15 Reasons Not to Have a Pet Cat

They may be the world's most popular pet, but our furry feline friends have plenty of downsides. Whether it's the vomited fur balls on the carpet, the stinky litter tray, the clawed and shredded furniture, or the slaughtered neighborhood population of small birds and mammals, cats have a lot to answer for.

Below is my list of reasons not to have a pet cat.

1. Felines are aloof. Yes, they can sometimes be affectionate, but it's always on their own terms and they mainly see you as a servant. (A dog, on the other hand, is almost always pleased to see you, and even looks up to you).

2. Cat poop and pee is disgusting and they do it in your home. Changing the litter box is one of most stomach-turning chores ever.

3. Fleas and ticks. Cats pick them up all the time. All they need is contact with another animal. Getting rid of the fleas/ticks can be time-consuming and expensive. It's not just the feline that you have to treat, your house and all its contents can harbor flea eggs after an infection.

4, Cats will claw up your furniture. Your expensive couch is just a scratching post to them and it will end up shredded.

5. The veterinary bills can cost you a small fortune if your feline falls ill.

6. Cats are poor travelers. They are fine on their own for a weekend, but spend any more time away from home and you will need to pay for a cat sitter.

7. Cat allergies are a relatively common condition. It may or may not affect you, but can be an issue if you want to invite friends and relatives over to your home. Cat phobia is less common, but may also interfere with your social plans.

8. They are natural born killers. They are programmed by nature to hunt, even if they have a full belly and aren't hungry. Populations of birds, small mammals, and other local wildlife can be decimated by the presence of cats.

9. They are self willed and impossible to train. Unlike a dog, felines will not obey orders, or even bother to acknowledge them most of the time.

10. Vomit. Cats vomit regularly. Sometimes it is caused by hairballs. Sometimes the cause is an illness. Sometimes you simply just don't know. It doesn't matter, whatever the cause, you still have to clean up the vomit.

11. Cats sleep most of the day, but hate the idea of their owner getting any rest at night. They will walk all over you in bed, knead your chest, purr in your face, tickle your nose with their whiskers and tail - anything to prevent you from getting a good night's kip.

12. As well as scratching up all your furniture, cats can scratch you up too. Often it is accidental, such as when they jump onto or off your lap. Other times they suddenly get annoyed because you are stroking their belly, or something surprised them. Those little claws are sharp.

13. They shed a lot of hair. It gets everywhere. Before you know it there is hair on your clothes, furniture, floor, and just about every surface. Yes, you can comb the cat, but the impact on the problem is limited.

14. That going outside, coming inside thing quickly gets old. They whine at you like they are desperate to be let out. Two minutes later, they want to come back in. Then they want to go out again. I don't understand what it's all about but it's certainly irritating.

15. Cats are just plain weird. There are reasons why the ancient Egyptians worshiped them as a supernatural gods, and European folklore associates them with witchcraft. Felines are so strange that you will never understand their ways.

• A group of cats is called a clowder.
• A group of kittens is called a kindle.
• Cats are crepuscular, rather than nocturnal. That means that they are most active and do their hunting around dawn and dusk, rather than during the night.
• Male cats are called toms, females are called mollies or queens.
• Female cats usually sleep more than males in the wild, mainly because they do most of the hunting.
• They can run up to 30 miles per hour.
• Cats have excellent vision in low light, but cannot see in complete darkness.
• They sweat through their paws.