If having cats for the past 3 years have taught me anything, it's that they are a vital part of my family. Many cat people I've talked to would agree on the same.
Unfortunately, not everyone is in the same boat. There have been many hurtful comments about cat owners. The most common one is being labeled a "Crazy Cat Lady". I get so angry when hearing the term "Crazy Cat Lady" because of the stigma that comes with it. I've had it directed at me a few times too and I'm no lady?
The definition of a "Crazy Cat Lady"
The Urban Dictionary defines a Crazy Cat Lady as...
A woman who loves her cats more than people
An elderly suburban widow who lives alone and keeps dozens or more pet cats, usually many more than municipal code allows, in a small house, and refuses to give away or sell them even for the sake of the safety of the cats or herself.
A woman, usually middle-aged or older, who lives alone with no husband or boyfriend, and fills the empty lonely void in her life with as many cats as she can collect in one place. Said homes are usually very stinky.
What should this term be instead?
I'd prefer to call a person who loves their cats as their family, "privileged cat humans". Most cats don't go up to every human right away for pats and cuddles. Instead, you have to take the time to earn their trust and respect first.
When we first adopted our two kittens, Chai and Thyme they were timid and scared of us. It took a few days before they would eat in the same room as us. It was only a few weeks later that they were comfortable enough to sleep on our laps. We felt so privileged to reach those milestones in our time with them as it showed that they too saw us as a safe space.
Fast forward to today. Chai opens our door every morning, while his sister, Thyme jumps over us getting us to wake up to feed them. They also seek us out sitting on our laps, rubbing onto us or asking for pats. Our special child, Evan adores cuddling with my wife, Charlotte at the same time every night. But remember, it wasn't always like this. It took a long time to get to this point! More about their story here!
Our role as Privileged cat humans
Not everyone has the privilege of living with a cat or building a relationship with them. And I'm not saying that your cat is only considered a part of the family if they do the same as mine.
What I do mean is that if you care for your cat, they deserve the very best! Think about it! Your cat has chosen to depend on YOU for food, shelter, comfort, companionship, and security.
It is our role as "Privileged cat humans" is to:
Show the world what it means to foster a special bond with our cats
Show what cats are capable of - their unique personalities, quirks, and ways of showing affection
To care for our cats in the best way possible
This is where the Cats are Family campaign comes in…
How can you be a part of the Cats are Family campaign?
This part is simple! All you need to do is to let us know that you're interested at the end of this post.
The next step is to share with others about your cat family by filling up our simple questionnaire (sent to your inbox).
Your stories and photos will then feature on our blog over the coming weeks.
The most exciting part is being able to connect with other cat families! Most of all, you can help by sharing this campaign with your friends and families on Instagram.
Once you've joined this campaign, we will be releasing updates to your inbox. You will be the first to know about all our plans for the future and any latest releases. We can't wait to hear from you!