6 Reasons Every House Needs a Cat

Rough Linen My cat matches my linens...

Butterfly Yao lovely... fun...

A. Peltier Interiors really funny! I have always loved cats and find it strange when I meet people that don't! I even have a cat that matches my family room:)

Michele Lister they also help you decide on decor, obviously the best seat in the house :)

jenberry72 ...They can double as a throw rug in a pinch.
I find my cat like this about 50% of the time.

midmodfan I definitely agree about the keyboard protection. lol

sherry403 We matched our counter tops to one of our cats! Cats also keep one from getting an over-inflated ego, cats see thru and nonsense!

defever I have 2 that are color coordinated; 1 is 6 mos. old and the other is an oversized floor mop!

Rough Linen A photo of little helper matching my linens:

Molly Brandenburg Purr-fect!

tiachocolate I bring home my 16lb bundle of purrfect lurve tomorrow! 6 yrs old, abandoned but just a loving ginger. The 'keeping time' bit still has me laughing! I cannot wait! First pet ever!!

einportlandor The entire house is decorated to showcase the cat . . . cuts way down on vacuuming.

Jo Allan Cute post but I'm like many others who are very allergic. No cats in this house.

kandy smith OK, I've read it and re-read it- what does the one about cutting down on water mean?
I'm having a blonde moment!
All very cute and I love the additional comments and pictures!
I have 3 strays that I have adopted over the years. Can't imagine my life without a cat!

olldroo Oh Kandy, how can you possibly disturb that sleeping beauty draped over your lap, no matter how urgent your needs are??

astraea Love all the cats people shared in their photos!

hometipster Thanks Molly, really enjoyed that one. I like my cat, so much less hassle than my dog bless him. A friend of mine asked me if I ever washed my cat and suggested I see how... this I thought was hilarious - http://meebal.com/funny-how-to-wash-your-cat/

Grace Pugh I agree with Molly and we have four of them and we ours to bits. So much so that I am willing to put up with an old beat up and scratched up leather chair as a decoy so they will leave my good chairs alone, it appears to be working as you can tell from the picture

vinva If you have cats, please be considerate of your neighbors. Neighbor cats are killing off the birds that visit our yard leaving the bodies for us to clean up. (Google search "cats killing birds" and discover how household cats are are impacting the bird population.) Cats also love to leave their parasite filled kitty litter droppings all over our lawn and mulch beds. Recognizing that this article is supposed to be "fun", perhaps not every house needs a cat.

kleinsch The cat makes the room, always!

dorymunder Vinva makes a good point. I have two fabulous rescued cats and three fabulous rescued dogs. My cats are house cats and don't kill birds or do their business in other people's yards. They are VERY happy ruling the house! I don't understand why people think it's okay for cats to run loose in the neighborhood. We control our dogs and should control our cats as well!

That being said, I do believe animal hair adds a certain sophisticated texture to your house and wardrobe ... :)

astraea Also supporting Vinva's comments - "Outdoor Cats" also have a much shorter lifespan!!

midmodfan I'm sorry but blaming cats is a sham. After all, WE, the finger pointing humans, are by far the #1 reason for the extinction of species. We are thoughtlessly and selfishly destroying their habitats. Cats only follow their instincts. WE could use our brains.

normpo It's 10am, he's right in the sun! He matches everything in this story, LOL.

beckmathis Wonderful! I'm sharing! In addition to these, my cat lets me know when I'm acting stupid.

Rachel P. Yes, one of my kitties has an affinity to laptops too! I think it may be the warmth or maybe he is always in competition with it since it sits on my lap quite often. I also have a hard time throwing out small boxes without letting them turn it into a kitty condo for a little while. They are also prettier than any of my throw pillows in my house!

astraea @MidModFan - Two wrongs don't make a right. House cats that go outside, kill because it's natural & fun, not because they're hungry.

mandiebernthal Yeah for all of the cat stories and the cat lovers. This is meant to be a fun and light piece about the love of cats and of course there are all the dog only lovers who are grumpy and negative. So my piece is all the people who have their dogs as (comfort pets and can't leave the house without them) mmm something definately wrong with that. Good on you cats lovers you seem to be the more balanced pet owners......

yogapaws Vinva is right. Outdoor cats do not last in my area- canyon life includes racoons, coyotes, hawks and bobcats. My cat is strictly indoors for safety and hygiene reasons.

I have found dogs to be the problem. I have cleaned up more dog doo than cat poo and I don't have a dog.

vinva midmodfan: Blame was never intended to be directed at cats. Rather, a request was made to their owners to be considerate of others. The fact that cats kill birds and other native wild animals is just a reality that people may not be aware of and consider when they choose to allow their cats roam outdoors. The frustration lies in the inconsiderate behavior of their owners. If a person chooses to have a pet, then their choice should not be a burden on others. That being said, most pet owners do a good job of thinking of others while having pets. It's too bad that there are selfish people out there who give the thoughtful pet owners a bad name.

gius Home is where the cat is........ Love them!

frogfruit That first picture is about right, yesterday I heard loud noises in the yard opened the door and found 5 strays torturing a baby squirrel but I scared them off and took it to squirrel rescue. The cats are still swarming around meowing looking at me like I'm so mean to steal their fun away when I go out to shoo them away again.

patscats2 I am a retired animal rescuer. All my pets are confined to my house and yard. I do think owned cats should be confined to their owner's property, if for nothing else, their own safety. They kill whatever comes in the yard which is usually just bugs or lizards. However, there are millons of feral cats in our environment who deserve to live their life as wild cats as long as they are spayed/neutered and well fed by their care taker. Not all cats hunt or kill birds and other animals. When they do it's instinct. In days past I've been known to jump a fence or two to save a bird out of the mouth of a cat, so I'm not fond of the idea of cats killing birds. I've lived with lizards in my house as I rescue them out of the mouth of my cat Fuzzie, the greatest cat hunger known to the world. Cat haters are not worried about wild life, they are just worried about cats living, anywhere they can see them. I've been dealing with cat haters for 23 years and the stories are always the same and the excuses for cats to exist are the same. Those cats who find themselves abandoned on the streets either by their owner or because they were born there, deserve to live. They didn't ask to be left on the street, but they deserve our compassion and care. The Trap/neuter/release program is the only way to control stray can populations. Having them euthanized at the shelters is not the way. There will always be irresponsible people dumping cats in the street, but we must remember not to take out our frustration on the cats. People cause problems, not animals. Animals only live by their instincts but, people have brains and unfortunately they don't always use them. For people who hate cats and don't want them on their property, there are deterent devices that can be put out. Sad part is only a very small percentage will opt to deter, but would rather have them sent to the shelter to be killed.

Now about house cats, mine add a softness and beauty to the decor. Ever notice when someone submits a photo of their room with a pet in it, you notice the pet first and the decor second? As for pet hair, everyday I could vacuum up a poodel!! LOL As soon as I mop my shiny laminate floors, the dogs feet leave pad prints and it looks like they are never clean. Ahh, such is life with animals. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here is Sylvester enjoying decorating for Christmas. Sylvester was a pet cat that someone dumped in the street. He's terrified of loud noises and to think he had to endure a life on the street breaks my heart. Those days are done for him now though as he enjoys the good life.

Molly Brandenburg a beautiful, lucky kitty, with a very fine, kind owner.

oldred So true :)))

indiasnowden I am well pleased by this article. You have my royal paw stamp of approval. I am making my humble human print these for framing.

Elisa Edkins_Proctor My furry desk accessory as always...:)

Well Being by Design Cats meditate effortlessly, one of the many benefits of being feline.

Molly Brandenburg yes, truly! i'm always amazed at their ability to stay zen and calm in the most precarious resting places....!

aswedishelf Cats make good bed warmers too. I always keep my kitties inside and my latest kitten matches my wood floors.

olldroo If cats do go outside a collar with a little bell gives birds a sporting chance.

akamikazebutterfly i don't get the second illustration - saving water...what? and yes i have two cats..the others are spot on however!

Molly Brandenburg she doesn't want to get up to go to the bathroom as the cat is napping comfortably in her lap. a frequent problem for cat owners!!

akamikazebutterfly ahhh it's clicked now - thanks Molly - had a stupid moment there obviously :)

Francesca I have two cats and they bring me so much joy. I've had them for 10 years and got them as adults. They are indoor exclusive and I would never own a cat who I would allow outside. I find letting cats out as irresponsible as leaving the dog on the end of a lead by his dog house.

olldroo Hometipster - I have seen that joke before, only a true cat lover would appreciate it. My two cats actually loved their baths, in winter they loved the warm water and the fact that I totally spoiled them by wrapping them well in a towel and putting them in front of a heater to dry. In the summer heat they would sit in the lukewarm water for ages to cool down.

prospera I thought I was alone in matching the cat to the decor. We have the only media room in the neighborhood that matches the cat. Walls and carpeting and someday the couch as well! She can be stealth kitty in there.
Some boxes are better than others:
P.S. I love your drawing style. I would love to have some as prints to frame, especially the computer one for the office.

astraea @Prospera - When my first cat was still a kitten, one of her favorite places was a 1/2 empty tissue box. She'd get in, then pop her head back out the hole! Our pets are great for cheap laughs; everything they do is amusing!

Mackin Drafting & Design Molly, Your article brightened my day. While I am not a cat person, my wife is so as with most household democracies, we have had a cat in our house at all times. I find our cat is slowly changing my mind about being a cat lover.....great article!

gillianne To whose who object to ownees (no one really "owns" a cat; they deign to share their space) who live with indoor/outdoor cats: I understand the objections, concerns, and statistics. That said, I want to note that our cats come when called, and we call them in before dark. They have lived long and remarkably healthy lives to ages 16, 18 (killed by aggressive cancer caused by a rabies booster, a well-known hazard for older cats), 22 (!), and now 9 and going strong. They've rarely killed birds--yes, belled collars help--but do rid us of plenty of mice, indoors and out. When our Maine coon's confined indoors by winter weather, he goes into a visible funk. I respect the choice of those who keep their cats indoors but want to present the other side of that issue.

patscats2 Mack, it only takes one!!

Gilliane, I also think cats should be allowed outdoors if they choose to be outside. We live in a very busy neighborhood and they would become statistics quickly if allowed off my property so we installed a can fence-in system to our back yard many years ago. It allows them free access to the outdoors and keeps them safe. We also have a huge enclosure attached to one of our garages for the rescued ferals who are unadoptable and can't be returned to where they were found as it was dangerous for them. They have access to an ain conditioned/heated garage or a large outdoor space complete with beds, litter boxes, etc. For people who cannot allow their cats outdoors for their own protection, I encourage them to build an enclosure. There are many variations and types of enclosures you can build. Ours are basic, nothing fancy. Here are some photo's.

Kittydog Blu I live on the SC coast and we have many copperheads and water moccasins. Having cats patrolling my yard keeps the rodent population down and in turn the snakes go elsewhere for food.

Francesca Anne - If you live on the SC coast, don't you have to deal with gators? I mean, I lived in North Charleston, near the Ashley and there were gators in my yard about twice this past summer.

My cats did keep rodents out of the inside of the house though....

Molly Brandenburg I love the way my tabby's dove grey hue offsets this purple wall.

patscats2 I know the people posting here about their cats matching their decor are just joking, but I wanted to mention, some people actually do have animals only if they match the decor. I use to volunteer at the local shelter and unfortunately heard some of the reasons people were coming in to ditch their pets. When I heard the woman come in and declare the cat didn't match her new furniture, I tell you I thought I'd die. I was sure I bit my tonge so hard that day it bled!!!

Molly Brandenburg Caring responsibly for a pet comes first, decorative issues much later.

rociochavez I love cats too! Its great to find more cats lovers hehehe yeiii

Molly Brandenburg Meow!! Meow meow, meow, meow. Beautiful pics!!

Michele Lister They also help with Christmas decorations.

Grace Pugh Why even bother buy Christmas tree ornaments, my four cats can easily fill the tree as ornaments. Here's one hanging of the tree. All indoor cats I promise

Well Being by Design Here's fleeting shadows and light art, a couple other favorite poses of Minou and Referette with the rainbow.

Sheila Oh, Molly, Loved this! Love cats too. Currently we have three and although I adore them, whether selling or not (and yes, we are selling a house), the biggest problem is the cat hair that is EVERYWHERE. Not just the furniture, but when looking on any surface, particularly when the sun is shining, the hair is evident on absolutely everything - even in a bathroom in the basement that we don't even use. Anyone have any ideas about how to keep these hairballs to a minimum? By the way, we already know about and use all the products to remove hair. Maybe someone knows something we don't. Thanks.

Molly Brandenburg i vacuum and then mop the floors with a slightly wet mop. gets the hair right up! the price we pay for their graceful feline presence!

prospera We finally invested in a Roomba. You do need to add the bumpers on to them so that they don't get stuck under things. It is evident it is working by the amount of hair we pull out of the brushes, so you have to keep an eye on that. I mainly got it to keep up, but it does such a good job that it is our primary vacuum now. I used a 20% off coupon, so that took a bite out if the price.

I use a Shark steam mop for sanitizing the tile after the Roomba does it's job. I like it because it does a great job using only water. We keep the cat brushed, but she is a fairly low maintenance cat. Her coat goes either way, like a Husky, so a lot of her fur is shed while her humans are petting her.

msslynne I was just telling my husband the other day that our cat, Miles, is a wonderful home accent-wherever he sits, lays, goes- everything looks so much better! He does have his own bed, small kindergarten chair and more ttoys than many 2 years olds-and before we moved into our new home built an enclosed deck for him so he could safely be 'outside' without worry of hawk picking him up or traffic.Yes, he is spoiled and always will be!

Molly Brandenburg Look at those stripes, he is purr-fect!

msslynne thank you, I must say I do agree with you!, and though I never ever considered myself a 'cat person' shamelessy sing several times a day to him that he is 'best kitten in the whole wide world'! so mushy it surprises even me!

Jennifer the cats make the house a home......

Grace Pugh Agree with Jennifer...home won't be the same without my four. Every window of my house is dotted with these lovely creatures. Here's dinner time & the littlest one is stuck in the middle

Molly Brandenburg Beautiful pics! Keep em coming!

judymchartrand Cats.........there is no explanation for their behavior, it just happens.

I would also like to mention, when we are able to choose a cat by its color, we tend to pick one that has the colors we like, which in my case, are similar to the interior colors in my home. So there is no wonder that they match up with everything else in our life.

Molly Brandenburg the dog and the kitten...too beautiful! I have cats in neutrals, as it happens. I love their personalities but there's something about black and white cats, and grey tabbies. they're so beautiful and they match everything!!

judymchartrand Molly,
My loving little neutral colored kitten, has turned into a monster. I had no control over it, I think it is in his genes. I had a yellow tabby once, who was probably the most perfect cat that ever lived. He was all about love, and when he died, we cried for weeks.

People have asked me about the Dog's bed, which I thought was an awesome idea, as Vizsla's love their beds, and blankets. I bought a baby play pen from a second hand shop, and removed the mesh from one side, I use a thick sleeping bag for padding. My Vizsla now thinks she is fully human.

smittycdm hometipster, I never tried & would never try the toilet-method to wash even my Evil-Step-Cat (who lived to be 21, you know the saying, the good die young?) When we lived in urban LA & had a large lot (1/5 acre) by LA standards, she took on all comers, even though she was a small kitty & all fur. I happened to be home one fateful day & heard her yelling. She was cornered in the neighbor's yard. Cut to chase, she was so scared (took on a much bigger cat), she pooped on herself. Good thing I had deep Laundry sink & in she went. Straight from back door, gotta love those Ranch House lay-outs. Never yeowed, didn't scratch, I think she was relieved I cleaned her up.

silverscreenstar No need for a heating pad since adopting "Star", an abandoned feral kitten. Every night he stretches out, full length, along my spine and purrs himself to sleep (and me, too). I sleep on my side, and "Star" is now a very long, full grown, Tom. He loves to give love, and to be loved which is exactly how we both like it!

olldroo Isn't it amazing how much longer a cat is when it is stretched out down your spine.

silverscreenstar "Star", who the Vet estimated, was four weeks old when I adopted him, was then so tiny, he sat on the palm of my hand, with room to spare. He is now five years old, and is one long, bundle of love! He is a black and white "tuxedo" cat, not that it matters. He was ill when I found him, huddled up against the garage door. He had a severe upper respiratory infection and his breathing was labored. It was late at night, and a thunder storm was coming in. I doubt that he would have lasted through the night. He was so weak, he could barely lift his head. He went to the Vet the following morning. Our dog, "Magic", a neutered Jack Russell Terrier, adored "Star" from the moment they first met. "Magic" tenderly began grooming him. They have been buddies ever since. "Magic" continues to clean "Star's" ears, at the cat's frequent request.

akamikazebutterfly Prospera how did your beautiful feline react when you first used the roomba? I was considering one but am concerned how the cats will react.

treeseachanger For those who think a bell is the answer- my cat learnt to stalk birds without a sound, even with two different bells attached to his collar. Cat runs or enclosures are the way to go and stop them from fights, getting run over, etc etc. I am also a dog owner and I adore both cats and dogs. There's no contest people, only in your minds!!!

smittycdm treeseachanger & all other cat-family-members, I understand what you are saying. I keep my cats in the house, or the private patio only if they are briefly are accompanied by a human family member. That's where they get to eat the special "kitty grass." But what do you do with the Evil-Step-Child? Who only loves her dad? He always let her out in Hollywood? And she slept on his HEAD?! I am the person who can walk down the street & make the 'kitty noise' and any cat will come to me. The first time I met Spicoli at age 12, yes, that is her name, she hissed at me. And the rest is history, all the scars on my arms included.
P.S. Just realized I said everything about her in the present tense. She is still a legend. I've have been married 24 years. Mousie, as I called her. ;-)

jeanniedrawer Loved all the cat pictures! I can't imagine not having a cat, thank you Houzz for this thread.