Ah, yes. Cats. Those furry little critters who are more beast than pet. At least genetically.

But aside from being cute and finicky, they educate us in a way no other pet can. Unburdened by centuries of breeding, cats are still wild predators, unlike dogs who have been modified for obedience.

Cats are connected to nature in a way we barely understand. Often labeled as “stupider” than dogs, the scientific research into feline brains and bodies is only just beginning.

But cat-aficionados like myself don’t need science to tell us what we can receive from our furry friends. You learn as you live with them, if you’re open.

So, as someone who’s loved cats since birth, eased their fears as they eased mine, held them in my arms as they died, and keeps their ashes in urns like human family members, I’ll share my insights.

1. Sleep is our friend

Cats sleep 16 hours a day, though sometimes it feels like they sleep 25 out of 24.

Meanwhile many humans barely sleep six out of the measly eight hours we require to function.

Go to sleep. Yes, you. You know who you are.

Life becomes 150x times harder when we deprive our bodies of the rest they biologically need.

2. Take a chill pill

What really matters in life?

Chances are, you’re not focusing on those things. Instead, you put your attention on irrelevant drivel.

We all do it.

Social media exacerbates this very human tendency to nauseating levels. The bombardment of catastrophic news from all over the world comes at a cost. We’re not mentally or physically equipped to process daily tragedies.

Protect your health and limit your intake of news articles, TV, apps. It’s nothing but emotional fodder that has nothing to do with you, doesn’t help you be your best self, and doesn’t serve anyone else.

Focus on what serves your own life today.

3. Don’t hold grudges

Depending on your temperament, this may or may not be easy.

“To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius

Personally, I’m familiar with the struggle of forgiving people, so I’m not talking from a place of judgment. But the fact remains that a grudge hurts no one but ourselves.

Cats don’t spend time on past wrongs. This doesn’t mean they forget people who have hurt or teased them, nor that their past experiences don’t inform their present choices.

But as humans, we can consciously choose whether to live in hatred or not. And hatred doesn’t serve you.

4. Roar your no

This is the biggest challenge for us people-pleasers.

No no no. And no again.

Don’t just say it. Scream it, shout it, embody it.

Are you a ‘no’ to that guy flirting with you? Show it!

Are you a ‘no’ to that low salary? Speak up!

We’re all familiar with cat body language. If they dislike something, they won’t think twice about growling, hissing and scratching. They don’t care about seeming to others like “a good person” or “not causing trouble”.

None of us have time for bullshit in our lives. I realized long ago that my creativity, my inner truth, is my responsibility to protect and nourish.

If someone or something saps your life force, ditch it. You’ll breathe freely and happily for it.

5. Be magnanimous in your yes

As clear as we should be in our ‘no’, we need to be as open in our ‘yes’.

Do you show your appreciation to the people you love, in the way they want to be loved? Can you be vulnerable and tell them what you really feel?

Love terrifies us. It requires surrender at the cost of our egos.

Cats don’t have egos. When they love you, you know it. They don’t do mind-games or hide their affections. To be fair, humans aren’t born with a fear of love, but our childhoods prime us for all sorts of emotional trauma.

When we work on our inner landscapes by processing our emotions and old wounds, we can learn not to fear love.

Yes, this isn’t easy.

6. Be persistent about your needs

Cats don’t censor themselves. They’re stubborn and very willing to do whatever it takes to get their will.

Humans give up too soon. We assume no one cares about our needs— be it our parents, friends or partners— so why voice them at all?

Nopey nope. Wrong approach.

As a mature, competent adult, you’re able to clearly state your desires.

It might take some practice. You might feel uncomfortable in your body. That’s just your nervous system expanding into unfamiliar territory.

Remember what I said about forgiveness? That extends to ourselves, too. Be patient and forgive yourself for not perfectly expressing your needs right away. Animals can teach and help us along our path of unlearning our conditioning. And they’re loyal friends till the very end.

Who says we don’t have everything we need at our fingertips?