No matter your age, gender, location or place in life, there is one thing that could make your life significantly better, a cat. From their incredibly entertaining mannerisms to their simply adorable appearance, there’s a lot to love about these furry friends. Here are 11 things that make cats the absolute coolest pets on the planet:

1. Their fierce independence

Since they are super self-reliant animals that groom themselves, don’t need to be regularly let outside, don’t need leashes if they do go out, and can even ration their own food, they don’t require a lot of owner-related attention making them incredibly convenient, easy pets.

2. Their lovable nature

Even though they aren’t fully domesticated and are very independent, they choose to be our companions day after day. From lap sitting to “helping” their owners every chance they get, they are especially loving animals who genuinely care about us.

3. Their hunting abilities

Contrary to their sleepy habits and lovable nature, they certainly do mean business. Whether it be small bugs in your home or even bunnies outside, cats are very capable hunters who will chase after just about anything that piques their interest.

4. Their hunting abilities

Much like their attitudes towards hunting, play time is serious business. Laser pointers, shoelaces, and bottle tops can be just as entertaining as anything they could possibly hunt outside. You definitely learn that anything you drop on the floor, will become a toy in less than 5 seconds.

5. Their surprisingly good communication skills

Regardless of whether your cat wants attention, food, or just to be left alone, they are certainly going to let you know. From their meow to the frequency of their purr, every sound they make is to let us know exactly what they want and how they are feeling.

6. Their clean habits

As all cat owners know, they take their bath time very seriously and don’t like to be interrupted. Not only are they careful about regularly cleaning themselves, but they will also make an attempt to show their owners that they need cleaned too.

7. Their extreme intelligence

From their short term memory that can last up to 7 whole minutes and their surprising ability to learn tricks quickly, their mental capabilities are truly amazing. If you ever underestimate them by giving them a toy that is far too trivial for their intelligence, they will certainly let you know.

8. Their silly moments

Even though they are very intelligent animals, they certainly do have their incredibly amusing moments. Whether their tongue gets stuck out while they are cleaning themselves or they miscalculate a jump they are attempting, there is no shortage of silly pictures and stories.

9. Their level of sass

Despite often having a rather calm and unamused demeanor, cats will happily let you know when you are being ridiculous. Moments like getting them to do a trick for the third time or going anywhere near their food bowl without actually feeding them will be met with large amounts of sass.

10. They have very unique personalities

Despite sharing many experiences, every cat differs from one another in terms of their obvious traits and characteristics. From calm love-bugs to independent explorers, every cat has their own personality that is extremely developed compared to many other animals.

11. They make your life 100 times better

They are your alarm clock in the morning, your helper in the afternoon, and your cuddle buddy at night. At the end of the day, all of their amazing qualities add up to a little creature that you couldn’t imagine living without.

If you don’t already have a furry friend, check out your local animal shelters to find a purr-fect pet that is right for you!