Cats

Cats are one of the most ubiquitous facets of internet culture. They are the feline glue that bonds the many different corners of the world wide web. For years, my experience with the creatures was limited to aged cat videos and memes, but now that I have looked after a friend's cat for quite a while I have quite a few things to say about these furry parasites. 

Unlike the affection-slobbering dog, cats very rarely show any joy in your presence whatsoever. They mainly keep to themselves, only appearing for the occasional pat or to be fed or changed. This may give the impression that cats are, therefore, cold and unwanted animals, but it is this aversion to human interaction that makes their affection all-the-more valuable. It's simple supply and demand. Most people would choose to have a single diamond over a thousand pieces of coal. This, my single viewer, is the magic of the cat. Humans instinctively want what they can't have, and there is nothing rarer in this world than a friendly cat. 

Another uniquely feline appeal comes in the form of low maintenance. Cats are essentially silent, only uttering an occasional meow when in want of food or a litter box change. This opens people to the adventure that having a pet provides without much of the consequence. Lonely nights are somehow much more lively with a furry blob that sometimes skirts out of the corner of your eye. 

The final and probably most desirable benefit of caring for a housecat is the social opportunities the animal provides. Almost anyone that comes to your house will find some sort of enjoyment in learning the cat's name, gender, and time spent in your abode. Your housepet will also act as a convenient child-magnet, drawing little ones (and their accompanying noise) away from your adult conversations. Even outside of your home, you will suddenly find a strong pivot of conversation with any other cat owner, of which there are an estimated 370 million. 

I never assumed that I would care too much for a cat. Like many things in life, people's fascination with the creature seemed unfounded and strange. Upon having a cat for myself, however, I now know why hundreds of millions of people grant these silent mammals free range of their life. This blog post is on one sense about cats, but in another, it is about the underlying human truth that everything is better once you try it for yourself.