10 truths every cat owner can relate to

There comes a time in every cat owner's life when they realise they're no longer the one in control. It's that moment when you're stuck on the bed, not daring to move because the moody little creature in your house has decided your lap or your hands are the perfect spot for a nap.

Or it could hit you at 3 a.m., when the house is silent, and suddenly it sounds like a midnight marathon going on in the other room with random things crashing to the floor.

Life with a cat is a journey full of strange and hilarious moments.  Here are 10 universal moments of cat ownership that every cat owner can relate to.

The midnight olympic

Just when the house is dark and the owner is sound asleep, it starts. The cat has gone into racing mode. The hallway becomes a racetrack, the sofa a springboard. And the noisy little show leaves the owner lying awake, wondering what invisible demon the cat might be chasing in the dark.

A cat's body clock is still a lot like its wild ancestors'. After sleeping all day, it suddenly bursts into action at night, hunting down wild creatures. And for the household cats, they burn the energy by running wildly and perhaps breaking their owners' precious things.

Magical cardboard box

An owner can spend a fortune on a cat house or a multi-level cat tree, but the cat won't even bat an eye at that thing. Yet,. The moment a package is delivered, the box becomes the most valuable real estate in the house. Nothing will ever compare to a simple cardboard box for the cat. No matter how small the box is, the cat will make its way through. This behaviour also comes from their ancestors, as enclosed space in a box makes a cat feel safe, hidden, and secure, much like a den in the wild.

The bathroom bodyguard

The owner closes the bathroom door. Suddenly, a small white paw appears under the door. The concept of a private moment is entirely foreign to a cat. The moment its owner heads for the bathroom, the cat assumes a supervisory position in front of the door. In case their owner needs any help, they're all alone and trapped. Or perhaps they are just curious about what mysterious things happen behind that closed door every day.

The laptop thief

The owner is typing an important email or finishing up a report when, without warning, a cat lands gracefully on the keyboard. It will proceed to walk across the keys, and your screen fills with gibberish like  'jjjjjjjjjj;;;;;;;l'". Then it will settle down entirely on the warm machine. The work session is officially over, declared so by a creature who looks up with complete and utter innocence. Perhaps the cat likes redirecting its owner's attention from the machine to itself.

The war against closed doors

In the mind of a cat, a closed door is a personal insult. It is an unacceptable barrier that must be conquered. The cat will protest with a series of pitiful meows, scratch at the wood, and stick its paws under the door until the owner finally gives in. Once the door is open, the cat will often pause, peek inside, and walk away.

The victory parade

A strange, muffled yowl echoes from the hallway, leaving the owner surprised. Then the cat will appear with its favourite toy mouse or a random item from the floor dangling from its mouth. It will then walk proudly through the house while making a strange, muffled, yowling sound. This is the cat's version of a victory announcement of its great hunt for all to see.

The gravity researcher

It starts with a single, delicate tap. A pen on the desk inches closer to the edge. The cat watches with the intense focus of a scientist about to make a breakthrough. With one final, deliberate push, it sends the item tumbling to the floor below. Then, it peers over the edge as if to say, "Well, look at that. Gravity still works."

But here's the funny thing: that same cat can leap onto a crowded dining table, walk through a maze of items with the grace of a ballet dancer. They will carefully position each paw, ensuring not a single thing is disturbed. It's a hilarious reminder that when a cat knocks something over, that's never an accident and always a choice.

The hairball warning  

It is a sound that can wake any cat owner from the deepest sleep: a horrible, hacking noise that signals a hairball is on its way. That distinct sound is enough for the owner to leap out of bed, grab the cat, and relocate it from the bed or carpet to the easy-to-clean tile floor before it's too late. This is a natural result of a cat's immense self-grooming, as its tongue catches loose fur that sometimes must be coughed up.

The invisible alarm clock

No need for a phone or alarm clock. Cats don't care if it's 5 a.m. on a weekend.  In their minds, the human must wake up now because clearly, they are hungry, and their owner has slept way too long. Bonus point for owners if they don't want to miss their morning prayer.

The bedtime betrayal

Every cat owner has tried this: gently trying for their cat to sleep next to them, feeling victorious when the moody furball finally curls up by their side. For a few peaceful minutes, it feels perfect. But the moment the owner dares to move even an inch, the spell breaks. The cat runs away with a look of profound betrayal and vanishes.

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