Unlike humans, who follow a schedule of waking up at sunrise and going to bed at sunset, cats have a highly precise and powerful internal clock. In human biology, this is referred to as the “circadian rhythm.”
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Waking Up Early
As soon as it hits 5 a.m., we automatically wake up on time and, of course, go wake up the human we’re closest to. After all, who doesn’t want someone around when it’s time for breakfast?
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Eating
When it comes to food, we only want the best part. The food on the edge of the bowl? That’s too much trouble; I’m not twisting my neck just to eat that! But humans don’t understand. They always think there’s more in the bowl, so they refuse to add more food. Sometimes, they even hold the bowl in front of me, saying I’m wasting food. Tsk! What a tasteless human.
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Observing Outside the Window
Every morning, I have a set time to watch what’s happening outside the window. Sometimes, it’s those pesky birds, and I’ll use my hunting skills to keep an eye on them, while also doing some cardio to stay fit. Other times, it’s humans or cars passing by, and I’ll use my gossiping skills to watch them, while stretching my body to maintain flexibility.
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Storing Energy
As a hunter, storing energy is crucial. We spend a good chunk of the day—sometimes more than 12 hours—just resting and recharging. Of course, the best way to store energy is by sleeping. Humans could never do this—they can’t spend hours on end doing just one thing. That’s why they’re not disciplined enough!
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Body Cleanliness
This is where we show the most discipline. We’re not only diligent but also very hardworking when it comes to keeping ourselves clean. After every meal, we immediately start cleaning ourselves, beginning with our paws. After doing our business, we don’t delay—right away, we clean up with our tongue.
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Housework
For those of us with a bit of a cleanliness obsession, we’re very disciplined when it comes to housework, especially clearing off tables. We absolutely hate it when there’s too much stuff piled on the table. We’ll make sure to tidy up within our reach, no matter what.
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Persistence
No matter what we do, we always keep a persistent attitude. When one door closes, we’ll find a way to knock on another. We’ll persist with meowing or scratching until the door opens. It’s not just about opening doors—whether it’s asking for food, petting, or waking up the humans—we’ll keep at it until we get what we want. Persistence is key to winning over humans.
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Self-Cultivation
We are constantly working on improving ourselves—cultivating our inner peace, avoiding jealousy, not getting angry, and not being anxious. When humans babble endlessly, we mostly understand them, but if it doesn’t involve food or something that directly benefits us, we won’t respond. And when humans are undisciplined—cheating with other cats, for instance—we know all about it. I can smell other cats on them from a mile away. How disgraceful! But as long as they don’t bring it home, I’ll let it slide and pretend I didn’t notice. Humans may not be disciplined, but that doesn’t affect us. While they’re active, we sleep. When they rest, we’re up and about.
Self-disciplined cats are truly terrifying! Fellow cat lovers, do you have a self-disciplined cat at home? What other signs of discipline do they show? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments!
