What I’ve Learned from Cats and Kittens about Life

If I dare to be humble enough, then I admit that I can learn from anyone and anything. Truly, the learning opportunities are unlimited in life.

Got my front teeth knocked out when I was 17. Okay, what did I learn from that?

Nearly drowned when I was 18. What did I learn?

“My parents were separated before I was born. I never met my dad. He died when I was 18.”

Yes, I learned a lot from that, too.

Granted, not all of the learning opportunities in life come from something painful. They can also come from something enjoyable. Like cats and kittens.

Today, I get to share with you what I’ve learned from cats and kittens about life.

Starting with:

#1. Curiosity Helps You Learn

Cats are willing to explore. They want to find out what their environment is like. They’re interested in discovering the world around them. Each day, each moment presents another opportunity to learn.

Yes, cats are curious. And their curiosity isn’t usually a source of danger for them. They want to experience more. They’re hungry for adventure and experimentation. Cats engage their senses wherever they can. Seeing. Touching. Tasting. Smelling. Hearing.

Cats’ curiosity is one of their qualities which keeps them young. And being around them has helped me be young at heart.

Rather than being cynical and thinking that there’s nothing worth learning and nothing to learn, I can be curious instead. When I’m curious enough about something, then I’m open to learning. And learning is exciting.

So, thank you, cats and kittens, for helping me to have a positive attitude about life. Thank you for your shining example.

What else have I learned from cats and kittens about life?

Cats enjoy their environments, and they interact with them in fun and interesting ways. And cats know that:

#2. There’s Always Time to Play

Cats, especially the friendly, happy ones, have a childlike quality about them. They’re curious, and they’re playful.

I’m amazed by the fact that cats can make a game out of pretty much anything. They’ll chase their own tail. They’ll try to catch their shadow or a laser dot moving around on the wall. They’ll wrestle with other cats. They’ll run around with such reckless abandon. They’ll use a wide variety of surfaces as a scratching post. They’ll climb trees. They’ll play tag.

Cats also enjoy going into bags, boxes, cupboards, closets, and other tight spaces. They’ll go under beds and on blankets. They’ll explore various surfaces as if they’re on a grand adventure. And they take flight with the greatest of ease. They leap and climb and pull themselves up to a higher place.

Cats approach life as if each day is a gift. In this way, they show greater awareness than so many humans, especially me. I witness cats be their ever loving selves, and I remember that I have a heart. I remember what it was like to make a game out of pretty much anything.

I was an only child. I grew up without siblings and without a dad. My mom knew that we needed to have someone with us besides only the two of us. So we got a cat when I was 6 and the cat was only 8 – 10 weeks old, and we named her Sparky. Sparky and I grew up together. She was family. We had 14 years together. Those were glorious years filled with so much love and so many good times.

Sparky really liked being at Grandma’s house, too, and being outside in the yard and exploring the neighborhood.

My mom and I took Sparky for walks on a leash. She didn’t always like being on the leash, but she played along.

There were a few times when I had Sparky chase after a toy, running laps in our apartment. We did that long enough for Sparky to get panting from all that running. I knew then it was time to stop the running and to let her cool down.

Sparky really enjoyed her scratching post(s), and she had certain toys that were her favorites. There was a toy mouse stuffed with catnip, a wheel with a ball inside that she would hit from the sides or on top, crumpled up flyers tied to strings, hollow plastic balls, and tinsel.

My mom and I took countless pictures of Sparky. I treasure all those times we had together, and I treasure the memories.

I dedicate this post to Sparky, the one cat that I’ve spent the most time with by far. Here’s to you, Sparky. You were the greatest, and any cat that I get to visit or spend any amount of time with is a reminder of how rich my life was because you were a part of it. Such an important part. I’m grateful for you. You were such a loyal companion through life and so loving. I love you, and I miss you.

Yes, there still ended up being some sadness shared in a post about cats and kittens. They can be a great delight in one’s life, and since they have shorter lifespans than humans, eventually there comes the pain of having to say goodbye. I’ve never really recovered from that even though it was so long ago. It doesn’t help that I seem to connect with cats a lot more easily than I do with people. Comes with the territory of being a highly sensitive introvert, I guess.

Besides curiosity and playfulness, I’ve learned another very important lesson from cats and kittens, and it’s to:

#3. Share Your Happiness

I definitely struggle with applying these lessons that cats teach. They are excellent teachers. It’s simply that I’m not a very willing student.

If I was truly curious about people and various areas of life, I would ask so many more questions. I would be a great conversationalist even as I give other people the chance to talk and to share about things that matter to them. I would be learning how to be a better human as I put my curiosity to work. I would be learning so much about the people in my life and about the world around me.

If I was truly playful, I would find the joy in every day, in every moment. I would be connected with my head as well as my heart. Especially my heart. I would laugh like there’s an endless supply of laughter and that I would never run out. I would smile as if it’s my default setting. I would dance like no one is watching and like nobody minds. I would sing like that time at karaoke where I got to be a rock star for 1 song. “It’s my life, and it’s now or never.”

In short, I would be sharing my happiness. Why not? Cats already share their happiness. They do this in a variety of ways, including smiling and meowing and purring. They’re happy when they’re curious. They’re happy when they’re playful. And they’re happy when they’re sleeping.

Countless times, I petted Sparky when she was sleeping. She did a purr meow, woke up, and got purring. Her happiness made me happy, too.

I’ve been around many cats throughout my life, and I’ve noticed that they tend to be very happy. And it’s contagious, too. They can’t help but share their natural state of being. Cats live to spread happiness in the world.

Imagine waking up every day with that mission in mind. How would it inform my life? How drastically different would my life be if I lived up to that mission?

Maybe it helps to first get a restful enough sleep each night. I wonder what cats dream about…

#4. Get Your Beauty Rest

This is an area that cats seem to have down to an exact science. They sleep wherever and whenever they can. Of course, if at all possible, they’ll sleep somewhere warm like on a blanket, on a bed, on a rug, on a chair, on a couch, by a fireplace, or next to a heater. They’ve also slept on my legs, on my lap, on my tummy, on my chest, and on my shoulders. Plus, it helps that they’re always wearing a blanket — their fur.

I’m always amazed at the wide variety of positions that cats get into for sleeping. They get so comfy. And they can fall asleep so fast. It’s been said that cats sleep for approximately 16 hours every day. While that can be excessive for humans, it seems to work out well enough for cats.

I’d prefer to not have to sleep at all, but cats remind me that sleep isn’t a bad thing. I have the opportunity to rest and wake up being ready to be curious, play, and be happy. Living up to that opportunity would be a dream come true.

Cats show me that such a thing is possible. If they can do it, then so can I.

#5. Ask for What You Require

My mom’s cat, Mickey, demonstrates this lesson quite well. He makes it clear about what his needs are at any given time.

What are some of Mickey’s needs? He requires his wet food, new water, petting and scratching, brushing, his catnip, and to be let inside or outside. Mickey has different ways of asking for what he requires. That can be based on his meows or where he is or the looks he gives or his attempt to open a door to get at his catnip.

Mickey makes sure to show his appreciation, too, including with the very loud purring that he does when he is petted and scratched or brushed or picked up and held. Mickey and I get along every time I visit, and he is another cat who has taught me a life lesson. I’m listening, Mickey, and I thank you for being one of my teachers.

Asking for what I require can make all the difference between being and not being, doing and not doing, or having and not having. This reminds me of the quote, “Ask and it shall be given to you.” I see that truth demonstrated with Mickey. He asks, and he receives. Can life really be that simple?

Conclusion

What I’ve learned from cats and kittens is how to be a better human. Of course, it’s another matter entirely to apply what I’ve learned. And that requires belief that I can, a plan for daily implementation, and the willingness to put the plan into action and adjust as necessary along the way.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what baby steps I can apply in my own life?

As a reminder, here’s the quick recap of what’s been covered:

Curiosity helps you learn. There’s always time to play. Share your happiness. Get your beauty rest. Ask for what you require.

Also, please share what you’ve learned from cats and kittens. They have so many lessons to teach, and the wisdom that they provide enriches their lives as well as our own. I am grateful for cats and kittens. Truly, our world is a much brighter place because they are here.

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Until next time,

James Barnett