I was only 6 or 7 when my school bus driver asked all of us while driving, “Raise your hand if you like cats.” I raised my shy hand up, along with several other students. She then asked, “Raise your hand if you like dogs.” A bigger group of students raised their hands. I was devastated as that was the first time I was confronted with having an unpopular opinion, but cats have always held a tender place in my heart since I was young.
I love cats because they’re quiet like me. Their purrs and meows wash away my depression and anxiety. They catwalk better than supermodels, wash themselves efficiently, and unapologetically convey their personalities. Some cats have no time for your coddling or nonsense. Other cats cling to people like peanut butter and jelly. Their paws are impossibly squishy, their eyes are innocent (even when they’ve knocked over your latest decor), and their bellies could put most cushions to shame. I’m moved by how cats improve the lives of families, veterans, trauma survivors, and the elderly.
I adopted my Siamese cat, Zane, in the summer of 2019. I told my parents I’d wanted a cat for years because as an only child, living with no pets was a recipe for isolation. Zane was one of the first cats we saw in the animal shelter, and he seemed to gravitate toward our voices and legs. He arrived at our house as small as a rabbit with only splotches of black around his nose, ears, and legs. He wore the most royal blue collar with a bell. I played with his energetic soul, tolerated all his stinky farts, and let him kick and bite me like a rebellious teenager. He brought my small family only joy, not pain. We’d “scold” him for scratching one of us, only to laugh about it days later. In seven years, Zane has grown to be a long, furry squash with darker fur. Think of his coat color to resemble smudged charcoal on paper. The blue bell collar has long been abandoned after it started itching his fluffy neck. Instead of living in Portland, Oregon, he now lives thousands of miles away from me in Shanghai, China. Nevertheless, he still reminds me that simple 
things exist in this increasingly confused world.
I decided to volunteer at EveryCat because I wanted to improve the health and longevity of cats. While my cat, Zane, has been fortunate enough to never suffer any serious health issues, I can’t imagine how much cat parents suffer when their feline companion is sick or injured. The first thing they’d want in that situation is the best healthcare for their cat. Most people understand that “dog is man’s best friend,” but many overlook the impacts cats can make in peoples’ lives (even if the impacts look different). Cats have soothed a lot of peoples’ mental health. They’ve taught people what it means to be nurturing, patient, and loving like a parent. My mom is Zane’s parent as much as she is mine. When people like me volunteer for cat nonprofits, we serve cat-owners as well. I hope for a world where every cat-owner can get the help they need for their furry sentinel.
Celina Shao is a University of Florida graduate with a BA in media production, management, and technology and a minor in early childhood studies. She has a cat named Zane who lives with her parents in Shanghai, China. She enjoys volunteering for EveryCat Health Foundation because she loves seeing cats and cat-owners happy.