Feline fervour

Cats are loving, playful pets that will delight any family.

As clever as they are, cats are not only tamed easily, they have a way of taming their owners as well. In a short span of time they teach their owners precisely what is expected of them and when, and their doting owners put in every ounce of effort to keep them hale and hearty. Whether it is their gentle purring, their warm snuggle, or their insatiable desire to be stroked, any little gesture from their cat can turn an ailurophile into mush.

Anyone who has the love, time and resources to keep a cat, pampers them no less than their child, fussing over their food, giving them bundles of affection, inculcating good habits in them, cleaning, grooming and ensuring they are fit and frolicking every day. Like no two siblings are alike, every cat has its own personality and behaviour.

Since as far back as she can remember, Subeeka Ali has had cats at her place. They were treated as any other member of the family, with the freedom of roaming around the house, sitting, eating and sleeping as they desired. Growing up, her cat was so attached to her that it slept on her head and everyday at 5.00am she used to wake her up for a snack and nothing but one specific kind of biscuit was acceptable.

At the moment her six cross Persian cats namely Boom Boom, Mani, Mana, Billu, Choti, and Chippiya are treated no less than royals by their whole family. “I cannot imagine my life without them, though we have to put in a lot of effort to take care of them. Keeping cats and taking care of them is part of our daily routine, without them life would feel empty,” says Ali.

According to veterinarian Dr MH Pirzada, cats are the most popular pets in Pakistan; the punched face Persian, the Siamese and the local tabby cat are the most favourite among pet lovers. He says that people here prefer cats over other pets mostly because they require less maintenance, can be trained easily and demand lesser care as compared to other pets like dogs. For people who live alone, Pirzada says that cats serve as an excellent companion providing them with a daily routine and making them feel loved and needed.

Bearing the responsibility and successfully caring for a completely dependent creature can also induce a strong sense of confidence and pride in a person. “My clients say that after a long day at work they love to come back home to be greeted by their purring cats and as soon as they spend some time with them, they feel completely relaxed,” adds Pirzada.

Besides regular cat owners, there are certain people who keep a look out for cats in distress and provide shelter to them. Sadaf Mehmood is one such person who has always felt passionately about cats and whenever she has seen a cat in trouble, she has rescued it. Currently, Mehmood has given abode to five cats, which she found either abandoned by the mother cat, malnourished or injured. She even saved one that had fallen into a drain. No matter what breed they belong to, she loves them all the same and though her hands are full, she can’t leave a distressed cat at the mercy of the streets.

Mehmood believes that even children can benefit from keeping cats as it can help in inculcating good habits. “Seeing me, my eight-year-old son has also started caring for cats a lot. They are no less than friends for him and even though I have put no responsibility on him, he is always concerned about them and puts in every effort to make them comfortable,” says Mehmood.

Providing cats with food, milk and shelter is not all that is required. “It is essential that cats are vaccinated, dewormed and sprayed for fleas and mites so that they are healthy and keep their owners healthy as well,” says Pirzada. For all those who are interested in adopting cats, Pirzada’s advice is that they should be bought from other pet owners instead of markets or pet stores because many a times, the animal is not healthy. He further adds that one should give their cats fresh food instead of tinned. Apart from the daily delight that people get from their cats, the annual ‘All About Lifestyle Cat Show’ that is held in Karachi has taken this hobby a level ahead. It has served as a pedestal for all ailurophiles to get together and admire the best of the lot and showcase their furry companions and take pride in seeing their efforts appreciated by others as well.

So if you're thinking about getting a pet, why not consider a cat?

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2011.