It’s no accident that “cat” makes up part of my name. I love cats. I find them fascinating and they continue to amaze me the more I learn about them. Over the years I’ve come to realize that I’m a lot like a cat (and there are also ways in which I’d like to be more like a cat).

Here are eight ways I’m like a cat:

1. I sleep well

Although our biorhythms differ (I sleep at night; my cats sleep during the day), we both sleep well. Generally, unless I’m not getting enough exercise or I’m troubled about something, I sleep very well. I’ve observed the same in my cats. A cat deep in sleep is hard to rouse. I resist the urge to touch them when they’re asleep — why disturb their sleep? On the other hand, I know they have no hesitation to wake me up when I’m sleeping. If I’m tired enough, however, I can sleep through cats jumping on me or on the bed.

2. I meditate and do yoga

Cats meditate. We think they are just staring at some point in space, but they are really quieting their minds and honing their single-pointed focus. They inspire me to meditate, and when I do it I’m much easier to live with. Cats also constantly do yoga, as I do. The inspiration for yoga, several thousand years ago, may in part have come from cats! (Or perhaps not, but there certainly seems to be a link.) Cats love it when I meditate and when I do yoga — it’s an instant cat attractant, and we do it together.

3. I sometimes need to hide

I remember being at a writing workshop once, and we had a quiet time built into the workshop agenda so we could write. I found a nice little nook on the second floor of the building we were meeting in. My instructor happened to stumble upon me in this hiding space. After getting over his surprise, he told me that I was well-named (Cat).

4. I’m good at blending in

I’m not sure why, but it seems that people don’t always notice me. It’s not that I’m trying to blend in. Perhaps it’s because I’m quiet, or not very tall. I have observed the same qualities about my cats. Have you ever had the experience of looking for your cat and not being able to find her? Later, you see her in the most obvious spot. She’s been there for hours and you never noticed. How do they do that? It’s as if they are magical! One minute not there — one minute there. I’m not sure if I am magical, but I think my cats are!

5. I’m quiet and then … wham!

I can be very quiet, and then, with no warning, break into singing or dancing. It’s just the way I am. I have seen my cats do the same thing, though they’re better at it. One moment a cat will be deep in silence; the next moment, pouncing, flying, or leaping with abandon.

6. I’m complicated, and so are my cats

Still waters run deep, the saying goes. It’s true, and I’m getting smart enough not to try and change my wiring. We are who we are. At times, my cats are extremely complicated — often I swear I can see the many layers of their personalities. Other times, it’s all about simply being a cat.

7. I sleep hard and play hard

I do play hard, in my quiet way. I love certain luxuries. Knowing that there’s play as a reward sometimes make it easier to get through the work. My cats have taught me a lot in this arena. I think I sleep better if I’ve let myself play — whether play means exploring a gorgeous new hiking trail, taking a bike ride, singing with friends, dancing, or just pulling weeds (yes, I love to garden). My cats are great teachers in this respect.

8. I love comfortable spots

For me that means a hot bath, a comfortable bed, or meditating in a beautiful spot. Yes, I know that sitting meditation is not comfortable for many of us at first, but the longer I do it, the more I love it. My cats love to snuggle in the most comfortable spots. Whether it’s a comforter on the couch, their cat beds, our own bed, or the coveted spot next to my computer when I am working, my cats really enjoy finding the best place at exactly the right moment. They seem to find comfort wherever they want to find it, which is another great way I aspire to be like my cats.

How are you like your cat? How would you like to be more like your cat? Let us know in the comments!

More by Catherine Holm:

• Um, Does Your Cat Flirt with You?
• Do Cats Really Get as Stressed by Change as We Think?
• 6 Reasons My Cats are the Luckiest Cats in the World
• 5 Ways Cats Improve my Marriage
• Some Vets Consider Rescue and Rehoming Cats Part of the Job

Laugh with us:

• Texts from Mittens: The Evil Chipmunk Edition
• 5 Ways My Cats Interrupt My Precious Sleep
• Why Does My Cat Always Use the Litter Box Right After I’ve Cleaned It?

About Catherine Holm: Told that she is funny but doesn’t know it, accused of being an unintentional con artist by her husband, quiet, with frequent unannounced bursts into dancing liveliness, Cat Holm loves writing about, working for, and living with cats. She is the author of The Great Purr (cat fantasy novel out June 1), the cat-themed memoir Driving with Cats: Ours for a Short Time, the creator of Ann Catanzaro cat fantasy story gift books, and the author of two short story collections. She loves to dance, be outside whenever possible, read, play with cats, make music, do and teach yoga, and write. Cat lives in the woods, which she loves as much as really dark chocolate, and gets regular inspiration shots along with her double espresso shots from the city.