Matthews 1

Tim Matthews

English 1301

Professor Bodily

22 March 2018

Happy: My Adored Freeloader

A few days ago, I arrived home from classes, exhausted and ready for a nap. I unlocked

the front door and dragged myself into the living room, but Happy was lounging comfortably

across my favorite spot on the sofa. I asked myself, “why does my family keep him when all he

does is eat and sleep?” People tend to love things that love in return, but cats do not seem to be

making any effort to give back to their owners—at least this seems to be the case with my own

freeloading cat. This problem leads me to wonder if cats have a different way of giving

affection, not the same way humans do. How do cats show affection? How can cat owners

better experience a stronger human/cat relationship? Observing Happy’s daily life, his routine,

and his interactions with my family helps me understand the human/cat relationship and corrects

a misconception many owners have about cats. Cats actually show affection to their owners, but

their owners must be able to recognize this affection to benefit fully from the relationship.

Cats are more sociable than most cat owners think. Many generally consider cats lazy,

freeloading on soft beds, eating free food, and napping for most of the day in the comfort of air

conditioning, not caring about their owners. This description fits Happy when I am busy

working on homework and my siblings and parents are gone for the day; however, he acts more

sociable with me after I get home from school or work. He is seemingly alert and playful. For

example, one day I observed Happy quickly wake from a nap and follow me out to the mailbox

as though we were buddies. I noticed how he chased a few leaves blowing in the wind, “his eyes

wide and his ears perked” (Matthews 1), before returning inside to sit next to me on the sofa
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while I watched TV. Happy seemed to have missed me that day, suggesting he is a sociable

animal and not so independent as many cat owners assume.

In her book, Animals Make Us Humans, author and animal expert Temple Grandin says,

“Cats need friends and companions to satisfy their social instincts” (95). She provides several

examples of how cats sleep during the day while the owners are gone so that they have energy

when their owners return. Based on my experience with Happy, I agree with Grandin. Grandin

helps me see from Happy’s perspective—that is, Grandin suggests I notice how my cat sits close

to me, follows me around the house, and plays with me (95). These are ways Happy fulfills his

social needs and proves he doesn’t freeload all day, but actually rests up to show me affection

when I get home.

Now that I have examined Happy’s perspective and uncovered his true desire to be

sociable, I will now look at how cats affect their human’s physiological well-being. Owning a

cat can be a pain (feeding, shedding, vet expenses), but cat ownership can help owners destress.

In an article by Lesley R. Demello titled, “The Effect of the Presence of a Companion-Animal on

Physiological Changes Following the Termination of Cognitive Stressors” Demello describes an

experiment showing proof of the physiological well-being that animals have on humans (860).

In her experiment, she shows how fifty volunteers unknowingly went through three tests to view

their physiological responses to animals. Whenever an animal was present, the participants had a

reduction in a cognitive stressor and a significantly reduced heart rate (865). This possibly

means that in the presence of a cat, owners feel less stressed and more relaxed. Whenever I am

stressed, I go to my cat and cuddle him (Matthews 1). This calms me down so that I can focus on

my homework once again. Feeling less stressed may be one reason why my family continues to

keep Happy and perhaps other people continue to own cats as well.
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Up to this point, I have discussed the physiological benefits cats provide humans. Cat

owners should also consider the role cats play in the relationship between themselves and their

owners. Nowadays, it is not weird to see people talk to cats as if they are humans. Observing

my sister’s interaction with our cat, I notice how she talks to him about almost everything that’s

going on with her life (Matthews 1). “He is a part of my childhood and he is always home

waiting for me after work and always kept me company when I need it. Also, whenever I need

comfort he is always there without a doubt,” (1) Stephanie explains. In her case and likely in the

case of many cat owners, a relationship with a feline friend brings a sense of comfort and

security. Happy seemingly listens to my sister without abusive retorts or judgment or criticism

(Matthews 1). Not surprising, Stephanie declares, “Happy always accepts me for who I am” (1).

While some people believe cats are unempathetic animals, Stephanie shows how her relationship

with our cat is more like a comforting friendship.

Perhaps Stephanie’s experience with Happy explains why Andrew Higglesworth, cat

expert and author of The Cats in our Lives: A Study of the Effects Felines Have on Humans,

finds cat ownership is increasing as people live disjointed lives. He reports cat ownership has

increased in the United States by 62% in the past fifty years (78). His findings are not alarming

given the fact that our society seems more abusive and bullyish. People are turning to cats when

humanity rejects them. People need others, but only when their need is safe and reciprocal. For

example, my sister is Happy’s favorite person in our family (see Photo 1). The way Stephanie

holds Happy and the way he wraps his paws around her demonstrates this relationship. This

bond often grows as they care for one another. Stephanie told me: “Doing responsibilities for my

cat can be a joy—such as seeing the excited face he has when I give him food” (1). Such a

simple response nourishes my sister. She feels loved and accepted by Happy, a feeling she
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Photo 1: Matthews, Tim. Stephanie with Happy. JPEG.

doesn’t always receive from her friends, and she knows Happy will never “unfriend” her

Facebook page.

Researching cats, observing Happy’s daily life, and interviewing my sister about her

relationship to Happy, I conclude that cats do indeed give affection to their owners. Many

people may find this difficult to believe but with close analysis anyone can see how cats spend

time near their owners, sleep in anticipation for their owners’ return, help owners destress just by

being present, and affectionately accept services such as feeding. Ultimately, cats provide a

sense of comfort and security, but people must recognize this gift, or they will assume cats are

just a bunch of adored freeloaders.

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Works Cited

Demello, Lesley R. "The Effect of the Presence of a Companion-Animal on Physiological

Changes Following the Termination of Cognitive Stressors." Psychology & Health, 14

(Sept. 1999): 859-69. Print.

Grandin, Temple and Johnson, Catherine. Animals Make Us Human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Harcourt, 2009. Print.

Higglesworth, Andrew. The Cats in our Lives: A Study of the Effects Felines Have on Humans.

New York: MacMillan. 2015. Print.

Matthews, Stephanie. Personal Interview. 10 February 2018. Print.

Matthews, Tim. Personal Observation. 10 February 2018. Print.

Matthews, Tim. “Stephanie with Happy.” 3 October 2018. JPEG.

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Observation Notes

Observer: Tim Matthews

Research Topic: Cats and Families

February 9, 2018, 9:30am: I see Happy sleeping on the sofa. He’s been fed (Steph fed him

as usual) and looks comfortable. I think he’s just “free loading.” I wish I could have his life.

February 9, 4:30pm: I’m home from school and Happy is still on the sofa. I wonder how

long he’s been there. All day? He wakes up. He looks at me, then stretches his front pays

and yawns. He gets up and stretches his back up. I sit down and turn on the TV. Happy

comes over and rubs on my arm. I don’t pet him, but he sits down next to me, swishing his

tail and watches the TV with me.

February 9, 7:00pm: Steph gets home. She greets Happy. She doesn’t say anything to

anyone else. My mom says, “Hey Steph,” but Steph doesn’t say anything. Happy rubs on

Steph’s legs and she picks him up. I get a photo of her hugging him. She carried him to the

laundry room and pours food in his bowl. He eats.

February 10, 9:00am: Happy jumps on Steph’s lap as when she eats cereal. She lets him

drink some of her milk. I’m grossed out, but I realize that Happy and Steph have a

relationship going.

February 10, 11:30am: I don’t have class today, so I’m doing homework. Happy is sitting

near me, looking out the window. I wonder what he is thinking. He just hangs out with me.

I grab a shoe and dangle the lace in his face. He starts chasing the shoe lace. His eyes are

wide. This make me laugh.

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February 10: 1:30pm: The mail truck delivered our mail. Happy has returned to his

favorite sofa. I pass him on the way out to get the mail. Happy follows me. Steph doesn’t

want me to let him outside, but I do it anyway. Happy follows me to the mailbox. On the

way, he chases a few leaves blowing in the grass. He looks really wild. I get the mail and we

go back in the house. Happy stand in the doorway, so I can’t close the door. “Do you want

in or out?” I ask him, but he doesn’t seem to listen to me. I just shut the door on him.
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Interview Transcript

Interviewer: Tim Matthews

Interviewee: Stephanie Matthews, cat owner

Date of Interview: February 10, 2018

Location of Interview: My residence

Research Topic: Cats and Families

Me: Is your cat an important part of your life? Why?

Stephanie: Yes, because he was a part of my childhood and he is always home waiting for me

after work and always keeping me company when I need it. Also, whenever I need comfort he is

always there without a doubt.

Me: What is your relationship with your cat

Stephanie: Right now, he’s kind of like a human. It seems like he knows what’s going on in our

house and he’s more of a family member than just a pet. Even though my cat is very old, I

continue to treat him as if he is a baby. And there is not a single day that I can avoid him

throughout the day.

Me: How does your cat give you joy?

Stephanie: He gives me joy by cuddling with me and giving me attention and at the same time

just watching him live his life gives me joy because it looks so simple and non-worrisome. I

guess he gives me comfort and assurance just by being there.

Me: Is being a cat owner a lot of responsibility?

Stephanie: Hmm…not really. The responsibilities that I mainly do is clean up his litter box and

feed him. Other than that, there’s not so much to do. Unlike dogs I don’t have to take a walk with

them or force myself to play with them. I can play with my cat whenever I want and doing the
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responsibilities for my cat can be a joy. Such as seeing the excited face he has when I give him

food.

NOTE: Tim’s paper was penalized because he failed to

highlight text in the following journal article and book
source photographs. I could not quickly see a match
between his photographed pages and his in-text citations.
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