As someone who was always essentially a dog person, I came late to the business of cat guardianship. I’d been led to believe that cats are aloof, independent and see humans only as a convenient purveyor of food. Imagine my surprise when I found out, first hand, that cats are every bit as affectionate, obedient and friendly as dogs.

Any cat owner will tell you that cats build loving bonds with those close to them. This could be their owner or other humans in the household. But, just as often, their circle will include other cats and even dogs. Despite the fabled feline vs. canine rivalry, stories abound of close friendships between cats and dogs. Often, a cat will pick out a particular person to bond with. They’ll follow that person around, rub against them, curl up in their lap when they can, and speak to them in meows, purrs and trills.

Why they fixate on this one individual is a mystery. It could be that the person shows affection or attention to them, but I’ve noticed that it is often professed “cat-haters”, that attract the affections of cats. Perhaps there is something to the new age theory that cats are able to detect a psychic aura similar to their own.

But cats often share their affections with more than one person. Our three cats for example are all absolutely gaga about our little terrier mix. The love to curl up with him and give him a good grooming, despite his half-hearted complaints.

They also love our golden Labrador, who actually encourages them to groom him. One of our cats is extremely vocal and enjoys having long conversations (sometimes with himself!). He is deaf, but has learned to respond to hand signals. Give him the sign, and he comes running.

How affectionate a cat is may have a lot to do with breed. Some breeds, like Abyssinians, Persians and Siamese are renowned for their loving nature. They hate being left alone, and some are even known to suffer from separation anxiety.

If you want to build up a bond with your cat, all you have to do is fulfill your obligations as a guardian. This means taking care of all your cat’s needs and treating him fairly. Never physically punish a cat or you’ll destroy any bond you may have built up. Cats don’t forgive easily.

Cats love affection and attention and unlike dogs are not blindly obedient. Someone once said that you “may own a dog, but a cat owns you”, and that is not far from the truth. Be good to your cat and you’ll be rewarded with a loving, affectionate companion.

If you’re thinking of adopting a cat, you’ll need to come up with a good name. Cat Names HQ has 1000s of excellent cat names, including a mega list of female cat names.