I wholeheartedly admit that I am a “cat lady in training.” I am not ashamed of this. I’ve been a future crazy cat lady for as long as I can remember. Maybe it’s their teeny little bean toes, or their little bee-filled tummies that purr when you make them happy. Maybe it’s the fact that if there was ever an animal I could relate to it’s a cat: demanding, only wants to be petted and admired on its own terms, thinks humans are stupid for the most part... You get the picture.

There is no limit to my cat love. Seriously, I visited San Juan last summer and there’s a beach where hundreds of cats live and you can bet that I spent half a day running around making friends with all those fur babies instead of, you know, actually doing beach things. But at the very top of my capacity for cat loving is the amount of love I have for my sweet angel, Jinx. Over the last five years that she’s been mine, I can honestly say that my cat is the love of my life.

Here are a few signs that your cat is essentially your live-in boyfriend and the love of your life.

1. You share a bed.

My cat has her side, and I have mine. Although, she usually never sticks to it and ends up stealing my pillow and my heart.

2. They have a spot at the dinner table.

OK, technically I don’t feed her at the table, but she does have her specific spot on the counter where she will sit and cry for hours if you don’t feed her in a timely manner. I wonder how she got so spoiled?

3. Your camera roll is filled with a combination of pictures of cat doing ordinary things and silly selfie attempts.

Like, it’s almost embarrassing y’all.

4. You can’t watch a movie without a cuddling cat.

It’s almost wrong to even sit down on the couch if you have no intention of paying attention to them.

5. You get in fights.

Super embarrassing, but you peed in my fern, of course I’m going to yell at you. The litter box is two steps away. I’m operating under the assumption that this is equivocal of your boyfriend leaving the seat up.

6. You know all of your cat’s favorites.

Foods, treats, toys, places to hide, you name it.

7. You celebrate birthdays and anniversaries.

That stuff is important and obviously your cat will be very upset if you forget.

8. Friends are constantly telling you that you talk way too much about your cat.

They're begging you to stop, but whatever. Can't hear the haters.

9. You give each other presents.

While you give gifts of treats and toys, your sweet little angel baby has probably at some point gifted you with a carcass. At first glance, it probably seems like a death threat, but in reality, it’s just that they think you’re a big, dumb, fur-less cat who can’t hunt. They love you so much that they want to teach you so you don’t starve.

10. Your cat can tell when you’re upset and will be there to comfort you.

No, seriously, it’s like a weird sixth sense. They know when their human needs a little cat-nap and will always be there. Adorable.

11. Your cat doesn't care if you're having a bad hair day or if you can't find anything to wear.

Your cat loves you just the way you are. Mostly because you are responsible for feeding them, but that's a minor detail.

12. When you're away from your cat, you get nervous.

Really, really nervous. What if something happens while you’re gone? What if she misses me too? What if she’s mad that I left her alone? What if she never forgives me? You call your mom and make her put the phone up next to your cat so that she can hear your voice. You call to reassure yourself that yes, she is fine.

13. You show pictures of your cat to anyone and everyone.

Look how CUTE she is!!!

14. If there were a way to make your cat your emergency contact, you would.

You would even pay the phone bill so your cat could have a number just in case something happened to you.

15. If anything ever happened to your cat, you would probably die of a broken heart.

I don't even want to think about it.

16. You’re reading this article.

Deep down inside, you know that your cat is your one true love, you just want someone else to justify it.