Most of you already know that June is Adopt-A-Cat Month, and this year I think we kitties should step up our game. There are lots of homeless cats out there that need our help. So I hope you will all put on your thinking caps and come up with new ways to promote cat adoption — and that those of you who blog will write posts about what you come up with.
I did some deep thinking (in between naps) this weekend and realized that we cats need to market ourselves the same way anyone or anything else gets marketed — humans need to know “what’s in it for me?” It is the classic “features versus benefits” argument. Humans don’t care about our stunning looks, cute antics or ninja skills unless it is going to make their lives better somehow. So in that spirit, I have come up with 10 ways that we cats benefit humans and enhance their lives! I hope you can find some talking points here next time somebody waffles about adopting a cat.
1. Cats make great alarm clocks, waking up humans right on time, at the same time every morning. Even better, we do not have snooze alarms.
2. With our soft, touchable fur and calming purrs, cats are great stress-relievers.
3. Cats are great help around the house. We will supervise everything you do, especially if it involves boxes, wrapping paper or food. Oh, except for vacuuming and certain other domestic chores which are beneath us.
4. Cats are creatures of discernment; the kind of love we offer is deeply considered and not given lightly. It is a much richer, more complex bond than one has with any other creature. Including humans, who tend to be too complex and often lacking in richness.
5. Cats are living, breathing home decor, with more grace and beauty than the vase that we knocked off the mantle. In fact, replacing your breakables with cats creates a stunning look for your home.
6. Cats will teach you how to hunt, if you let us.
7. Cats will watch even the worst reality TV show with you and never disparage your taste in programming.
8. If you have never aspired to a leadership position, a cat makes the perfect pet because you will never be our boss. In fact, bossing us around is futile.
9. You never have to buy clothes for a cat. In fact, we prefer that you don’t.
10. Cats constantly remind you that rules are made to be broken.
See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
Excellent reasons(as if humans need one, but they seem to ) for adopting cats!!
We totally agree with #1, heehee
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Treasure,Tiger,JJ and Julie
Sparkle – you had Mum at 4!!! Better go do some posts for June!!!
Those are great reasons to adopt! Y’all have a great week.
We just finished reading a wonderful book called THE CAT THAT GOD SENT by Jim Kraus about a new preacher and his cat named Petey who helped lots of people! It shows how helpful cats are!
Hi Sparkle everyone knows (or should) that loving a cat is the best medicine in the entire world…
Just saying
Hugs madi your BFFF
Great list! #1 is certainly working well at our home, especially on weekends when I don’t set regular alarm 🙂 I love # 4 – yes bond we have with kitties are very rich.
Mum is so pleased when we help her round the home (no. 3) in fact she is delighted that we are so good at supervision.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
RE: #1: Our human wishes we’d let her sleep a bit longer, but we say 4AM is late!
They’re all great reasons to adopt, of course, and all true.
Our human has a question about cat time perception, though, maybe for one of your Ask Sparkle posts:
Okay, I get that the boys have a sense of time (as we humans define it), hence the waking me up every day around 4AM. What I’d love to know is why they’ll wake me at the same time even if I go to bed later than normal, say an hour to an hour and a half later. I still don’t get to sleep past 4AM, because Nicki will start meowing and tearing around, jumping on the bed, screaming at me, etc. And Derry will make plaintive, pathetic, “I’m starving” noises that activate my caretaker/servant instincts. I can understand how they’d have a sense of a certain number of hours passing, so would think that if I go to bed an hour later, they’ll wake me an hour later. But that’s not the case. What gives? Does anyone actually know a real answer to this?
Excellent post Sparkle. You have inspired me to blog on this subject this month as well. I personally like #5. My human saves tons of money by not having to buy much home decor like rugs of which we have none in our house. Also saves her housekeeping time because floors are easier to clean than rugs when we have accidents. ~~Pippy the Feline Yogini
Um. Deer Sparkly,
Did you say wrapping paper or whapping paper?
love,
Waffles
11. You will never be at a loss for something to talk about.
12. Cats are built-in entertainment when friends come to call.
13. They make you laugh…and none of us do that enough these days.
Thanks for your list. We think these are a nice enhancements; though, stopping with 13 is probably not a good idea.
Purrs and hugs from the kitties at The Cat on My Head, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
Those sure are some mighty good ideas to adopt a bunch of cats. We so agree with all of them. Very excellent reasons to present to peoples.
Excellent reasons all!
That is an excellent list of benefits of having kitties! Around here one of the cats does have a snooze alarm and she even makes sure she lays on humans in a way that nobody is getting up anytime soon.
great rules. we especially like #5 & #10….. (mom says she could do without #1 – something about certain nameless cats that get up at the crack of dawn rather than the crack of the alarm clock)
those are all good reasons to adopt cats! We purrsonally love Michigan Humane’s adoption campaign “Purr Michigan” 🙂
Sparkle, excellent and true marketing campaign. I hope it works past all expectations.
Those are 10 great ways Sparkle. I was so happy to hear on my local news today that 100 dogs and cats were adopted this weekend for a special adoption event they had.
I am sure the Farm cats would agree with you. Harry could teach a master class on hunting.
Those were so good Sparkle! Teo more and you have next years calendar!
Sparkle that is a fabulous list.
We all know the benefits of having a cat in the home we hope that more hooman learn this and adopt.
Those are all good reasons but our # 1 reason is cats are purrfect!
Number elebenty twelve is cats are very good at everything 🙂
Humans should adopt cats because we’re the best! Great list, Sparkle!
I think those should be printed on a poster to feature at adoption events!
Regarding 5), also, we do not need batteries.
Purrs
BOL your last two points were my favourite!! I am taking part in adopt a cat month (or longer than a month depending on what it takes) I am trying to find Mary a home http://www.harringtonspetfood.com/content/UK/info7
Wonderful post – I had to share it.
Madi and Marg are absolutely right. Sparkle, you shine.
and we love you for it >^^<