For centuries we have been enthralled and entranced by felines. They were first worshipped and domesticated in Egypt before they were bred and exported overseas, where they became trustworthy companions and widely admired.

“The Cats“ Broadway musical, is a good example of how these furry miracles can inspire artists of different eras.

Major literary works have included cats as central characters such as L. Tolstoy’s “Master and Margarita.” They were also important companions for celebrities such as Sir Winston Churchill, who insisted that his cat, Jock, was at the table before any meal was to begin.

Sir Isaac Newton created the cat door, or cat flap, so that his feline friends could come and go as they wished without letting too much light into his laboratory. Even though this device was invented in the 17th century, it is still in demand as the preferred way to allow a cat to have his freedom and access to the house at the same time.

Nikola Tesla, a prodigious inventor was first struck with question “What is electricity?” in early childhood while petting his cat Macak. The repeated contact of his hand with the cat’s fur produced sparks, which led Tesla to make astonishing discoveries in the realm of mechanical and electrical engineering!

The elegance of cat’s movements, their soothing purr and beautiful eyes make everyone appreciate them. Now, there are lots of “Cat Lovers” clubs, fancy grooming salons and cat clothing lines. Consumers not only love their pets, they also love to spend money on their pets and they like to buy specialty items–the frontline for cats is an example.

Cats aren’t only aesthetically pleasing; they also possess some therapeutic values. According to a study published in 2002 by professors Allen K, Blascovich J, Mendes WB, of the State University of New York , contact with cats can help lower high blood pressure. The article was titled “Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets friends and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs” contains ample evidence and support that cats can indeed reduce stress and be beneficial to a cat owner’s health.

One of the reasons cats are so popular in North America is that they’re low maintenance pets. According to a research conducted in 2007 by the American Veterinary Medical Association , there are over 82 million cats, kept as pets in the United States. According to Wikipedia , cats kept exclusively indoors, benefit from a longer life span. They are less exposed to bacteria and diseases, are safe from cat fight injuries and are not exposed to risks caused by motor vehicles. However keeping a cat indoors or letting it out, is a purely personal choice, that depends on many circumstances. You must love and care for your cat. We are responsible for those we take in. Let us not, let them down.

Sigmun Freud once said that “Time spend with a cat is never wasted.”