Why Your Cat Does Not Want Independence

CAT Stanley Squelches Old Wives Tale

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and I would like to take the opportunity on this day of patriotic celebration to dispel a rather popular belief that cats are independent and aloof creatures. Nothing could be further from the truth! I love people.  I need people. I know it, and so does your cat.

While there are cats that live on the streets and manage to survive, their average lifespan is only two years.   On the other paw, the average life expectancy of an indoor-only cat is 15 years. So while it may be true that we are masterful hunters and fabulous groomers, the data just doesn’t support that old myth about us being able to fend for ourselves. Even though some of you still cling to that old wives tale about cats being independent, we figured it out somewhere around the time of the Pharaohs. We need people. I need someone to take me to the veterinarian at least once a year to ensure I’m healthy. I need someone to give me good and nutritious food, rather than just eating vermin. (Yuck. It makes my tail twitch to even think about it.)  I need someone to give me a home where I will be safe and secure. But most of all, I need someone to love me. Which brings me to the bonehead notion that cats are aloof. 

We are proud, we are smart, we are beautiful, but I assure you we are not aloof. Ask yourself the following questions to prove my point. Would an “aloof” cat allow itself to be caught chasing around a feather attached to a stick like a maniac?  No. Would an “aloof” creature sit for hours on your keyboard/book/newspaper just waiting patiently to attract your attention? No. Would an “aloof” creature cuddle…ever? No! We love attention, we love to play, we love making you laugh. We know that without an audience – that would be you --we are nothing.

I rest my case. The only question left is who started these ridiculous rumors? My guess is it was probably a dog. Just sayin’.