by Beverley Williams

Created on: August 11, 2009   Last Updated: August 12, 2009

There is no such thing as a feline superiority complex - cats are much more straightforward creatures; they simply have their own needs, wants, and opinions. Just like the rest of us, they need food, shelter from the elements, a safe territory and preferably somewhere clean and non-smelly to go to the toilet. They are perfectly capable of acquiring these things independently of we humans, as evidenced by the countless feral cats around the world. While many cats enjoy our company enough to become a more or less permanent part of our lives, they make this choice on their own terms - this independence in a supposed 'pet' simply does not appeal to everyone.

One of the main accusations aimed at the humble moggy is that they want to rule their owners - that every whim must be attended to. This is a common misconception in some people from both sides of the camp - cat 'dislikers' and cat owners. In order to work well, a relationship with a cat must involve some give and take - much as living with another person does. The human in the relationship has an equal say in what is given and taken - whether they choose to exercise it is another matter!

Cats generally only demand actions from their human friends that suit their needs or wants and that were apparently freely given previously. If you have fed them before, they will want feeding again the next time they feel hungry, if you have let them in out of the rain or out for a pee they will expect a similar service in future; if you have waggled that orange felt fish on the end of a bit of string before, they will want you to waggle it again the next time they want to play.

The crunch comes when they ask for these things when it inconvenient for you - like wanting to play when you are late for work, or wanting out at 3am when you would much rather be asleep and they have got a perfectly nice litter tray over in the corner. Just because they ask for something does not mean you always have to give it at that instant - cats can learn ground rules and routines perfectly as long as their human colleagues are consistent in their behaviour - though that is not to say they will not try to push the boundaries! Your life will be much easier if you stand your ground - give them one inch and they will ask for another and another and before you know it you will be up and down in the night like a yo yo letting your furry fiend in and out of the house.

Another accusation is that cats are aloof, and somehow look down on us - quite

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