🐾 How My Cat Made Me a Better Teacher

 

I’ve taught students of all ages.
But none prepared me for the complexity of teaching a cat.

He didn’t follow instructions. He didn’t care about rubrics. He didn’t respond to praise.
And yet — he taught me everything I needed to know about good teaching.

Here’s what I learned:

• Differentiated instruction is non-negotiable.
  Some cats respond to treats. Some to tone. Some to silence. Students are the same. One method never fits all.
• Behavior is communication.
  A sudden “mwout,” a tail flick, a refusal to engage — these are messages. I learned to decode behavior instead of punishing it.
• Positive reinforcement works.
  Cats don’t respond to scolding. But a well-timed treat? A gentle stroke? That’s motivation. Students thrive on encouragement, not fear.
• Timing matters.
  Try to teach a cat when they’re sleepy, distracted, or zooming? You’ll fail. Students have windows of readiness. Catch them, and magic happens.
• Environment shapes behavior.
  A cluttered space makes a cat anxious. A noisy room makes them retreat. Students need calm, safety, and predictability too.
• Trust is the foundation.
  A cat won’t learn from someone they don’t trust. Neither will a student. Relationship first, instruction second.
• Curiosity is sacred.
  Cats explore everything — boxes, shadows, sounds. I stopped shutting down questions and started honoring them. Inquiry became the lesson.
• Silence is a teaching tool.
  Sometimes, the best way to teach is to wait. Let the cat figure it out. Let the student wrestle with the idea. Learning happens in the pause.
• Let go of control.
  You can’t force a cat to learn. You can invite, model, and support. Same with students. The goal is growth, not obedience.

My cat didn’t follow my lesson plans.
But he made me a better teacher — more patient, more attuned, more willing to adapt.

Inspired by the book How My Cat Made Me a Better Man (Jeremy Feig)

Book Description

Jeremy Feig was at rock bottom - broke, alone, and living in a shoebox-sized apartment. At the same time, his cat was perfectly content. What was her secret? She couldn't say it out loud, but it was clear she had all the answers to living a good life. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a hilarious self-help book for guys that gals like, too, based on the lessons of an edgy cat named Shelly. It's packed with useful advice on topics like relationships, dealing with stress, and even grooming habits. If you feel like your life is spinning out of control, this book will help you set things right - and keep you laughing along the way. Winner of the Kops-Fetherling International Books Awards legacy humor award and finalist for Book of the Year Award, How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a "darling" of cat bloggers, recipient of a Readers' Favorite 5-star review, and "highly recommended" by MidWest Book Review. Delightfully illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings by famed Russian artist, Zhenya Yanovich.

AWARDS

Book of the Year finalist

Kops-Fetherling International Book Award, legacy award for humor

Read more posts by and about Jeremy Feig and his book HERE.

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