10 Business Lessons I Learned from My Cat

By Cory Fossum
Principal, Fossum Creative


My cat Ike was easily the smartest feline I've ever met. And while he technically knew nothing about business, he left behind an assortment of lessons that every professional should take to heart.

1. Speak your mind.
Ike was the most vocal of all four cats. He would meow until we fed him. He would nudge my hand until I stopped typing and pet him for a while. And if the other cats got too close, he’d let them know with a bitchy little hiss and growl. To his credit, we always knew exactly knew what he wanted us to do.

2. Stick up for others.
While the other three cats mostly got on his nerves, Ike came to their defense in a moment’s notice. If a strange cat found its way into our yard, Ike would bolt outside and scare it away. And if our other boy cat, Patch, was trying to put the moves on Chloe, Ike would give him a royal smackdown. He was loyal and devoted to everyone on his team.

3. Wear out your competition.
Our last house was near a busy street. To keep the cats in the backyard, I built an elaborate cat fence—a barrier on top of the regular fence that prevented the cats from jumping over it. It worked for all of the cats, except Ike. So for the next two years, we battled it out. I kept tweaking the cat fence so he couldn’t jump over it. But he outsmarted me every time and continued to taunt me as I let him in the front door. I finally gave up. I figured if he was smart enough to escape my cat fence, he was smart enough not to get hit by a car.

4. Take time for yourself.
Ike never shied away from pampering himself. If the sun was out, it became top priority for him to enjoy it. If there was a warm lap available, he made sure he was on it. Once his batteries were recharged, he was always able to find more mischief to get into.

5. Never stop exploring.
It was not uncommon to catch Ike across the street sniffing plants in a neighbor’s yard. Or looking for food up on the kitchen counter. Or poking around a basket of freshly folded clothes. Or looking under piles of papers on my desk. There was lots to see. And he made it a point to see it all.

6. Leave your mark. Ike chose to do this by using his claws to shred the arms of our new couches. Nothing infuriated me more while he was here. But now that he’s gone, I find myself smiling a little whenever I walk past the couches.

7. Keep your coat immaculate. Ike always knew that appearances can make or break you. To this end, he spent hours grooming himself and keeping his coat clean and shiny. As a result, he always made a good first impression when our friends and veterinarians met him.

8. Share your knowledge.
We found our youngest cat, Phoebe, when she was just a tiny kitten. She was scared and alone, but the other three cats took her in as quickly as we did. For the next few years, Ike taught her everything she needed to know about being a feisty cat. He was a great mentor.

9. Put up a good fight.
Ike made sure he used up all nine of his lives. In fact, I think he somehow got a few bonus lives, too. I can’t tell you how many vet bills he wracked up over the years, and every time he came out swinging. Right up to the very end, he put up an incredible fight.

10. Live life on your own terms.
Most cats do this anyway, but Ike turned it into an art form. Which usually drove us crazy. But when you’re living life on your own terms, you’re bound to have your share of critics. So remember to do what Ike always did: ignore them.

© 2007 R. Cory Fossum. All rights reserved.

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