I have been labeled a “crazy cat lady.”  Yes, it is true, I do have three cats.  Honestly, I really don’t mind being labeled as such.  What bothers me is that people who don’t like cats, don’t really know them.   Perhaps they don’t know much at all. 

Ginger, Fred and Marty

My three cats, Fred, Ginger and Marty, are my children.  I’ll admit, three cats is a little more than I thought I would ever have.  My first, Ginger, was adopted from a client in the pet insurance industry.  I flew home with her from California about seven years ago.  She is the most affectionate cat ever.  She hugs, gives kisses and snuggles with me not only based on her demand, but mine as well.  Fred joined the family after what was intended to be a quick visit to the pet store.  I violated my own rule to never enter a facility that has a “Pet Adoption Today” sign.  Fred was right there at the door begging me to take him home.  I did.  Fred, now four years old, is my middle child.  And he holds up to the typical middle child personality.  He’s quiet, minds his own business, LOVES to play fetch and is a complete gentleman. 

Silly Marty

So when I was tricked into adopting Marty (I was visiting friends that had a new litter of kittens), Fred took him on as his own.  Marty was only 7 weeks old when he came home.  Fred looked over Marty to make sure our new kitten was never stepped on or lost.  He became Marty’s guardian. 

That leads me to my youngest, Marty.  He is a typical youngest child.  The comedian of the family never ceases to make us laugh.  He’s the prankster, the instigator and silly little one (now almost a year old.) 

So what’s the big deal about cats?  First, the current economy can make pet ownership tough for anyone.  That’s point number one for the Crazy Cat Lady.  According to research firm IBISWorld, it costs 56.7% more to raise a dog than a cat over the course of its lifetime . 

So why do cats get such a bad rap?  It seems that what people love about dogs is their loyalty and dependance on their owner.  Plus, they play fetch and go for walks.  I have news for you dog lovers: my cats greet me at the door, are intensely loyal and they play fetch.  In fact, you can train cats to shake  and even go for walks although the beauty is that I’m not required to take my cats outside to “take care of business.”  What’s even better, you can actually train cats to use the toilet…your toilet.  I haven’t gone that far yet, but I am grateful that I don’t get woken up at 6:00 am to take my cats outside rain, shine or even snow! 

Maybe that makes me just a little bit smarter than the average dog owner.