My 42-year old mother is not convinced that cats are perfect. Like my 17-year old friends, she is energetic, sparky and generous. She can also be feisty if she has to. She is a master of Bollywood music and cooks the most delicious chicken parmesan. She is a bit different than other mothers because she loathes all animals unless they are delicious, such as her chicken parmesan.Britain is tolerant of pets and any animosity towards them is completely unacceptable. We are a nation of zoophilists. Pet ownership has increased during lockdown. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association statistics, there are currently 34m pets in the UK, including 12m cats, 12m dogs and 3.2m small mammals such as guinea-pigs, hamsters, birds, and 1.5m reptiles.My mother, to my dismay, never wanted to join this legion of pet-lovers, especially when it came to cats. This hostility was something I was aware of growing up. To avoid my mother's reaction, we had to inform our relatives and friends half an hour before we visited them with cats. She would get hysterical if a relative allowed a cat to come near her. We laughed at her ridiculous reaction, but her fear of cats was real.It was partly based on a frightening video she had seen about a cat growing up. She vividly recalls seeing a black cat with intimidating green eyes jump into the mouth of a man and then suffocate him. She has stated that there is something troubling about their piercing stares and how fast they can disappear into thin air. She will even go so far as to state that cats are Satan incarnate. They use their cuteness, adorability, and bewitch to do the devils' work.I wanted a cat, just like many other teenagers locked down.Contrary to what you might think, I am an ailurophile. I love cats with all my heart. Their intelligence, curiosity and unassailability are what I love about them. I wanted a cat, just like many teenage girls locked up, learning at home for hours and trying to stay positive. My story is not unique; over 3.2 million households in the UK have adopted a pet cat since the outbreak.It's no surprise that this trend is being supported by many young people, just like me. Nearly two-thirds (33%) of new pet owners are between 16-24 years old. 56% of new pet owners have children. I tried to convince her. It took me some time.My first attempt at persuading her failed. In the end, my mother's fears prevailed. So, I decided to try again. I paid a deposit on a kitten without my mother knowing. But, the seller was a fraudster and everything fell apart.I wanted a cat but my mother was not able to give me permission to purchase one from a trusted source. There was only one way that I believed could work. To convince her, I used my religion.We practice Islam together and I realized that this was the best way to get her heart in cat-related matters. I was puzzled why I hadn't tried it earlier.Cats are considered holy animals in Islam. They are loved for their cleanliness. They are believed to be ritually clean, which is why they can enter homes and mosques. According to authentic narrations, you can make an ablution for prayer using the same water that a cat has drank from. You can even eat from the same bowl a cat has used.Cats are revered in Muslim culture for centuries, unlike dogs. One of Prophet Muhammad's companions was called Abu Hurairah (Father Of The Kittens) because of his love for cats. Muezza, the Prophet's favourite cat, was his favorite name.A famous story about Prophet Muhammad's relationship with cats is told by the Muslim community. According to this story, Muhammad awoke one morning to hear the prayer call. He discovered that Muezza was asleep on the sleeves of his prayer robe as he began to put on clothes. He decided to wake Muezza and cut off the sleeves with a pair scissors. The cat was allowed to remain asleep undisturbed.Truth be told, I would love a dog but Islam prohibits Muslims from keeping them. They can be punished if the dog is not kept in good standing. However, there are exceptions. It is permissible to keep dogs for hunting, protecting livestock, and guarding crops.Muezza, the favourite cat of Prophet II, was named after him.These reasons were the reason I was not allowed to be near dogs and it never crossed my mind to own one. It is an integral part of British culture. We are a nation that loves dogs, and as a child, I felt like I was missing out. I would never be able to play fetch with a dog or even get near one. They are considered dirty in my culture and I would have to wash them if I touched one.We as a nation often compare cats to dogs. Even the most loving and caring cat can make a bad first impression. Cats communicate quietly and subtly. Dogs are able to see what they see and have no personality quirks or hidden characteristics. Cats can live a happy, independent life alongside their owners. You don't have to walk them or take them outside for poop. They also don't need a lot of space. Soon enough, you will have a purring cat on your knees.It only took her a few weeks to tell my mother about the spiritual and seraphic cats in Islam before she fell in love with it. Although it felt like a sacrifice, she understood how much I desired one. Because mothers are mothers, she spoke to many Muslims about cats and her fears were eventually dispelled.So, despite all odds, I adopted Milo, my kitten. My mother's attitude changed within weeks and Milo moved in with us. Now, after three months, Milo is fully adopted by her. He is energetic and tormenting as teenager but he's also cute, small, and vulnerable as a baby. This appeals to me as well as my mother. He has the most beautiful, green eyes and softest fur.Mother runs down the stairs every morning to kiss Milo when she wakes upShe was initially apprehensive and hesitant around Milo at first. But she began to get to know him. To my surprise, one day Milo was sitting on her lap as she watched TV, which surprised me. She now does everything for him, including cleaning out his litter box, feeding him and playing with him. She runs down the stairs and kisses him every morning as soon as she wakes.It's very funny to remind my mother how she felt about cats. She is now the proud owner Milo, and she has done extensive research on the Islamic prevalence of cats. She says that cats are a blessing from God and provide happiness and positivity to their owners.My mother spends hours staring at him every day. She sends out WhatsApp photos of Milo to everyone and text me every few hours with updates about her favorite child. After shopping, she comes home laden with toys and presents for him.Who would have thought Islam could help my mother's ailurophobia? And turn her into a cat-lover! Sometimes I think she loves him more that me. He is like a charming, playful teenager who doesn't respond back. She is right.
