Choupette and Karl Lagerfeld

Not since ancient times, when cats were worshipped as gods, have our feline friends been so culturally significant. From cat-inspired fashion to feline film festivals to kitty-friendly decor, there are plenty of reasons it’s a great time to be a cat — and an even better time to be a cat lady.

Cat Lady Couture

Feline-loving fashionistas have an array of options, from cat-inspired dresses to purses to earrings to heels, for any budget. This fall, you can pop into Target for a frisky cardigan covered with cats for $23, or head to Neiman Marcus and spring for a $745 pair of kitty cat flats from designer Charlotte Olympia. And, of course, Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette, has a book and has inspired various fashion lines. Lagerfeld has said that his cat is more famous than he is.

Kitty-Friendly Digs

Forget preconceived notions of an apartment filled with shredded shag carpeting and cat scratchers in every corner. With access to design inspiration like Hauspanther.com, cat ladies can create aesthetically pleasing, cat-friendly homes. Kate Benjamin, the designer behind the site (and a Vetstreet contributor), offers everything a cool cat lady needs for her home, from cat shelves to litterboxes to wall art and more. Benjamin recently teamed up with everyone’s favorite Cat Daddy, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, on a book. Catification, which landed on The New York Times best-seller list, helps readers create beautiful spaces that also work well for felines.

Taylor Swift and her cat Olivia Benson

Celebrity Pals

In her latest Diet Coke commercial, cat lover Taylor Swift discovers that each time she takes a swig of soda, the cats in her home magically multiply. So what she does she do? Keeps drinking, of course! And Swift isn’t the only famous female owning her cat obsession. Katy Perry, Rita Ora and Kristen Stewart aren’t afraid to flaunt their kitties.

Talented Cat-Loving Men

Are you aware of the men who openly love their favorite felines? Talented men throughout history have shown a penchant for pussycats. Marlon Brando started it. Today, Ian Somerhalder, Michael C. Hall, David Bowie, Morrissey and Ed Sheeran are just a few crazy cat guys.

High-Profile Film Festivals

No one knows exactly why cat videos are so popular, but after 10,000 cat lovers showed up at the first cat video festival held at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis last year, the festival franchised, moving across the country to Los Angeles, and soon will appear in other cities. Other organizers have jumped on the cat vid craze with events like Catdance, held during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Hero Cats as Companions

Cat ladies are never surprised to hear stories of feline heroism, but those tales do publicly validate how special cats are. From Tara the Hero cat, who saved her favorite little boy from an aggressive dog, to Pudditat, who is a guide cat for her best friend, a blind dog named Tervel, cats are often unexpected protectors. Mama cats are known to nurse orphaned puppies, and there are numerous stories about cats who save their families by alerting them to house fires. Cat ladies know that sharing your home with a cat is akin to sleeping with a superhero.

There are so many reasons it’s great to be a cat lady, but the best reason of all? Snuggling on the sofa with a purring kitty.