Frankly, I don’t know why people don’t like cats. I have loved cats since Inzy (who is an inspector to you) first came into my life when I was a seven-year-old girl. Inzy was the best cat. She waited by the tree in the front of our yard every day until I came home from school. We sure had a dog (Bunny), but Inzy was special.

The first time I realized that other people don’t like cats was my own grandmother’s reaction to Inzy. My grandmother saw Inzy’s curiosity as sinister. I saw Inzy’s affection as something annoying and her protection (towards me) as a threat. One day I came home from school and Inzy was not in her tree. I searched for her for hours. It wasn’t until long after that my mother told me that my grandmother had taken Inzy. I never knew all the details (I was only 8 years old), but I never forgave my grandmother.

There are many myths around cats. “Black cats are unlucky.” “Cats will steal your breath.” You would think that now that we are in the 21st century, people would put these myths aside. We’ve gotten so far out of the Dark Ages, why can’t we move on to the modern age regarding cats? According to Wikipedia, the Felis catus, also known as a house cat or house cat to distinguish it from other felines, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship. There is no mystery there. A cat is a carnivorous mammal that some of us have taken as companions and have been doing so for more than 9,500 years.

Unlike dogs, cats are not pack animals. Cats do not have an instinctive drive to be submissive to a leader. House cats don’t require much praise and, like their big cat relatives, are primarily motivated by survival. While cats can be described as aloof, they are also highly intelligent creatures and capable of learning. While you may not be able to teach your cat tricks in the same way that you can teach a dog, you can train him to stop using your sofa as a scratching post or jumping on the kitchen counter. To really train and enjoy your cat, you have to learn to communicate and think like a cat. Yelling at a cat rarely works. Yell at a cat and he or she will run or look at you like you are crazy, but the behavior will continue and there will be frustration on all sides.

Simply put, there is no one way to train a cat. Like humans, every cat is different and you have to get to know your cat by listening and observing it. Listen to the inflection in the “meow”, purr or hiss. Observe body language. Is your back arched? Is the tail raised and stiff? If you take the time to listen and observe, you may even be able to prevent your cat from engaging in undesirable behavior before it begins.

On a personal note, I have two cats. One is helping me write right now. I love coming home to find them waiting for me by the door (they are indoor cats so unlike Inzy there is no access to the trees but we do have cat scratching posts, perches and cat beds for your enjoyment ). I love having my leg rubbed (except when I’m wearing black, but that’s what lint rollers are for) and hitting my head with the hand. I love rubbing their little stomachs and tickling their chin. I love that they play nurse when I’m sick and wrist rest when I’m on my laptop.

Over the years, I have had 8 cats in my life and have gotten to know each one. Each one has been so different and I have loved them all. Therefore, to answer the question posed above. I still don’t know why some people don’t like cats. Hey, some people don’t like chocolate … I don’t get it either.

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