What cats mean to me, by Natalie Wolf

What cats mean to me: My obsession with cats is probably one of the first things that people learn about when they meet me. I'm not completely sure when it started, or if I can fully articulate how and why it became so strong. I think I appreciated, on a basic level, their cuteness, their playfulness, their independence, and their confidence. Cats know that they should be ruling the world, and they will not hesitate to put anyone who does not acknowledge their glory in their place with a nip, a swat, or a poo outside the litter box. They can go from adorable to vicious in the blink of an eye, and I appreciate that dichotomy being contained within a single being. They are a reminder that cute and feral are not mutually exclusive. One cannot truly call them tame.

I also feel that there is something inherently speculative about the way that cats navigate the world. They seem to live in their own realities and not particularly care if anyone else shares them. It may not be advisable as a lifestyle, but I feel like there is something admirable about it. I've also consumed plenty of media over the years about cats who are not really of this world, who travel through time and space, and quite frankly, that wouldn't surprise me. I'd wonder about them one day declaring their true powers and staging a grand takeover, but quite frankly, I don't think they need to. They've already got us pretty well under their thumbs — or should I say, their teeny tiny toe beans.