Why I Love Cats (and What We Humans Could Learn From Them)

I’m a devoted animal lover, but let’s be honest – cats are my ultimate spirit animals.
For the past 20 years, there’s always been a feline housemate curled up somewhere in my home, and I consider them as real a part of the family as any human. Even as a little girl, whenever I spent time at my grandmothers’ homes, some tiny, meowing furball would magically appear in the garden. Without hesitation, it would rub against my leg, hop onto my lap, and settle in like it had just paid rent.

No waiting for permission. No polite “May I?” eye contact. She knew what she wanted—and she went for it. That, right there, is what I adore about cats.

Here’s why:

• 😴 When she’s tired, she sleeps. Period.
• 🍽 When she’s hungry, she lets you know – and she’ll keep reminding you until that bowl is full.
  But hold on! A cat won’t eat just anything, and it’s not because she’s being “difficult” (okay, sometimes she is, but hear me out 😸).
  Did you know cats have 2 million scent receptors, but only about 500 taste buds? (Compared to our 9,000!) Plus, they can’t even taste sweetness.
  So if something doesn’t smell right to them, they simply won’t eat it.
  It’s not pickiness – it’s instinctual wisdom. Their body’s way of saying: “Nope, not worth it. Might ruin my next hunt.”
  Oh, and if you’re wondering – it also depends on texture and temperature. Yes, feeding a cat is basically culinary alchemy. 😂
• 🧸 When she wants to play, you will play. No multitasking, no half-attention. She demands your full engagement – thank you very much.
• 🫣 When she’s scared, she finds a safe corner, hides out, and waits until she feels secure again.
• 🧼 When she needs to clean herself, she does so anytime, anywhere. Cleanliness is next to… cattiness? 😇
• 🧘 When she needs to self-soothe, she picks the softest spot, kneads it lovingly with her paws, and drifts into blissful sleep. Honestly – a role model in mindfulness.

Since I spend most of my time working from home, I have a front-row seat to the daily feline drama that is Mázli’s life. (His name, by the way, comes from Hungarian and means “Luck.” Fitting, right?)

I deeply admire his sense of freedom – how he effortlessly structures his days and nights according to his own rhythm. He’s independent, playful, social, sometimes wildly energetic, other times deeply cuddly and affection-seeking. He’s also crystal clear with his boundaries: If I overstep, he doesn’t hesitate to show me – with claws if necessary – like:

“Excuse me, human, I did give you a warning.”

Every evening, when we gather as a family for bedtime chats in our son’s room, Mázli never misses the moment. Even if it’s technically “cat midnight,” he jumps on the bed, starts purring, and silently joins the conversation—like he’s taking notes or secretly judging our vocabulary.

And yes, you probably sense where this is going…

This isn’t just about cats. It’s about self-love, self-respect, boundaries, joy, and well-being.

About living life on your own terms.
Taking 100% responsibility for your choices.
Spending time with people who lift you up.
Asking for help when you need it.
Speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.
That’s not selfishness – it’s self-worth.

And yes, it takes courage.
(A good place to start? Read my article about Courage)

So here’s my invitation:

Live like a cat.
Wildly. Lightly. Joyfully. Care about what you put into your body. Choose wisely who you snuggle up with at night. And for heaven’s sake, nap like you mean it 🙂