Cats for People’s Problems

I think cats are the ideal choice for those who can’t get out as much as they would like, or any other kind of socialization challenge. Cats have some special features which makes them uniquely suited to be pets for anyone with challenges.

One of the worst things about dealing with these issues is how it keeps a person stuck in the house. If they live alone, the social possibilities open to them are that much more restricted. The quiet, loving, companionship of cats can be just right.

Here’s five reasons why:

1. Cats are self-maintaining. The cat’s independent nature means they not only don’t mind having self-care set up for them; they prefer it.
   If we leave out a bowl of low carb dry food, they can get along between canned food meals, and won’t eat it all at once. They can use the litter box when they need it, and an automated litter box can make that task even easier.
   A person can take care of their cat’s exercise needs while sitting in a chair, and cats don’t even need their nails clipped; a good scratching post will let them maintain their claws themselves. Most breeds only need a grooming session once a week.
2. Cats don’t need the outdoors. Between weather and a person’s state of health, the outdoors can be tricky to negotiate. Just getting dressed properly and setting up the house for leaving can exhaust someone without a lot of energy reserves.
   It’s safer for cats to stay indoors exclusively, and their person can avoid icy sidewalks, drenching rain, or too much heat and humidity. If the person can get out, that’s wonderful, and they have other people to see when they do. If they can’t get out, they still have friendship in their own home.
3. Cats are low-key. While cats do ask for things, most of the time they just want to hang out with us. For a person who’s not feeling up for much, it can be difficult finding companionship who just wants to be there.
   But cats love that!
   Reading a book or working on the computer are activities that don’t offer much to an observer. Yet cats are perfectly happy to curl up in our lap, stretch out along our leg, or find a comfy spot near us, and don’t ask for much more than occasional petting to be perfectly content.
4. Cats are easy to train. Cats love to communicate, and since their person teaches them to “speak human,” it doesn’t matter if that person has verbal or physical difficulties. Cats will learn what their person means to say, however they can say it.
   Communication is how we train our cats. Most of what cats needs to do they do instinctively, and don’t even need training. As for leaving things alone or coming up with a good routine, cats are glad to work with us for mutual benefits. Once a bond of trust has been established, cats can be told to leave something alone… and they will.
5. Cats care. Cats are very sensitive to those they spend time with. This makes our cats become attuned to our moods. It can be easier for them to understand when they should be more attentive and quieter, and when we are up for play.
   They can be trained in many helper functions for humans. Their facility with body languages, and their keen senses, lets them pick up biological, and chemical, clues.
   Don’t be skeptical about what cats can do. Read about Tommy, the cat who dialed 911.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Dear Husband is enjoying his Cat Civilization more than ever, as our three cats amuse him when he’s up, and cuddle with him when he’s down. On those days when he can’t get out, he still gets companionship.

And such companionship it is.

For more about cats as caretakers, see these posts: Cats Who Care and When Cats Make Better Pets.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.