This morning, as I watched my cat, Toby, hurl himself out of the bathroom at lightning speed to avoid the smelly poop he’d just made, I had an epiphany: We all need to stop running from our poop. There you have it. Cat poop illustrating a philosophy of life.

Toby usually gets away with it because by the time he returns for round two, I’ve already scooped the box. He also has two boxes to choose from, so he can avoid the poop box until after it’s scooped. Since my house is his whole "world," and I scoop the box daily, Toby can, in theory, poop forever and never have to actually deal with it. We humans, on the other hand, cannot eternally run from our poop -ÔÇô our figurative poop, not our literal poop, although I’m pretty sure that might catch up with us one day as well.

I originally wrote this piece on my blog, Oh My Pibbles!, but the content was definitely Not Safe for Work (or the Catster community). I’ve toned it down, but you guys can still get the message.

Cat poop

This one’s a given. Your cats actually poop, and it’s up to you to clean it up and dispose of it properly. Putting it in non-biodegradable plastic baggies and filling up the landfill should not be your modus operandi. It’s better than avoiding the poop altogether, but it’s making a bigger pile of poop to deal with later. For best results, clean up poop daily and dispose of in pet septic tanks, biodegradable baggies, a compost pile, or some other EPA-approved method.

More cat poop

Other than actual poop, cats also do things like make messes, scratch things they shouldn’t, and even attack you. The best way to handle that kind of poop is to address the problem, not the symptoms. Have you watched My Cat From Hell? Your cat isn’t just a bad little poop, there’s something causing that behavior. Talk it over with your vet, make use of the Catster community, and see a behavior expert if necessary, but definitely get a handle on that poop!

Relationship poop

Ah yes, relationships. You have them with your cats, people, and even with inanimate objects. Cut the negative people out of your life, especially if your cat tells you to by practically clawing their eyes out or howling furiously when they walk in, and it is NOT a behavior issue (see above). Some people just have bad juju, and that’s not the kind of poop you want in your life.

As far as inanimate objects that are harmful to your life, your cat is actually pretty spot on about sprawling across your laptop while you’re scrolling social media. Unplug yourself at least 30 minutes a day and spend that time petting your Furry Master … er, your cat. Also, get rid of anything your cat pees on. I could say it’s a message from the cat gods, but really it’s because you’re not likely to get rid of the urine odor (especially if it’s a soft surface). (Yes, your mustard yellow and green couch from the ’70s has to go. That IS a message from the cat gods, at least the ones of style!)

Life poop

It’s time we all stop running from our poop. We made the poop, let’s deal with it. "I’m in some pretty deep poop, though," you might say. "It’s so much easier to just not think about it." Well, you’d be right. Speaking strictly short-term, the "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy works great. However, much like cat poop, life poop will build and build and become one giant pile of poop that is likely to fall right on top of you. No ignoring it now that you’re covered in it, huh?

Life is a long-term kinda thing. You aren’t born with an expiration date tattooed on your foot (excuse me while I double-check; nope, no tattoo). Whatever you do in life has consequences, some immediate and some future. The best way to be happy and move forward with your life is to handle life poop as it happens. Face it head on, make a decision, and follow through.

What about you? Have your pets ever done something that refreshed your outlook on life? Let us know in the comments!

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• I’m Willing to Bet That Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box — Here’s Why
• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• Our Best Tips for Getting Your Cat to Let You Sleep

About Meghan Lodge: Fits the Aquarius definition to a fault, loves animals, and is always pushing for change. Loves ink, whether it’s in tattoos, books, or writing on that pretty sheet of blank paper. Proud parent of Toby (cat) and Axle (dog). I’m a former quiet nerd who’s turned bubbly animal-obsessed advocate.