All

I am the proud mom of two brother kittens, just over a year old. Lucas (Chunks) and Salem (Hunter) were found at the Chester Veterinary Clinic in Chester, CT, on a whim. I had been looking for a new kitten after the passing of my previous cat, Beau, and my parents agreed we needed two of them. After calling around, we found these two brothers, all black (with the exception of Chunks' white chest spot), and ready to be so eagerly loved. Over the course of my history with cats, I've learned a few things and come to be familiar with some aspects of cat ownership.

1. Love

Waking up in the morning to cat snuggles is one of the best feelings, knowing that your little guy (or girl) just wants to relax with you by their side, they feel comfortable and willing to join you, wondering why your half unconscious body is laying beneath them, not moving, until they contemplate so hard they then crash and pass out next to you.

2. Affection

Some may think the sandpaper strip of a cat's tongue running against your skin is uncomfortable, but us cat lovers know better than to think twice about loving kitty kisses. Cats show us affection in the most basic ways, rubbing against us, sitting on our laps, licking us, and even laying in our clothes before we go away on a trip. They're the best teachers of how to be affectionate towards the ones we love.

3. Independence

While they love being independent, we all know the necessity of independence. At the end of the day, your cat would be just fine without you. (Let's be honest, they would miss you dearly)

4. How To Accept A Helping Hand

Cats are always willing to help with everyday tasks. Whether it's typing a paper, taking a shower, cleaning off the table, they love helping. I mean, as I speak my cat is Hdas39 me tel11111111111111111111 you all about this.

5. Peer Pressure

Every cat owner knows the feeling of sitting or crouching next to your cat while they're shaking their booty on the hunt for prey. Whether that prey is a chipmunk or a hair tie, it doesn't matter. We all sit next to our companions and egg them on, telling them things like, "Get it. You can do this. Get it!" as we cheer them on. We're the biggest source of peer pressure.

Until they bring home that same chipmunk... Alive... Running around your living room.

But good job anyways.

6. Putting Others Before Yourself

Cats are professionals when it comes to putting others before themselves. We as owners are, too. Cleaning the litter box, ensuring they're ready to go outside in the morning after their breakfast serving, making sure they're comfortable in the larger half of the bed. Cats love to ensure your skin is clean, you have no open glasses on the table (don't worry, they'll knock them over for you), there's no hair ties (to of course, help your hair grow), and you're always on your toes.

7. Relaxation

One of the most important things we as cat owners know and have learned from our cats is how to relax. We see them in their lazy floppiness all over the floor, bent across tables and chairs, getting comfortable in ways we have no idea how. But none the less, they know how to relax.

8. Sitting still until you die of natural causes because your cat is sitting on your lap and you're vying for its love and acceptance.