Cats are interesting pets that most people tend to not understand. Many people have been led to believe that cats are rude and unloving, but this is not true at all. Cats can make for wonderful pets and can be very affectionate and loving animals if you treat them right.
Being a cat owner for several years and currently owning three cats, I can say from experience that cats are good pets. While not all cats are going to be the exact same, many cats can be friendly to you if you know how to treat them. Cats are very independent animals and prefer to be left alone most of the time. If you let them get used to you instead of constantly bothering or messing with them, they will grow closer to you and become friendlier. The traits different cats have can depend on the breed and their lives. Some cats may naturally be a bit more timid or afraid in new homes, while others will open up to you immediately. Similarly, cats who were raised in homes with abusive owners will often be afraid and possibly aggressive when first coming into a new home
If you know how to treat cats, they are going to become good pets. This applies to all pets, not just cats. Having time to adjust and being treated well are important factors in owning a pet. A common thing that many cat owners, especially new owners, seem to believe is comparing owning a cat is the same as owning a dog. Dogs and cats are two very different animals and have different ways of being treated. For example, dogs are very outgoing animals and love interacting with other people. This is a reason why you see many dog parks but never any “cat parks.” Dogs and cats also show affection in different ways. Dogs will usually be more expressive and energetic by jumping, tail wagging and licking you, while cats are more laid back when expressing affection: purring, headbutting, and kneading with their paws.
I could go into lots of detail on the different types of cats and how they act, but that’s a discussion for cat experts to have, which I am not. I will say, however, that if you do plan on adopting a cat, do some research first. If you have dogs or children in your family, make sure you are getting a cat that will be okay with the other factors in your home. Some cats can be very nervous around other cats, animals and children.
In conclusion, cats are amazing pets if you know how to treat them. They are not like other pets and have a high degree of independence and prefer to be left alone most of the time. Of course, this won’t apply to all cats you meet, but it’s not a bad thing to keep in mind.
