In the mornings, I like to grab a cup of coffee and my laptop, and check what’s new in my Google reader. Like clockwork, just as I’ve got everything perfectly situated, our cat appears from nowhere and jumps into my lap. I’m convinced that he just wants to read my blog subscriptions because he won’t sit in my lap at any other time, but maybe he’s trying to tell me something.
Archeologists say they have found evidence of cat domestication around Cyprus that dates back to almost 9,500 years ago. It’s not clear though whether we sought out cats or if they sought us out. Even today, it’s often hard to determine who domesticated whom. Whatever the case, the temperament and behavior of cats have endeared them to humans for millinnea.
As my cat sat there in my lap looking up at me, I wondered what lessons I could take from this relationship that might endear my blog to my readers.
Lesson 1: Cats Have Patience and Persistence
Have you ever witnessed a cat hunting a mouse or a bug? They will sit there all day if they have to – waiting for the right opportunity to pounce. No matter how many times a bug flies away to safety, or a mouse escapes into a hole, cats persist until they get their prey. Successful bloggers understand that it takes time to build links, readership, and blog authority. Above all, it takes this same persistence.
Lesson 2: Cats Live in the Moment
Whether they’re eating, playing, or napping, cats make the most of whatever comes there way. They live in the now. They’re not concerned with what happened yesterday or worried about the future. There will be ups and downs in the life of your blog. Successful bloggers don’t dwell on the past, they live in the present. Develop a short term memory when it comes to failures, and don’t let successes go to your head.
Lesson3: Cats Know How to Relax
There are times when I think that all our cat does is sleep. It’s easy to see where the term catnap was derived. We can get caught up in subscriber counts, page rank, and traffic stats if we’re not careful. Such obsessions rarely lead to a better blog. Blogging can take it’s toll on our energy and creativity. Successful bloggers make sure they unplug from the blogosphere on a regular basis to recharge their batteries.
Lesson 4: Cats are Curious
It’s been said that curiosity killed the cat. If our cat is any measure, there’s a lot of truth in that statement. There’s not a bag, box, or room he hasn’t explored. He doesn’t seem to be able to help himself. This is the same attitude that successful bloggers possess. If you don’t have a thirst for learning new things or meeting new people blogging is not for you.
Lesson 5: Cats Seek Out Sunshine & Warm Places
If there’s a ray of sunshine in the house, our cat will find it. He loves to bask in it’s light and warmth. There are many reasons that one takes up blogging. Sometimes, it’s to take a position against something. Successful bloggers know that even when opposing something it’s important to bring light and warmth to the topic. Be positive. Don’t bring up problems without proposed solutions.
Lesson 6: Cats Like to Play
Cats can make a toy out of just about anything. No matter how old they get, they still find time to play. Too much seriousness in a blog will eventually lead to a decline in readership. Successful bloggers find a way to bring humor into their blog. Be creative in how you do it. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself – it’ll endear you to your readers.
Lesson 7: Cats are Well Groomed
Cats are meticulous groomers. For my tastes, they spend way too much time doing it. Technology is constantly changing, and that means you have to stay on top of your blog’s grooming. Platforms, plugins, and tools require numerous updates that require your attention. Be wary of spending too much time grooming your site. Hairballs aren’t fun – even when they’re virtual.
Lesson 8: Cats Keep Their Claws Sharp
When my wife and son bought our cat from the SPCA, they agreed not to have the cat’s claws removed – our furniture has taken much abuse as a result. Cats sharpen their claws on a daily basis. Successful bloggers keep their skills sharpened too by writing every day and reading other blogs and books in their niche.
Lesson 9: Cats Show Their Affection
If I rub our cat’s belly, he starts purring. I love that. When I give him my attention, he shows me his affection. Successful bloggers don’t ignore their readership. When people take time to give us their attention via comments, social media, or social bookmarking, we need to show our affection for them. As your blog grows, this will be more difficult to do; however, it’s still possible to do on a group basis.
What other lessons can bloggers learn from cats? Have you learned a lesson from watching your children or pets which you applied to blogging?
Photo Credit: Flickr/Kevin Steele
This article written by Brad Harmon
Brad's Big Feet Marketing helps people on a limited budget enlarge their online footprint using blogging & social media. His other blog, Marketplace Christianity, examines faith's role in how we earn and spend money. He'd love to connect on Twitter and Facebook.
Brad has written 33 awesome post(s) for this site.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Brad,
I just saw this headline over in the comments on WBB and had to come and read this post.
I agree with everything you’ve said!
I wrote this post Better Bloggers Do It in a Fur Coat for WBB, and one of the points I made was that cats are always alert for opportunities. They don’t miss a trick, do they! We can learn so much from watching our pets and it’s always fascinating!
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No, they certainly don’t. Our cat can be sound asleep, but still jump up and corner a bug that got into the house like he had been laying in wait ready to pounce. We always need to be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. Great point. I’m heading over to read your post now.
My latest post … More Changes Ahead for 2011 – Are You Ready
Brad:
I absolutely love this post! you are dead on with the cat behaviors relating to our blogs. Excellent analogy…now, are there whisker lickin’ treats for us when we post?!
have a good one,
Lisa
My latest post … Internet Marketing- Hey Yo- You Talkin’ To Me
Twitter: @Brad_Harmon
Whisker lickin’ treats, eh? I love it. There’s so much we can learn from cats. Linda (see the link to her post in her comment above) came up with completely different observations from me. Sorry I had no treats, but thanks for stopping by and leaving the comment.
My latest post … More Changes Ahead for 2011 – Are You Ready
Twitter: @danalingga
It seems that we (as bloggers) can learn about blogging stuff from anything. And it is a nice lessons from cats that your bring here Brad. I my self most like the patience and persistent part which I think that patience and persistent is the most important quality to have for bloggers.
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Twitter: @Brad_Harmon
I agree with you, Dana. We’ve known each other long enough to where you’ve seen my hiatuses from blogging. It’s dangerous when we stop posting for longer than a day or two. Before you know it, it can stretch to a week, a month, or forever. Persistence to keep to our blogging schedule is so critical, and a lesson I’m still learning.
Twitter: @peoplebehindweb
Point 2 is brilliant. “They live in the now” I try to do this time and time again.
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Twitter: @Brad_Harmon
It seems so obvious, doesn’t it. I think we just get caught up in what will be or what was – even worse, what never will be. Thanks for the comment, Ayden.
Twitter: @kikolani
Thanks for linking to me in such an awesome post. I love cats, and you’re right – they can be a great influence on every aspect of life, including blogging.
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My pleasure, Kristi. I thought Jim’s guest post was great advice on how to keep our claws sharpened by writing every day. The pictures of your cats always crack me up in your posts. They’re very photogenic.
Hi Brad,
We bloggers can learn a lot from cats and anything. Your post reminds me of my contest post “Are you prepared for the five changes you may face in your blogging career” in the blogengage blogging contest #2 where I mentioned the first change relating to a frog.
I simply liked the post. Thankyou
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Twitter: @Brad_Harmon
You’re right, Kavita. Bloggers have many sources from which to draw inspiration. I wrote a frog post some time ago asking the question, “Is Your Small Business Kissable?” It wasn’t about blogging, though. Isn’t it amazing how many lessons we can learn simply by observing life as it goes on around us?
Twitter: @cathealth101
Such a cute blog and so true. I love the part about cats knowing how to relax. We have two cats and sometimes when I see them stretched out in the living room look so happy and content, I’m almost jealous, actually no I am jealous. Cats really do live in the now, they play with passion and eat with passion.
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I’ll admit to being a little bit jealous of my cat to from time-to-time, Kerry-Ann.
I often wonder if he thinks I’m his servant.
You’ve given importance on the right qualities Brad. I have cats at home but always thought that cats were lazy creatures
who wants to be loved and pampered all the time. Now that I’ve read this post I can now understand the difference and what we can learn from our pets.
Twitter: @Brad_Harmon
LOL … well, cats do like to be pampered, don’t they, Micah? I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and that I could shed some insight into the inner thoughts of your cats.
I posted your article on my blog: http://theuntamedspecies.tumblr.com/
Thank you for a wonderful article, it was insightful and beautiful. These are some wonderful cat qualities you have mentioned and some great life lessons as well.
My latest post … Bloggers do it (better) in a fur coat