reach the big, stupid bald kitten.
So the parental instinct evoked by cats works both ways.
Cats are the best medicine for sleep
People use different methods to improve their sleep: turn off their phones, try not to think about work, buy lavender-scented pillows. And yes, this can help, but the surest way is to put the cat next to you. “If you have a cat, consider having purring sleep medicine in your house,” Reimers explained. Purring calms us down and gives us the same feeling of security that kittens receive from their mother: they feel safe and warm, they feel loved. Even a white noise app doesn't do that well.
Relationships between cats and dogs
The proverb “like a cat and a dog”, which has long been known to all of us, does not always turn out to be true. Indeed, these animals do not get along well with each other, this can be especially clearly observed in the relationship between street cats and dogs. At home, you can keep a cat and a dog at the same time if you raise them correctly. True friendship between these animals is unlikely to happen (although there are exceptions), but living together is quite possible. It is desirable that each animal has a place where it can retire and relax.
Relationships between cats and dogs most often do not work out due to differences in personalities and temperaments, as well as in body language. Using the table, you can clearly assess how great the difference is in the behavior of these animals.
How to introduce animals and help them bond
Differences in body language between cats and dogs
| Sign language | Cats | Dogs |
| Image | ||
| Tail held high | Friendliness, calmness, confidence | Anxiety, vigilance |
| Tail wagging | Indignation, indignation | Delight, joy |
| Closed mouth | Normal condition | Tension |
| drooping ears | Wariness, dissatisfaction | Joy, humility |
| Body tilt to the side | The desire to appear more aggressive and stronger than the enemy | Indicator of victory in a conflict situation |
| Supine position | Indicator of trust in a person | Desire for affection from the owner |
| Back arch | Self-defense, gesture used during hunting | Playful mood |
Cats are a miracle of nature
Even Leonardo da Vinci said that the smallest representatives of the cat family are a masterpiece. Cats allow us to bring home a little piece of nature. Smooth-haired or fluffy, cats of any breed and color have a unique charm. They also remind us of their relatives from the jungle, which, unfortunately, are currently in danger of extinction. Domestic fluffies are very similar to their wild relatives, and they are always beautiful, even in old age.
Bioenergetics of humans and cats
Communication with a cat is a great way to not only relieve stress and improve your mood, but also an opportunity to alleviate the symptoms of many diseases. Cats have unique energy and increased sensitivity; they can independently determine the area of the human body that needs treatment. Cat therapy is carried out using purring, gentle “massage” with claws, and warming the diseased area of the body with warm fur.
Relationship between cats and humans
Cats are best able to help people suffering from high blood pressure, insomnia and neurological diseases, colds, bone and joint diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Cats know how to restore a person’s energy balance, as well as cleanse the home of bad energy.
Some cats sense places in the apartment that are unfavorable from a bioenergy point of view. Perhaps you yourself have noticed that none of the family members, for whatever reason, wants to sit in the farthest chair in the hall, and always chooses another place to rest. Nevertheless, the cat always chooses this particular chair and lies in it in the “sphinx” position, with its front legs extended and its hind legs tucked. In this way, the cat cleanses our house of bad energy, making it cozy and comfortable for all household members.
On a note! The cat is one of the most ancient inhabitants of the human home. Do not deny yourself communication with a little fluffy ball, this animal will give you a lot of joy and happy moments spent together.
They don't need a walk
Dogs don’t care that the days are getting shorter, colder, darker, they still need a walk, and not always at a convenient time. Leaves, snowdrifts, rain are a common landscape for dog owners. But cat owners quietly rejoice in bad weather that they don’t have to go anywhere. If you have both a dog and a cat, the latter is probably grinning mischievously as you trudge outside at 11 p.m.
Character and temperament of cats
A cat's temperament is the totality of an animal's reactions to external stimuli. This is an innate quality that practically does not change over the course of life. The character of a cat can be changed by forming certain habits in it. However, many commonalities can be found in the behavior of cats.
Interesting facts about cats
Researchers from the UK conducted a survey of more than 200 cat owners, as a result of which they were able to identify a typology of cat characters:
| Type | Image | Description |
| Cat-man | Ideal for living with a family, in the company of people. She strives to spend as much time as possible with her owners and is actively interested in their affairs. | |
| Hunter cat | Loves to play with his owners or with toys. This is the same type of cat that suddenly attacks its owners from around the corner, listens to all suspicious sounds, actively plays and jumps. The ideal place of residence for such an animal would be a country house or rural area. | |
| cat-cat | Shows an active interest in representatives of his kind. Such animals will be very happy if another animal appears in the apartment. | |
| feisty cat | Does not like tactile contact, does not play with owners and does not communicate with other animals. She makes contact only when she wants it. | |
| Curious cat | He is distinguished by his investigative disposition and studies surrounding objects, people and animals with interest. Loves to explore and smell new things, meet new people and animals |
Love for cats is a reason for conversation
Don't have anything to chat about during your lunch break? Think about cats. These adorable animals are all over social media right now, so there's always something to catch on. It’s especially nice to talk about your own pet and show photos. What if you are surrounded by cat haters? Well, you can start a conversation here too, but that’s another story.
Why love them
Happiness, tranquility, family comfort - this is what this pet symbolizes. If there is a cat in the room, it is always nice. Tactile contacts are the best anti-stress and an excellent sedative. It’s so nice to scratch behind the ear and snuggle up to a warm body:
- there is no hassle with him. Eats little, does not require walks;
- freedom-loving, but loves to be caressed and pampered;
- warm and affectionate.
Women and cats are very similar. Modern ladies are also bold and graceful. They know how to show their “claws” if necessary. Grace, sexuality and beauty are their common features. Women who love to dress up cats in shiny and bright clothes project character traits that are inherent in ladies onto their pets.
Loving cats is good for your health
Every cat owner feels this, even if he cannot express it in words. However, scientists say that when you pet a cat, oxytocin is released, which promotes good health. Interacting with these animals lowers blood pressure and just makes us happy. The presence of a cat significantly reduces stress and anxiety levels. It feels so cozy when your cat unobtrusively settles into your lap after a long day at work. And reducing stress levels in turn reduces the risk of heart attack.
And in general, any heart that contains love for a cat is healthy by definition!
Based on materials from: www.petmd.com
How to tell if a cat loves you
Cats have a unique language with which they “talk” to people. Every owner must learn to understand the mood of their pet so that their connection is strong and mutual. To express sympathy and love, cats have a whole arsenal of facial expressions and gestures:
- Purring.
- Licking.
- The desire to spend all the time together.
- Falling asleep on your knees and in the same bed.
- Showing belly and tail.
- “Butting”, rubbing against arms and legs.
- Sharpening claws on furniture.
- “Massage” with claws and trampling on the body.
- Surprises and gifts.
10 signs a cat loves you
Cats are very sensitive to people
Every pet knows what mood its owner is in. If a person feels bitterness and sadness, the cat does its best to console him. And if the owner is in a great mood, then the cat will be happy about this and, most likely, will try to cheer up his owner even more. But if he is angry at the moment, then the pet understands that it is better not to show his face now. Cats are generally not overly intrusive. They enjoy receiving affection and attention from their owners. However, pets are well aware of when a person is inclined to communicate and when he is not.
Rational reasons
But people’s love for cats can be explained not only by the emotional and psychological component. It is supported by other positive, but more rational factors:
- Simple content. Due to their small size (compared to dogs), most cats will feel comfortable in an apartment of any size. In addition, they do not need to be washed or walked regularly, it is enough to organize food, periodically change the toilet, and sometimes comb them.
- Aesthetic appeal. The variety of breeds and colors allows everyone to choose a pet based on their own preferences.
- Independence. Again, compared to dogs, cats do not require constant attention. Even with the owner’s busy work schedule, they are ready to calmly wait for him at home.
- Possibility to leave the animal for several days. Of course, individual individuals, remaining at home on their own, can behave unpredictably. But most cats prefer to sleep in their favorite place or watch the world around them while sitting on the windowsill. At the same time, leaving more food “in reserve”, you don’t have to worry about the problem of overeating. Often, animals independently regulate the required volume of portions with each “approach” to the bowl.
How to show your cat your love: video
