Bringing home baby: adopting a cat

Cats are a very polarizing topic.

In ancient history the Egyptians worshipped felines as gods. However, during the Middle Ages, cats were feared and exterminated because they were believed to be witches’ familiars.

Today, a popular cat food commercial shows a gorgeous white cat with stunning green eyes eating a delectable looking meal from a crystal goblet. This is in sharp contrast to the horribly obnoxious bumper sticker that was sent to me via interoffice mail stating, “I like cats! They taste just like chicken!” Just for the record, the co-worker who sent me this bumper sticker attempted to make my Italian temper flare, NOT because he eats cats.

Today, statistics show that more and more people agree with the cat food commercial: Cats are beloved family members who deserve the very best things in life. In fact, some statistics show that cats have overtaken dogs in popularity. More households now include felines than canines. Many families, like my own, contain both feline and canine members.

Animal welfare agencies have always known what many Americans are beginning to learn: Cats make wonderful pets. In order to celebrate cats and promote cat adoptions June is officially, “Adopt a Cat Month.” Animal shelters across the country will showcase their feline residents in the hopes that visitors will decide to adopt a special feline or two. A major goal is to promote spaying/neutering of cats. Sadly, according the popular comic strip, “GET FUZZY,” only about 20 percent of kittens born in the United States find a home with humans for life.

Are you someone who isn’t completely convinced that adopting a cat is the right choice for you? If so, consider the following reasons for adopting a cat, and welcoming him or her into your heart and home.

- Cats are low-maintenance; they don’t need to be walked twice a day.

- Cats are less expensive to care for than dogs; they eat less and, generally speaking, vet care is less costly for cats versus dogs.

- Want to handle stress better? No need to take expensive yoga classes, just adopt a cat. Watch and learn. Cats are masters of relaxation.

- A cat’s purr conquers insomnia better than any pill. For me, one of the greatest pleasures in life is taking a nap with one or several of my cats. They cuddle next to me or on top of me, and make me feel protected and loved.

- The cat purr has healing powers both for cats and their human guardians! Scientists have discovered that both wild and domestic cats purr when they are wounded because the sound waves created helps their organs and bones heal quicker and grow stronger. Additionally, when domestic house cats purr they create sound waves between 27 and 44 hertz (cycles per second). Medical studies have shown that sound waves between 20 and 50 hertz help human bones grow and become stronger.

- Unlike puppies, kittens won’t chew your personal possessions to shreds.

- Adult cats enjoy spending a leisurely afternoon watching sports on television rather than participating in tiresome physical activity.

-  here are numerous examples of cats alerting their families of house fires while faithful Rover continued to snore.

- Cats are very easy to entertain — a ball of yarn, some discarded paper, or a feather can keep them occupied for hours.

- Cats love us unconditionally, just like dogs, and contrary to popular belief cats are not loners. They want to be with their human guardians each and every day.

Beehler is an active Lynchburg Humane Society volunteer.