Things You Recognize When You Have a Cat

While I write this, my Pebbles is lying contentedly next to me, purring, half asleep. Wonderful, such an afternoon relaxing and working at home while your cat darts around you a bit. Pebbles always stays with my parents when I am abroad, and when I come back to an empty house, I think every time: something is not right here. There should be a meowing creature wandering around, otherwise this house feels lifeless. Recognizable? Then the points below will surely sound very familiar.

1. You might think you have a fixed rhythm and routine, but appearances can be deceiving
Your cat actually designed that, and you just adapt. Does your cat want breakfast at eight? Then you get out of bed. Does your cat want to sleep at eleven? Then it just keeps meowing until you head towards bed.

2. Nothing on tables is safe
‘No, NO, don’t do that—‘ *thud* And then it starts washing itself very innocently afterwards.

3. They can snore — and loudly too
My Pebbles does that too, and the cats before her never did — so I was quite startled the first time she lay next to me snoring.

4. They need to be entertained, otherwise they can become grumpy
In any case, it’s sad if they have little entertainment, but you will also notice it: they will break everything. Of course, you can do a lot about this yourself.

5. But even when they are very happy, they still have the zoomies
The zoomies: also known as the ‘crazy quarter hour’. A short period in which your cat runs around like crazy and seems to be chasing all sorts of things that aren’t there. The chance is nine out of ten that they will then lie down in a coma.

6. They notice when you’re not feeling well
Whether you are really sick or sad — they sense it and do not leave your side. What would we do without them, right?