A friend is about to come over for the first time. We enter my building and I immediately ask, "are you allergic to cats?" While I sometimes have friends say yes, the ones that say no are sure to add that they are NOT fans of cats. I can guarantee that after spending time with my cat, Petunia, aka Tuna, each and every one of them has taken back their words. In fact, they're pretty much asking when they can come back for their next visit. Not with me, of course, but with her…trust me, no offense taken. She's my best friend, so I think she's pretty great. Sure, call me crazy, but really, how could you resist this…

1. She’s always there to distract me from my stress and bring a little smile to my face.

Her goofy faces, my favorite one being the one where she shows her teeth, are a sure way to win me from my desk for a little snuggle sesh. After just minutes of her purring, rolling, and batting at my hands I'm almost always convinced that all of my work will get done and everything will work out. She reminds me to keep it light and be a little silly sometimes, especially in those stressful situations.

2. She gives me a look when she knows I’m in over my head.

She knew it'd happen often after seeing how I unpacked my apartment! While she enjoyed the boxes scattered everywhere and relives it when binders and papers are thrown around or Target bags are splayed across the floor, she never fails to give me a look that just confirms my stress and anxiety. She has a way of asking me, "what have you done now?" It's almost as if my mom told her not to go easy on me. Thank goodness we have #1 to relieve the stress if I get too overwhelmed.

3. Her sleeping habits inspire me to improve mine.

And I also wish I could look that cute while sleeping! C'mon, just look at her! So, she may be the typical cat that sleeps all day, but she definitely has that beauty sleep going on for her. Whether it be a lack of sleep from school work or the newest Netflix original or maybe even a night out, Petunia makes it a point to not sleep with me if I did not sleep in my bed for a full six hours the night before. Again, it's as if my mom had told her what good habits and bad habits were! The way she cuddles my feet at the end of the bed might also influence me just a smidge.

4. We enjoy our dinner together, so she ensures I’m never alone at meal time.

My friends always say that she wants to be part of the fam. Whether it be watching a movie or eating dinner, she's always by my side. She skips out on the homework to enjoy some play time, but, hey, I don't blame her. She's started to even refuse eating if I'm not sitting in the kitchen with her. I guess loneliness during meals works both ways.

5. She can’t come to the yoga studio with me, so she takes time to stretch at home.

Sometimes we practice together! More things she does that bring a smile to my face. Up cat, down cat, child's pose. She's always stretching…I know, typical cat! Her stretching reminds me of how appreciative I am of my stretching and sometimes we're fortunate enough to share a home practice together. While this typically revolves itself around my practicing and her rubbing her head against my arms, it's still something fun we share together. It's moments in the house like these that bring us together.

I hope it's obvious that I LOVE Petunia, to both you and her. And while I will certainly attest that not all cat-owners are this lucky, I do know quite a few that would boast about their relationship with their cats as much as I do. If you still think I'm crazy and that it's not possible to love a cat like this, just come on over to meet her. I can guarantee that you will realize how special she has become in my life. You'll even probably start getting the hourly snaps of our adventures together. Now, the next question is: do I make her an Instagram?