December is a month filled with many celebrations, with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas being some of the most recognizable. This December however, it is time to acknowledge the most important celebration of all; National Cat Lovers Month.

First, I must acknowledge my favorite quality of cats: Cuteness. They have so much character packed into their small and fluffy frames, it’s almost hard to believe. Every cat has their own distinct personality, and it’s part of what makes them so endearing. For example, in my house we have three cats. Shelly is the drama queen, acting like she owns the house and strutting around doing what she wants. Prim is our shy girl, confining herself to the kitchen where her food is, only desiring attention when she knows no other cats are around. And lastly, we have Sweet Ben. She has been my new roommate ever since she and Shelly came home with us, every day demanding that I pet her, and every night sleeping on the foot of my bed. Overall, the uniqueness of each cat makes them so much more special to their caretakers.

Cat lovers are a controversial topic for some people. All too often upon someone mentioning that they prefer cats over dogs do I hear someone else launch into their hysterical angry rant about how “Cats don’t care about you,” and “They’re evil,” and “They’re just using you to get food,” when all of these claims are plain wrong. 

Cats bond with their owners just as much as (if not more than) other loyal pets. In strange environments, they see their human as a sign of stability and a pillar of safety. In a study done by Oregon State University’s Dr. Kristyn Vitale, an animal scientist with a focus on psychology, cats were found to have about the same attachment rates as human infants to their parents. They even had higher rates of secure attachment to their humans than dogs who participated in a similar study with their owners. 

Cats are not “evil” either, and people who claim so are just using rhetoric to try to excuse the reasons why cats hate them. In most circumstances, cats only act aggressive when they feel threatened. Many people who hate cats simply ignore their body language and boundaries and refuse to accept that their actions can have consequences.

This December, be sure to give cats the respect and appreciation they deserve, and help save a cat by donating to your local animal shelter!