Why Do People Like Cats? 15 Vet-Reviewed Reasons
Ever wonder why people like cats so much? There are obvious reasons: cats are the cutest animals ever to grace the planet (especially when they’re kittens), they have adorable toe beans, and kitties are excellent snugglers. But are there other reasons our feline friends are so popular?
Of course, there are! There are tons of reasons that people like cats, other than simply the cuteness factor. Some people love how chill and low-maintenance felines are, while others enjoy how amusing they can be. Here are 12 of the most interesting reasons that people like cats!
Top 12 Reasons Why People Like Cats
1. Cats Are “Low Maintenance” (Sort of!)
One of the reasons cats are such popular and beloved pets is that, compared with some other animals, they can be more independent in their daily needs. Cats don’t typically require outdoor walks, and they often enjoy long naps. sometimes up to 15 hours a day. Many are content to relax nearby while you read, watch a show, or go about your household routine.
That said, “low maintenance” does not mean “low effort.” Obviously, cats still rely on us for playtime, company, high-quality food, fresh water, a clean litter box, enrichment, and regular veterinary care. They are living beings with emotional and physical needs, not decorations or houseplants.
2. Typically Cheaper to Own Than Dogs
Generally speaking, cats can be cheaper to own in the long run than dogs. For one, canines tend to require more stuff up front—like crates and walking equipment. In fact, according to Rover, the average upfront costs for dogs are $1,000 to $5,225 a year, while it’s around $710-$2,865 a year for felines. Plus, vet care and pet insurance for cats tend to be a bit cheaper than that for dogs. Then there’s the fact that kitties are smaller than a lot (but not all) dogs, which means they require less food. And cats are fairly self-sufficient, so if you’re away for most of the day, you probably don’t need a pet sitter to stop by.
3. Have Fun With the Most Random Items
Our kitty friends will adore the strangest, most random of items, which is just one more reason to like them! Have an empty box? Your cat will play with that for hours. Piece of yarn? Instant fun. A bouncy spring? Your cat’s new favorite toy. A mirror? Sit back and watch the hilarity. Felines can have fun with practically anything!
4. Excellent Pest Control
If you live in the woods or on a farm, you might find yourself in a house full of mice (especially in the winter). Even if you live in a city, you’ll probably have to deal with mice (or rats) every once in a while. But if you have a cat, you don’t have to do anything about it (other than clean up the mess your pet leaves behind after taking care of the problem). And the same goes for other pests, too. If a bug gets into your home, a cat will stalk that until it’s been caught (and likely eaten). Felines have even been known to deal with snakes on occasion!
5. Can Live a Long Time
If you adopt a cat, you can expect that cat to be around for a very long time; some felines can live up to 20 years! The average lifespan of a kitty is 13–17 years, though (which is still quite a long time). The longest-living cat was one named Crème Puff, who lived 38 years! So, make sure you’re ready for that sort of commitment before getting a kitty. Yes, it’s a nice long time to bask in cuddles and play, but on the flip side, it also means quite a bit of time feeding and caring for your pet.
6. Oxytocin Fix
Yet another reason people like cats is because of the oxytocin hit they create. Did you know that petting your cat can release oxytocin (aka the love hormone)? It can! And oxytocin plays a role in many of our behaviors, from building trust to bonding with infants and more. So, give your cat lots of pets and bask in the love!
7. Good for Your Health
Those with kitties don’t just experience more oxytocin; they also experience better health. Interacting with felines means lower blood pressure, less stress, less anxiety and depression, reduced risk of heart attack, and more serotonin and dopamine. We’re not saying that your cat is magic (though we are not saying that either), and you’ll never get sick. But overall, cat owners experience much better health than those without kitties in the home.
8. Independent Thinkers
People are also fond of cats because they’re independent thinkers. Dogs are fabulous, and we love them, but they’re more followers. Felines, though, will do what they want when they want, with no regard for you or anyone else. And sometimes you just really appreciate a cat’s independent thinking, do-it-themselves attitude, and sass!
9. Make the Best Alarm Clocks
Ugh, who wants to wake up to a blaring alarm clock? Not us! We find it much better to wake up to kitty kisses on the nose or gentle pats on the face. Our cats make the absolute best alarm clocks, not only because they equal a gentler awakening (most of the time anyway), but because kitties will make sure you get up at the same time every day to feed them breakfast.
10. Practically Royalty
Cats have been around for a long time—roughly 10,000 years or so—which means they have a rich and storied history. That also means that, at times, felines have been treated like royalty. In particular, ancient Egyptians considered cats to be aspects of deities and symbols of protection and divinity. The richest ancient Egyptians would dress their cats up in fine jewels and feed them directly from their own plate, treating them as royal beings. And while cats might no longer be seen as symbols of protection or related to deities in most places, it doesn’t mean you can’t treat your favorite feline as the king or queen it considers itself to be!
11. Can Be Hilarious
Felines are hilarious, no matter what they’re up to. Whether it’s zooming around the house for crazy cat time, experiencing a jump scare while walking in front of a mirror, or running away from that banana peel, there’s no denying that cats are funny. That’s one of the reasons cat videos are so wildly popular (honestly, would YouTube have even survived without cat videos?). Having a kitty means constant laughter and fun!
12. Make the Most Excellent Memes
It’s not just videos that cats can make popular, but memes as well. Whether it’s the iconic "I Can Has Cheezburger" meme or the famous Grumpy Cat, felines have a history of being part of the most humorous and well-loved memes on the internet. Chances are you’ll be able to catch your cat doing something meme-worthy one day, so capture that moment, post it online, and watch your feline go viral!
Conclusion
Felines are adorable, funny, independent, make you healthier, and so much more. If you haven’t gotten a cat yet, these are just 12 of the several reasons you’ll find yourself falling in love with any cat you find. So, what are you waiting for? Time to adopt a cat, stat!
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Featured Image Credit: Karpova, Shutterstock
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Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese cats —Serafina and Jasper. She also has an array of stray cats, raccoons, and opossums who like to call her front porch home. When she’s not writing about animals, you’ll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (cats, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list.
