--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I could be a perfectly decent…" description: "\"I think I could be a perfectly decent cat. I've been around cats long enough to know what the rules of being a cat are. When all else fails, wash. And ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/neil-gaiman-29_cat_i-think-i-could-be-a-perfectly-decent-ca_377819.jpg" --- # I think I could be a perfectly decent cat. I've been… ![“I think I could be a perfectly decent cat. I've been around cats long enough to know what the rules of being a cat are. When all else fails, wash. And I think I could master the thing that cats do, where they stalk away pretending they meant to do whatever it was in the first place; showing their…” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/neil-gaiman-29_cat_i-think-i-could-be-a-perfectly-decent-ca_377819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/neil-gaiman-29_cat_i-think-i-could-be-a-perfectly-decent-ca_377819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/neil-gaiman-29_cat_i-think-i-could-be-a-perfectly-decent-ca_377819.jpg) > “I think I could be a perfectly decent cat. I've been around cats long enough to know what the rules of being a cat are. When all else fails, wash. And I think I could master the thing that cats do, where they stalk away pretending they meant to do whatever it was in the first place; showing their wounded dignity.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admires cats, seeing their independent, dignified behavior as a model for living authentically. **In simple terms:** He wants to act like a cat, with independence and dignity. Key Takeaway Adopt cat‑like confidence and self‑care. Themes independence identity dignity Mood reflective humorous Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career choices - stress coping - creative work Key Concepts self‑esteem behavioral modeling Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of cat behavior could improve your life? - How can you balance independence with social responsibility? A Different Perspective Cats are animals, not humans; imitation may be superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Stalking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stalking/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/) ## Related quotes > [You must set down all the rules to your cat at the beginning of your relationship. 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I've had cats as pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-raimi/i-love-cats-i-ve-had-cats-as-pets/) [Sam Raimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-raimi/) > [I've had cats all my life and obviously loved them, but the litter box, and the having to always get a house sitter, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-ve-had-cats-all-my-life-and-obviously-loved-them-but-the-litter-box/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [We've had several cats. I had a cat when I was a kid. 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One can pick a cat to fit almost any kind of decor, income, personality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gurney/the-really-great-thing-about-cats-is-their-endless-variety-one-can/) Eric Gurney > [If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/if-you-are-allergic-to-a-thing-it-is-best-not-to-put-that-thing-in/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [The thing about cats, as you may find, Is that no one knows what they have in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-thing-about-cats-as-you-may-find-is-that-no-one-knows-what-they/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [“Ok, she was close to being right. I did have a thing about cats. And I didn’t particularly have a good reason for feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-raiser/ok-she-was-close-to-being-right-i-did-have-a-thing-about-cats-and-i/) [Kimberly Raiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-raiser/) > [One thing about cats: They are extremely clean animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ostrosky-stern/one-thing-about-cats-they-are-extremely-clean-animals/) [Beth Ostrosky Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ostrosky-stern/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I could be a perfectly decent cat. 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