Tiller’s Cup of Tea: It’s Not Everyone's (Just Mine)

Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

Most cats like catnip, or valerian root. Or feather toys. Or something remotely cat-like.

But leave it to Tiller to have a unique trait.

I only found out, as I have recently been forced to uptake a certain daily number of cups of tea, due to a distinct lack of summer weather, and an attempt to ward off the cold. Since I prefer black tea cold, and with lemon, I had to find a substitute. Enter: green tea. Some say it looks and tastes like grass, but grass is healthy, right?

So, little did I expect when Tiller took a sudden interest in me one evening while I was sitting on the couch, I got all excited for some cuddles, and maybe even some lap time.

How wrong was I?

Instead, she walked over to my cup of tea, and calmly, deliberate, stuck her foot in it. Then pulled it out. And drank the tea from her foot. Repeatedly. I figured this was a fluke. But every time since, if a cup of green tea comes out, so does Tiller. To what end?

Green tea, I was curious, what about it would attract cats?

Perhaps green tea is similar in some way to catnip. I can’t find any scientific research to support this, and certainly some suggest that the caffeine in green tea isn’t ideal for cats.  Or perhaps green tea simply tastes good to Tiller. After all, cats, just like humans, have individual taste preferences. Many of my feline patients refuse tuna but love poultry foods, and vice versa.

In the end, I’ll probably never know why Tiller loves a good cup of tea. Maybe deep down, she’s part British Shorthair? Or maybe I just chalk it up to her being… a cat.