Some people are fascinated with politics. I am fascinated with money. One source of endless interest for me is observing how people treat money differently. A person’s approach to money seems to be shaped by her personality and background. A person’s approach to money shapes her choices. Why would cats be any different?
My cats are unique, and I think I can see how each of them would handle money if they had to.
1. Chester — the fussy, but predictable, consumer
If Chester’s eating habits are any sort of indicator, Chester would be very reliable and predictable when it comes to spending money. He could be a little too reliable and predictable. This is a cat who loves (best) one particular flavor (turkey and giblets pate) of one particular cat food brand (Fancy Feast). He’ll eat this over and over again. Occasionally, he’ll try something new, but he always returns to ground zero when it comes to food. If a person was looking for dependability and no surprises in a partner, that partner would probably be a lot like Chester. I imagine Chester could be the kind of human who predictably and dependably deposits a percentage of his paycheck in the bank — forming a nice emergency fund to fall back on.
Price point is not important to this type of personality. Chester doesn’t have to have the most expensive food, or the cheapest, either; this would spill over into the rest of his spending habits. This cat would have very regular, unvarying (some would say boring!) spending habits.
2. Zorro — “All I need is love”
Zorro would be the type of person who would have to watch out for himself when it came to spending money. Zorro could be his own worst enemy, and he could get into a lot of trouble quickly. Zorro loves attention, and will do anything (even practically sell his soul) to get it. (Are all Ragdolls like this?) This is the kind of kitty, if managing money, who might make some seriously misguided decisions. Have you known someone who will spend inordinate amounts of money to get the love and attention he craves? That’s Zorro. If human, would he make stupid money decisions to please his partner? Perhaps.
On the other hand, Zorro has a light and cheery personality. He seems to worry about nothing and he always projects positive vibes. This is good — at least he wouldn’t worry excessively about money management, even if he did make some wrong decisions.
3. Norton — solving every problem in the universe
Norton’s goal in life is to figure out every unsolvable problem. If there is a door, Norton must figure out how to open it. If he can’t get somewhere, he will figure out what’s in his way. This cat is unstoppable. As a money manager — he’d be a powerhouse! Why? Because Norton has the big ability to think outside the box. “Can’t come up with the money to do XXX? How can I raise it, steal it, cajole it, get it out of some unseen corner, flip the world on its side so that money comes to me?” That’s Norton. This kind of cat goes after what he wants, and nothing stops him. And money could be a big part of that process. If reincarnation is possible and Norton comes back as a human — watch out, world.
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4. Rama — the sensualist
My Rama loves the fine things in life — a snuggle with Mama on fleecy blankets, good food (doesn’t matter what kind — he’ll eat with gusto), a good wrestle with Norton, high jumping after a laser dot that goes up a wall. This cat does nothing halfway. I suspect his approach to money would be much the same. This is the kind of cat who would spare no expense for the finest clothes, wine, foods, and whatever helped him enjoy life. I bet he’d travel a lot, and take a lot of adventure trips, too. It’s all about the experience! Passion comes first for this guy, and money is a tool to live life to the fullest.
5. Kieran — practicing non-attachment
I honestly don’t think that money would matter much to Kieran at all. Kieran would probably be part of the simple living movement. This cat spends a lot of time in his head; he’s a dreamy sort of guy. The basics are important to him — food at regular times, cuddles, playing, a snuggle with Jamie now and then. If Kieran spent money on anything, it would probably be music! He loves the guitar and piano, and he’d probably be the type with several instruments in the house (like his pet parents).
How would your cats handle money? Is it obvious from their personality or their actions? Tell us 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
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, 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.
