National Cat Day honors our second most popular pet – Hood County News

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Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High 86F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..
Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Updated: October 23, 2022 @ 4:03 am
Carol Heizer

Copy Editor
Carol Heizer
I’VE BEEN THINKING
 
 
Carol Goodman Heizer is an author who moved to Hood County from Louisville, Kentucky in 2019. She has had short stories and articles published in six editions of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. Her column for the Hood County News will appear every two weeks. She was a public school teacher for 17 years, earlier in her professional career.
 
For all you cat lovers who felt neglected by my August column concerning National Dog Day, fear not. I have not forgotten you. You and your beloved cats have your own national recognition day on Oct. 29. It first began in 2005 when Colleen Paige wanted to bring awareness to the number of cats needing rescue every year. It is the responsibility of all pet owners to spay or neuter their animals that are not being used for breeding purposes by professionals. However, many owners are careless and irresponsible, resulting in thousands of helpless young animals being left homeless.
Although there is some discrepancy as to the actual date of this national recognition day, Oct. 29 appears to be the most discussed among sources, with Feb. 22 and Aug. 8 being other listed dates. But for clarity purposes and the feelings of our cat lovers in America who may have felt slighted a couple months ago in this column, we will stay with the October date. After all, cats are the second most popular pet in our country.
We often think of cats being beloved pets strictly in our modern-day world. However, history tells a different story. The Egyptians worshipped cats at early as 400 B.C. They considered the felines to be sacred, and history records many pictures and statues of cats that have passed through millennia. In 400 B.C., the emperor of China received a cat as a gift, and the feline quickly became a popular pet among the rich. In 100 A.D., cats took a European vacation when Egyptian traders introduced cats to Europeans, specifically the Greeks and Romans who used them as pest control.
According to a National Geographic article, cats’ DNA analysis from thousands of years ago have “changed little from those of wildcats, except for one little tweak – the distinctive stripes and dots of the tabby cat.”
A study from the University of Rome scholar Claudio Ottoni tells us that ancient sailors brought cats along to “help protect food storages on board by killing rodents. This practice allowed cats to spread around the world and today’s cat loves are grateful for that “spreading.” Like dogs who get credit for their lovable nature and being in tune with humans’ moods, a cat can also feel everything its owner does. One feline naturalist pointed out that indoor cats have given up much of their natural instincts to live inside.
Cats live by their own timetable. When you think they have lost interest in you, they suddenly shift gears and manage to melt your heart. When they seem far too busy looking at the window at whatever interests them at the moment or chasing their toys to faraway places, they suddenly remind you their world centers on you. A cat can relieve stress and create a wonderful relationship between itself and its owner.
Why do cats make their owners happy? Studies confirm that they can lower blood pressure and release dopamine and serotonin – both of which reduce stress and improve immune functioning. They can also help release oxytocin that is associated with the feeling of being in love! If you are a cat lover, did you know you are referred to as an “ailurophile”? The word is derived from the Greek word ailouros, which means “cat,” and the suffix -phile, meaning “lover.” So, cat lovers, enjoy your beloved felines and appreciate the wonderful relationship you have with them.
I have never owned or been around cats because of a severe allergy to them, but I once saw a coffee mug with a message that others tell me is definitely true: DOGS HAVE OWNERS. CATS HAVE SLAVES!
Cats bring such pleasure to their owners that some have asked if their felines can actually heal humans. At first, that seems like a ridiculous question. But upon further study, we know that the sound of a cat purring falls between 25 and 140 Hz – the same frequency shown to help in healing broken bones, joint and tendon repair, and wound healing.
Has not our Creator thought of everything? Humans helping animals – and animals helping humans!
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