Self-Help
6 Lessons Our Cats Can Teach Us
The importance of staying curious and knowing your worth
Posted September 24, 2025 Reviewed by Davia Sills
Key points
- Cats are known for their independence, confidence, and unapologetic self-care.
- They remind us to treat ourselves with the same respect and compassion that we often only reserve for others.
After a long day of travel—flight delays, gate changes, and hours spent listening to airport noises—all I could think about was getting home, slipping into my comfy pants, and collapsing into bed. Home felt impossibly far away.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, the only things on my mind were a hot shower and no fewer than 16 hours of sleep. But as soon as I opened the door, my three cats immediately surrounded me, taking on the role of a furry TSA team and inspecting all my bags thoroughly. They had been waiting expectantly, and despite my sheer exhaustion, they reminded me that dinner time doesn’t wait, no matter how tired I am.
Cats are mysterious. They are moody, yet majestic. Playful, but only on their own terms. And while they may not hold degrees in psychology or attend mindfulness retreats, cats actually have a thing or two to teach us about mental wellness and how to ask for, and get, what you deserve.
1. Boundaries Are Healthy
Cats don’t give out their trust easily, and neither should you. They size you up from a distance, observing and taking their time. But when they do choose your lap, forsaking all others? It’s special.
Mental Health Lesson: Boundaries are healthy. Not everyone deserves full access to your energy or emotions. Trust is something to be earned, not handed out freely in an effort to be liked or accepted. Boundaries can help you protect yourself and your mental health.
2. Stay Curious
Ever notice how a cat can spend 15 minutes investigating a cardboard box that humans would just toss in the weekly recycling? If my cat notices a fly in the house, she will track it for hours until one of them passes out from exhaustion. And that’s a good thing; curiosity keeps cats engaged, active, and sharp.
Mental Health Lesson: Research shows that curiosity can help to keep us mentally sharp.1 Ask questions about things you don’t understand, or explore new hobbies or things that you have been wanting to try but “never found the time.”
3. Know Your Worth
Cats don’t question their value. Unlike my middle school self, they don’t contort themselves to be liked. They just are unapologetically themselves. When my three cats met me at the door, clearly more interested in their dinner than my return, I was quickly reminded that my bed would have to wait. Their needs came first. They know exactly what they deserve, and they aren’t afraid to ask for it.
Mental Health Lesson: Your worth isn’t up for debate. It isn’t measured by productivity, being “liked,” or being able to fit into the conveniences of others. You have inherent value just by existing, and you deserve to take up space.
4. Show Self-Compassion
When cats mess up (like knocking over your freshly brewed coffee mug!), they rarely show shame. They look you dead in the eye, flick their tail, and walk away like, “I meant to do that.” That’s confidence.
Now, I am not saying we should not apologize for our mistakes. If you knock over my coffee, please apologize (and maybe buy me a new one), but there is no need to dwell in self-blame and shame.
Mental Health Lesson: We all make mistakes. Making mistakes doesn’t make you unworthy. Take accountability, learn, and move forward. Maintaining self-compassion and self-confidence can actually help with alleviating stress and improving our physical and mental health2.
5. Prioritize Rest
Cats sleep 12 to 16 hours a day. (My senior cat probably sleeps closer to 20). They prioritize their downtime, no matter what other obligations they have that day.
Mental Health Lesson: Prioritizing downtime is essential to our health. Sleep is when your brain resets and your body heals, so getting enough sleep has numerous mental health benefits3. Not a napper? Even resting for a moment or two throughout the day has health benefits.
6. You’re Allowed to Change Your Mind
One minute, my cats love tuna. The next? Seeing it hit their bowl is utter betrayal. Every cat parent knows this struggle: Their fickle tastes change on a whim, leaving you scrambling to find a new favorite after you’ve just cleared the pet store’s shelves of tuna-flavored canned food. But they feel no guilt for this.
Mental Health Lesson: You always have the right to change your mind. About people or relationships. About your job. About having tuna for dinner. Growth means re-evaluating and choosing things that we once may have disagreed with, yet we now know are better for us. You don’t owe anyone anything, especially not at the cost of your well-being.
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LinkedIn image: Magui RF/Shutterstock
References
Tucker, A., & Stern, Y. (2011). Cognitive reserve in aging. Current Alzheimer Research, 8(4), 354-360.
Homan KJ, Sirois FM. (2017). Self-compassion and physical health: Exploring the roles of perceived stress and health-promoting behaviors. Health Psychol Open. 2017 Sep 14;4(2):2055102917729542. doi: 10.1177/2055102917729542. PMID: 29379620; PMCID: PMC5779931.
Worley SL. (2018). The Extraordinary Importance of Sleep: The Detrimental Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Health and Public Safety Drive an Explosion of Sleep Research. P T. 43(12):758-763.
