We may not have thought about it much, but we can do a lot of good by giving cat advice. We may not realize it, but people want and need help with their cats.

We just have to know when they are asking, and what to say.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We can help cats even if we don’t have much time or money to spare. We just need to do two things.

Admit we like cats.

and

Be willing to listen.

Despite the fact that this is the 21st century, many people still feel that expressing too much fondness for their pets is Not Right. I’ll never forget the high-ranking executive who called me into her office. I didn’t work for her, and worried about what being called in might mean. It turned out she knew I loved animals, and didn’t feel she could express her sorrow over the recent loss of her little dog to anyone but me.

That’s really too bad.

So we don’t have to turn our desk into a shrine, but we also shouldn’t be shy about admitting that we care for our pets; and that our pets care for us. It’s that last part that often stops people. Remember that people who don’t think animals have feelings… don’t have pets.

Often, it’s other people who are shy about expressing such feelings and thoughts; until they know there is someone else who feels that way. Then they will confide the funny things their pet does, too.

Or not. That’s the other side of being honest about our cat experiences. If we occasionally tell funny cat stories, there might be a person who doesn’t have any funny cat stories, even though they have a cat. These are the people who might sidle up and express skepticism about cat potential, or mention that their cat isn’t one of those “friendly” cats.

They don’t want any tips or techniques, necessarily. We might not know exactly what we’ve been doing to make our cats so sweet, or how we picked a “friendly” cat. And that’s not what the person is really asking about.

They might not even be thinking that what their skeptic side says is wrong. That everyone else in their life, who tells them cats aren’t good pets, are mistaken. That the “common wisdom” about cats being aloof and unaffectionate is just not so.

They really want to hear that it’s possible.

And anyone who loves cats can tell them that.

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