Galentine’s Day & Why Cats Make the Best Friends!

Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭
There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque!

--

In this special Galentine’s Day episode, we’re celebrating friendship—both human and feline! Whether you're spending the day with friends, loved ones, or just your cat, we’ll dive into five heartwarming reasons why cats make the best companions. From their emotional support to their quirky, lovable personalities, you’ll learn why your feline friend is truly your BFF.

So grab your cat, cozy up, and let's celebrate the special bond we share with our pets!

Resources & Links:
📌 History of Galentine's Day – Learn more here
🎙️ Episode with Stephen Quandt on Feline Behavior – Listen here
📄 2019 Study on Cat Ownership & Heart Health – Read the study
😺 Funny Cat Videos & Happiness Research – Check it out

Stay Connected:
🐾 Follow Tails and Tassels on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
🎭 Check out Catbaret: @catbaretshow
🌐 Visit my website: GemmaSmithNYC

Got a story to share about your cat? I’d love to hear from you! Message me on Instagram or email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening—I'm paws-itively thrilled you're here! 🐾✨

Transcript

Gemma Smith (00:08.514)
Hi kitty cats and welcome back to another episode of Tails and Tassels, the show where you dive into the lives of burlesque nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and how the two worlds intertwine. I'm your host Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare and by night, I host The Catbaret, a cat-themed variety show in New York City. Today's episode is all about celebrating the personal connections we have with our cats. 

Gemma Smith (00:38.134)
And today is February 13th, which is Galentine's Day and the day of the cat beret here in New York City. So whether you're celebrating with friends, loved ones, or just your feline companions, I'm here to dive into why cats are truly the best friends we could ever ask for. So some of the things I found out will warm your heart and I'm sure you'll agree and might even make you appreciate your kitty cat even more. 

Gemma Smith (01:12.802)
I first have to give a quick background of Galentine's Day. I just assume everyone's heard of this holiday. It's the day before Valentine's Day. So as Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation said, it's only the best day of the year. Ladies celebrating ladies breakfast style. And so when I think of Galentine's Day, I do think of, yeah, lady friends celebrating lady friends, or just in general, it's also known as Palentine's. 

Gemma Smith (01:41.88)
celebrating friends and friendship. think that's really important in life. I did a bit of digging and I came up with five reasons cats make the best friends. Reason number one, emotional support. Cats offer comfort and emotional stability. Did you know that studies show that petting a cat can reduce stress and lower blood pressure? Cats also purr at frequencies 

Gemma Smith (02:10.904)
that promote healing and reduce anxiety. For me personally, I know that I struggle with anxiety. I'm human like we all do. And when I'm anxious about something, it helps me to be present with Lion-o, hear him purr when I'm petting him. I've mentioned before on the podcast, the hardest thing I went through in my life was a divorce about goodness. I mean, was it like eight or nine years ago now? 

Gemma Smith (02:38.86)
And I had my cats then and coming home and having them sleep with me every night and be home with me gave me a lot of comfort and emotional stability. mean, my human friendships helped during that time as well, but I have to say that like they're my family and being with them really soothed me during a hard time. Okay, reason number two, they're always there for you in their own way. 

Gemma Smith (03:06.414)
Cats may not be as overly needy as dogs, but they're quietly loyal and very intuitive. So I have some research here that I want to quote from sciencedirect.com. Research indicates that cats bond deeply with their owners and even follow their routines, making them consistent companions. Plus, I've had Stephen Kwant on the podcast, a feline behavior expert. 

Gemma Smith (03:35.542)
And he shared that it's actually a myth that dogs enjoy being around their owners more than cats. Actually, cats enjoy being around their owners just as much. And that's definitely a myth. And for me, not only looking at my own experience, right, as a cat parent, but recently I had Bitsy Brulee on the podcast and her cat Screamy, who has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge at 19, but was there for her for a long time. 

Gemma Smith (04:05.122)
was a steadfast presence in Bitsy's life. And you can tell just in the interview together how much they love each other and the way that screaming looks at Bitsy and vice versa. You can really see the bond between them. And I've seen this with many of my friends and their animals as well. 

Gemma Smith (04:27.51)
Another reason cats are the best friends, they keep life fun and entertaining. From having the zoomies to their quirky personalities, cats are great at bringing humor and joy into our lives. And cats are natural stress relievers. know, watching funny cat videos, I read is scientifically proven to increase happiness. 

Gemma Smith (04:53.784)
There's a reason we love funny cat videos and sharing them with our friends and family. And I know for me, know, taking care of my cats, playing with them, seeing them play with a new toy or play with each other really does bring happiness. Just having them there nearby keeps life interesting, right? They're adding to your family, especially exciting when you get a new pet, add a new pet to the family. That's just like... 

Gemma Smith (05:23.308)
Such an exciting time to have this new life and new presence in your home. Another reason cats make the best friends, they are independent yet loving. Cats strike the perfect balance between giving us space and showing us affection. Cats really demonstrate love in unique ways like kneading, headbutting, or following humans around. I love when Lionel follows me around. He follows me more than Luna. 

Gemma Smith (05:50.702)
And I love when I'm laying in bed in the morning and I just go, I know. I like say his voice a certain way and he comes and runs in the bed and cuddles with me. For me personally, I love dogs, but it would be a lot to have to take my dog on a walk several times a day outside in the cold, especially, you know, in the winter, like it's been here in New York City. It's perfect for me to have cats. And last but not least, 

Gemma Smith (06:20.31)
Another reason feline friends truly are the best friends, they improve our health. Did you know that? Cats contribute to better mental health and reduced loneliness. A 2019 study revealed that cat owners are 40 % less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, plus their companionship can reduce feelings of isolation. For a lot of folks, know, 

Gemma Smith (06:47.626)
Having a cat, that companionship, it means so much and it's so helpful to our mental health. I truly found that my cats have been a source of comfort and connection for me and for so many people in my life as well. In closing, cats remind us that love and companionship come in all forms. So whether your kitty is snuggling with you right now or giving you that, I'm too cool for this look from across the room. 

Gemma Smith (07:16.382)
let's celebrate the unique connections we have with our cats. And I truly love to hear your stories about how your cats have been the ultimate bestie. You can tag me on Instagram at TailsAndTasselsPod or email me at tailsandtasselspod at gmail.com. And next week we'll have another episode with a burlesque or nightlife performer about their craft and their love for cats. Don't miss it. 

Gemma Smith (07:43.488)
And just a reminder, if you're listening to this on February 13th, virtual tickets are still available for the Catbaret. If you're listening across the country, we'll also have another show in April, April 24th. So either get your ticket at the door tonight virtually or join us in April. I love growing this community of cat lovers and having you here and diving into why we love cats and... 

Gemma Smith (08:09.752)
Happy Galentine's Day to you and all of your friends, human or feline. And that's a wrap for this episode of Tails and Tassels. So if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say meow, feel free to send us an email at talesandtasselspod at gmail.com. Thank you for listening. And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Also, join our community on Instagram at Tails and Tassels Pod. 

Gemma Smith (08:44.125)
for more updates and behind the scenes fun. See you next time, kitty cats.