It was only seven short years ago, I would have told you I wasn’t really a cat person. It wasn’t because I didn’t like cats. They are one of God’s most elegant creatures. When I grew up, our family had a fluffy Persian purr, named Muffy. He was an octogenarian who lived to the ripe old age of 18. But he was a bit aloof and, like many of his feline counterparts, he mostly slept and bathed, allowing us a few minutes a day to stroke his luxurious fur. I know that she considered herself a princess and she graced our lives with her majestic presence. I learned about the birds and the bees from Muffy. We all watched the wonders of kitten birth, as Muffy produced many cute heirs to his throne.

So my preconceived thoughts about cats changed.

It was all Julie’s fault. Julie has always loved animals. She swore the first word out of her mouth was horse. As she grew up, she didn’t play with dolls, but with any kind of animal, stuffed, plastic or real. Even bugs, she wouldn’t get me near a 10 foot pole. She even liked real snakes, lizards, rats, everything but any spider. Then, on a bright and glorious day, Julie calls me. “Aunt Cathie, will you take me to the animal shelter? I want to volunteer to be a cat socializer and I’m a minor and I need a chaperone.” Well, I’m a fan of my nieces and this became a Wednesday afternoon ritual for us. At first, she mainly watched and interacted with her cats and admired her beauty from afar. So it happened. I saw “THE CAT” which I later called Slate. And then my life changed in so many ways that I now consider them magical. Since then I’ve also adopted a little riot cat I call Pate and of course the absolute love of my life Slate.

My cats have made me a much better person and they didn’t teach me these extremely valuable life lessons by lecturing or nagging me. My precious cats taught me mostly by example and the reward system of a cat’s admiral. It is very difficult for me to explain how even my own thoughts, philosophy of life and of course attitudes and actions have changed just by looking at these ethereal and majestic beings who have blessed my life just by living with me.

I have learned to become a kinder, kinder, loving person with no expectations. Because that’s when my sweet babies will jump into my lap and show me all their wonderful love. It is enough to show a little anger, loud noise or disrespect, cats run away and will not favor you with their magnificent presence.

I have had to learn to accept my quirky cats for all of their unique and varied individuality. There is no way to change any cat’s distinctive personality. And who would want to turn them into a one-size-fits-all cat? I love watching them flaunt their personality with such abandon. “Be true to yourself” is definitely the motto of all cats.

I have come to appreciate how cats don’t mince words about their true feelings on any issue that affects them. It always communicates and writes on all its little furry bodies. Tails, ears, growls and hisses convey all kinds of disapproval. It leaves no doubt in your mind that you crossed some cat line that is completely unacceptable to them. But if you’re lucky enough to have a lap full of Slate and you pet him lovingly, he’ll reward you with the sweetest cat face and endless purrs of thanks.

Cats are perpetually curious about their entire environment. It always seems to me that they are experiencing everything anew, as if for the first time. Intrepid exploration and their thirst for knowledge is of paramount importance to them, as they sniff, bat, jump and play with everything in their paws.

Trust is earned with cats. They are naturally cautious when something or someone is brought into their home. They get to meet any other creature or human with their cat guard up. They just need a little time and space until they see that they will be treated with courtesy and respect.

We can all learn a lot from our wacky furry friends. So, in honor of our devoted and dedicated cats, I propose a cat allegiance oath.

“Along with my beloved cats, I vow to always be naturally curious, yet cautious, when meeting others, treating them with sensitivity and respect for the special contribution they make to my life by embracing their unique individuality, while communicating and reflecting on all my true feelings, so that our honest mutual trust and affection can turn into earned appreciation and joy over time.”

Now that would be perfect, a bit of cat heaven on earth!

And all this I learned only from my feline observation, from what is just second nature to cats. How did cats get so evolved? It seems to me that God could have given each of us a little more mischief. Well I guess he did, he gave us cats, with their precious little souls, immensely interesting and diverse. I am grateful to God, Julie and my two lovely cats. I would not have wanted to learn these invaluable life lessons in any other way than with a Blackboard or a Pate purring in my always grateful lap. The life lessons of cats are best experienced, so I invite you to join the society of cat lovers and adopt a cat teacher. It will give you a whole new perspective on life, one you can never learn through school or books, a dog or someone else.

My beloved cats have honed and trained me on my bumpy road to becoming a “cat-worthy” person. Cats are truly this woman’s best life teachers. And there’s no use hanging around about it.