Sometimes, your cats might remind you of certain people in your life. Yesterday, I had the epiphany that my cats are a lot like my mother. How strange is that? Maybe not so strange. Perhaps your cats are just like your mother, too.

Not everyone’s cats are the same. Not everyone’s mother is the same. I always thought I came from a pretty unique, eccentric family. However, the older I get, the more I realize that we all share more similarities than we realize. Here’s how my cats often remind me of my mother:

1. They have eyes in the back of their head

There’s an old cliche about mothers having eyes in the back of their head. It seemed that certain moms could almost read your mind and that they knew what you were about to be up to. Guess what? Many cats have this same ability. Have you ever seen a cat “know” that you’re going to pick up a cat food can, even before you move your hand? How do the cats know you’re going to open that can? They don’t even need to be looking right at you. Somehow — they know. It’s uncanny!

2. They want to know where you are every minute

I have a Velcro cat who wants to know where I am every minute. This cat gets plenty of exercise following me up and down the stairs all day. There must be mothers like this as well, though mine was not one of them. Honestly, I’m not sure I could have handled a mother like this! It’s cute in a cat. With a mom, it might be different.

On the other hand, I don’t have human kids. Maybe I would be a Velcro mom if I had the opportunity. Yikes!

3. They put up with no nonsense

My mother didn’t put up with any nonsense, and neither do my cats. Things are pretty cut and dry for beings like this. I could learn a thing or two! On the other hand, cats will put up with lots of nonsense just to play. I can’t imagine my mother leaping with glee for a fuzzy toy, or draping herself over a balance beam. And yes, I will admit that I can get pretty nonsensical when it comes to playing with my cats. I’ll get down on the floor with them, run around, chase, make noises, sing — anything that makes the cats happy!

4. They talk baby talk and use cute nicknames for their babies

Some moms do this (though I have no memory of my mom doing this). I have always done this with my cats. If you visit my house, watch out, because you probably won’t understand half of what I’m saying to the cats. Between all the cute nicknames, strange in-jokes that only the cats and I understand, and the special songs for each cat, well, it’s going to sound pretty nonsensical at my place. I have no doubt that human families must have great fun doing this with their human kids and grandkids.

5. You have to earn their affection

Some cats and some moms are tough. My mom was. You have to earn their affection. But when you do, it means more because it was hard-earned.

6. They’ll push your buttons if you let them

What cat won’t? And what mom won’t? Matter of fact, what family member won’t? Family members know us all too well, and so do are cats. So watch out when the button pushing behavior begins, and at least be aware of it. We’ve all seen cats push our buttons. They’re too smart not to try. And they are family, too, so they know us well. Do you have a great story of cat button-pushing or mom button-pushing behavior?

7. They love you, perhaps unconditionally — it just may not be apparent all the time

Some of us know our moms love us, but the moms may just have a funny way of showing it. Some cats are like this as well. Jamie Bluebell loves me — I’m sure of it. But she doesn’t always want to be held. When she wants her love, she really enjoys it. Then I get the purring, the demonstrative rolling around, the trilling — on her terms, just like some humans.

Is your cat just like your mom? How so? Share your thoughts in the comments.

More by Catherine Holm:

• 6 Massive Life Lessons My Cats Taught Me without Trying
• Do You Have a Velcro Cat? Here are 7 Ways to Tell
• 8 Ways I’m EXACTLY Like My Cats
• We Applaud Feline And Friends’ TNR Efforts in Vermont
• Let’s Talk — Would You Join a Grief Support Group to Mourn a Cat?
• Do You Give Your Cats Silly Nicknames?

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.