Felines are amazing creatures that are a pleasure to spend time with. They are independent yet loving and active yet lazy, and most importantly, they can improve our quality of life as time goes on. So, what specific things can cats teach us? Just for starters, here are important life lessons that we humans can learn from cats.
The 9 Important Life Lessons We Can Learn From Cats
1. Self-Care Is Important
If you spend enough time observing your cat’s behavior, you will find that they spend a great deal of time grooming and taking care of themselves. Their impressive hygiene habits are something to make an example of. They want to stay in top form as much as possible. This helps ensure that they are always feeling their best so they can maintain their comfort and confidence.
Image By: Vika hova, Shutterstock
2. Be Independent But Learn to Trust
Cats are naturally independent creatures, but they learn how to trust their companions over time. We humans can make examples of these characteristics to help foster and encourage solid community support as a whole. Being independent in terms of caring for yourself and your family is a good thing, but it is also important to learn how to trust your friends, family, and neighbors whenever possible.
3. Learn How to Release Your Frustrations
Cats are notorious for accumulating pent-up energy, which typically leads to being frustrated and then trying to get rid of that frustration through activities like shredding the curtains, attacking the furniture, and ruining the carpet. We can take a lesson from our felines and make sure we find a way to release our frustrations before they become so explosive that we end up destroying our own property. Heading to the gym, getting out for a hike, and playing a sport with friends are all great ways to get rid of that frustration that you might be feeling.
4. Embrace Unconditional Love
Cats have a knack for offering unconditional love once they trust a person. They are also likely to forgive you when you don’t seem to hold up your end of the bargain. For example, while your cat lovingly and ceremoniously wakes you up each morning for work, they are not likely to hold it against you if you don’t make it home in time to feed them according to their regular dinner schedule. Instead, they will eat late and forget about the incident by the next morning. This helps keep stress levels down and ensures a happier life overall.
Image Credit: Oleg Ivanov, Unsplash
5. Stay Present in the Moment
Cats teach us to stay present in the moments that we are experiencing. Felines do not get caught up in the past or the future for the most part. There are a few exceptions, of course, like when a feline has experienced trauma in some way, but for the most part, cats live in the moment.
While we cannot always live in the moment if we want to keep our lives together, we can certainly work on doing so in our downtime. Instead of worrying about bills or stressing over something that has happened in the past, we can be present and allow ourselves to experience the stillness and peace of the moment whenever we have the opportunity to do so.
6. Don’t Overlook the Need for Rest
One of the most prominent things that people notice about cats is their knack for napping. Felines spend most of their time snoozing and maintaining their energy. Their hearty sleeping patterns help keep them lean, strong, and agile. As humans, we need just as much rest as anything else in our lives to stay happy and healthy. So, it’s a good idea to take your cat’s lead (at least occasionally) and join them in a nap when they sprawl out beside you.
7. Grooming Is Essential
Cats do not like to be unkempt, so they spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. Those that don’t make grooming a priority tend to look more disheveled and less attractive, which gives us a clue of how we might be perceived if we put our own grooming on the back burner. Well-groomed cats tend to have smoother, more vibrant coats and a healthier look overall. We humans want glowing skin and a healthy persona, and we might have an easier time achieving these things if we make grooming an essential priority in our lives.
Image Credit: ErikGlez, Shutterstock
8. Maintain Awareness of Your Surroundings
While cats can be clumsy from time to time, they are extremely aware of their surroundings and act accordingly for the most part. They know when it’s okay to relax and when it’s necessary to stay alert. They can anticipate what might happen and be prepared to respond. By maintaining an awareness of our surroundings, we can learn to do the same things and avoid problems while inviting new opportunities into our lives.
9. Make a Point to Soak Up the Sun
Getting regular exposure to sunlight helps ensure that your body produces enough vitamin D to stay healthy as the years pass. Vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and has anti-inflammatory properties that are vital for strong immune health. Just remember to wear plenty of sunscreen!
Conclusion
There are many things that our cat companions can teach us. By taking a step back and observing our cat’s behaviors and habits, we can mimic their actions to improve our own lives!
Featured Image Credit: Zenza Flarini, Shutterstock
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)
Help us improve Catster for pet parents!
Your feedback really matters.
What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?
Rachael has been a freelance writer since 2000, in which time she has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry in her spare time. As a vegan, Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. Animals also happen to be her favorite topic to write about! She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and dozens of chickens.
Cats have many strange behaviors and are associated with many myths and legends. People often even attribute magical properties to them. However, one...
Most cat owners can attest that cats do strange things. Whether your cat sleeps in the sink or finds a way to get stuck in the window blinds, there’s rarely a dull moment with them around. Another common cat quirk...
It’s generally recommended for cat owners to keep their cats away from essential oils. Essential oils can be extremely harmful to cats because they contain very high concentrations of chemicals that are toxic to them. Most cats aren’t fans of...
There are so many types of cat food on the market, and a glance at the cat food section in a pet store proves this. With so many options, you might be confused as to which foods are truly good...
Ears, unfortunately, don’t have the handy ability to shut. If you enjoy listening to loud music, you’re forcing your cats to endure it, too. If you share your house with a cat, you might already be aware that loud noises...
Every year as summer approaches, many pet owners wonder if their cats can sweat to stay cool and what they should be doing to prevent their pets from becoming overheated. The short answer is yes, cats do sweat, though not...
Cats drinking a saucer of milk or cream is something we can all picture. Cats have been drinking milk in advertisements, cartoons, and even through popular sayings like the “cat that got the cream,” but can cats really drink milk?...
You may notice your cat sleeping peacefully next to you and breathing rapidly — or so it seems. Exactly how fast should a cat be breathing? It can be scary not knowing if your cat is all right or not....
There are several items that all pet owners should have that are essential for taking care of a pet. While carriers aren’t necessarily at the top of the list, they are still important when you need to transport your cat,...
9 Important Life Lessons We Can Learn From Cats
Felines are amazing creatures that are a pleasure to spend time with. They are independent yet loving and active yet lazy, and most importantly, they can improve our quality of life as time goes on. So, what specific things can cats teach us? Just for starters, here are important life lessons that we humans can learn from cats.
The 9 Important Life Lessons We Can Learn From Cats
1. Self-Care Is Important
If you spend enough time observing your cat’s behavior, you will find that they spend a great deal of time grooming and taking care of themselves. Their impressive hygiene habits are something to make an example of. They want to stay in top form as much as possible. This helps ensure that they are always feeling their best so they can maintain their comfort and confidence.
2. Be Independent But Learn to Trust
Cats are naturally independent creatures, but they learn how to trust their companions over time. We humans can make examples of these characteristics to help foster and encourage solid community support as a whole. Being independent in terms of caring for yourself and your family is a good thing, but it is also important to learn how to trust your friends, family, and neighbors whenever possible.
3. Learn How to Release Your Frustrations
Cats are notorious for accumulating pent-up energy, which typically leads to being frustrated and then trying to get rid of that frustration through activities like shredding the curtains, attacking the furniture, and ruining the carpet. We can take a lesson from our felines and make sure we find a way to release our frustrations before they become so explosive that we end up destroying our own property. Heading to the gym, getting out for a hike, and playing a sport with friends are all great ways to get rid of that frustration that you might be feeling.
4. Embrace Unconditional Love
Cats have a knack for offering unconditional love once they trust a person. They are also likely to forgive you when you don’t seem to hold up your end of the bargain. For example, while your cat lovingly and ceremoniously wakes you up each morning for work, they are not likely to hold it against you if you don’t make it home in time to feed them according to their regular dinner schedule. Instead, they will eat late and forget about the incident by the next morning. This helps keep stress levels down and ensures a happier life overall.
5. Stay Present in the Moment
Cats teach us to stay present in the moments that we are experiencing. Felines do not get caught up in the past or the future for the most part. There are a few exceptions, of course, like when a feline has experienced trauma in some way, but for the most part, cats live in the moment.
While we cannot always live in the moment if we want to keep our lives together, we can certainly work on doing so in our downtime. Instead of worrying about bills or stressing over something that has happened in the past, we can be present and allow ourselves to experience the stillness and peace of the moment whenever we have the opportunity to do so.
6. Don’t Overlook the Need for Rest
One of the most prominent things that people notice about cats is their knack for napping. Felines spend most of their time snoozing and maintaining their energy. Their hearty sleeping patterns help keep them lean, strong, and agile. As humans, we need just as much rest as anything else in our lives to stay happy and healthy. So, it’s a good idea to take your cat’s lead (at least occasionally) and join them in a nap when they sprawl out beside you.
7. Grooming Is Essential
Cats do not like to be unkempt, so they spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. Those that don’t make grooming a priority tend to look more disheveled and less attractive, which gives us a clue of how we might be perceived if we put our own grooming on the back burner. Well-groomed cats tend to have smoother, more vibrant coats and a healthier look overall. We humans want glowing skin and a healthy persona, and we might have an easier time achieving these things if we make grooming an essential priority in our lives.
8. Maintain Awareness of Your Surroundings
While cats can be clumsy from time to time, they are extremely aware of their surroundings and act accordingly for the most part. They know when it’s okay to relax and when it’s necessary to stay alert. They can anticipate what might happen and be prepared to respond. By maintaining an awareness of our surroundings, we can learn to do the same things and avoid problems while inviting new opportunities into our lives.
9. Make a Point to Soak Up the Sun
Getting regular exposure to sunlight helps ensure that your body produces enough vitamin D to stay healthy as the years pass. Vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and has anti-inflammatory properties that are vital for strong immune health. Just remember to wear plenty of sunscreen!
Conclusion
There are many things that our cat companions can teach us. By taking a step back and observing our cat’s behaviors and habits, we can mimic their actions to improve our own lives!
Featured Image Credit: Zenza Flarini, Shutterstock
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)
Help us improve Catster for pet parents!
Your feedback really matters.
What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?
Contents
Authored by
Rachael GerkensmeyerJoin the conversation
Talk With A Vet Online
Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime
Affordable vet advice
Does My Cat Understand Smiles? The Facts & FAQ
Most of us work hard to have a communicative relationship with our cats. We talk to them multiple times per day, as well...
Are Irises Poisonous to Cats? Vet Approved Facts & Safety Tips
You likely know how it feels when you discover that your cat has eaten something and you have no idea whether it’s safe....
My Cat Won’t Eat Dry Food, Should I Worry? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons
Cat owners and toddler parents can agree on at least one thing: dealing with a picky eater is not easy. With preferences changing...
8 Best Designer Cat Collar Brands in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks
Dogs are easy, undemanding creatures. If you need a collar for a dog, you can just go buy a $7 one at your...
More related
Can Cats Sense the Death of Another Cat? Feline Truth Unveiled
Cats have many strange behaviors and are associated with many myths and legends. People often even attribute magical properties to them. However, one...
How to Make Your Cat Instagram Famous in 2025
There’s no denying that the internet loves cats and is always looking for more cat content. Many cats have become internet famous and...
We Talk to the Artist Behind “The Adventures of Business Cat”
Do you ever take a look over at your cat — who, for the basis of this scenario, is happily dozing away on...
Iris Melanosis in Cats: Vet-Verified Signs, Causes & Treatment
A cat’s eyes are often their most striking feature. We all know whether our cats have amber or green irises and are fairly...
Keep reading
Why Do Cats Like Straws? 6 Likely Reasons
Most cat owners can attest that cats do strange things. Whether your cat sleeps in the sink or finds a way to get stuck in the window blinds, there’s rarely a dull moment with them around. Another common cat quirk...
What Essential Oils Do Cats Hate – The 7 Worst Options (Vet Reviewed)
It’s generally recommended for cat owners to keep their cats away from essential oils. Essential oils can be extremely harmful to cats because they contain very high concentrations of chemicals that are toxic to them. Most cats aren’t fans of...
Is Prescription Cat Food Necessary? Vet-Verified Health & Nutrition Facts
There are so many types of cat food on the market, and a glance at the cat food section in a pet store proves this. With so many options, you might be confused as to which foods are truly good...
Can Loud Music Harm a Cat? Vet-Reviewed Info
Ears, unfortunately, don’t have the handy ability to shut. If you enjoy listening to loud music, you’re forcing your cats to endure it, too. If you share your house with a cat, you might already be aware that loud noises...
Can Cats Sweat? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ
Every year as summer approaches, many pet owners wonder if their cats can sweat to stay cool and what they should be doing to prevent their pets from becoming overheated. The short answer is yes, cats do sweat, though not...
Can Cats Drink Milk? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts & FAQ
Cats drinking a saucer of milk or cream is something we can all picture. Cats have been drinking milk in advertisements, cartoons, and even through popular sayings like the “cat that got the cream,” but can cats really drink milk?...
Cat Respiration Rate: How Fast Should My Cat Be Breathing?
You may notice your cat sleeping peacefully next to you and breathing rapidly — or so it seems. Exactly how fast should a cat be breathing? It can be scary not knowing if your cat is all right or not....
10 Best Cat Carriers in Canada: 2025 Reviews & Top Picks
There are several items that all pet owners should have that are essential for taking care of a pet. While carriers aren’t necessarily at the top of the list, they are still important when you need to transport your cat,...