10 Reasons Pokemon are Really Cats in Disguise #PokemonGo

Pokemon Go Go Go

If you haven’t been living under a rock, weren’t lost in the desert or didn’t drop your phone in the rapids while kayaking solo down the Klinaklina River over the past few weeks, you may have heard something about a game called Pokemon Go.

You can tell when people are playing it, as they wander around aimlessly with cell phones held high in front of them, paying attention only to what’s on their screens. Okay, well, that’s every day, but still. This is different. You’ll hear them mutter something about not wanting another Rattata and then suddenly turn around and walk in the opposite direction, eyes still on their screens.

In this augmented reality game, players try to “catch” creatures known as Pokemon, cartoonish characters that can show up anywhere. Your backyard. The church down the street. Amid your chicken nuggets.

Learning to play the game

I asked my 22-year-old son Aaron (who is playing the game ironically, he would want me to tell you), to show me what all the fuss was about. I was curious why it seemed to be so addictive, why it was suddenly the thing everyone wanted to do, or at least talk about — endlessly.

It was a bonding moment, as we discussed the secret to getting a Pikachu as your starter Pokemon, how to know when the creatures are nearby, and what’s the best way to “throw” a Pokeball in order to catch the nearest one. We walked around the neighborhood as he explained, and he helped me catch my first Eevee.

Found a fox-like Eevee in our neighborhood. It hopped up in Aaron’s hand and I caught it.

Through the course of the weekend, he helped me get the hang of the game — even during a trip to the emergency room after Aaron nearly sliced the tip of his finger off in an onion-related accident, where, with his help I caught a Pidgey, a Weedle, a Rattata, and visited a virtual Poke Spot. Fun times.

Pokemon Go Pidgey hung out in our ER cubicle long enough for me to catch him.

I understand now why it’s addictive, and why it’s all the rage, and why the tagline for the game in all it’s iterations has been “Gotta catch ’em all.”

Because Pokemon are really cats in disguise.

I started seeing them everywhere. It may have something to do with the fact that I live with four cats, but I’m not convinced.

Caught one, a Calvin.

10 Reasons Pokemon are Cats

Don’t believe me? Read on:

1) Like Pokemon, you can never have just one cat.

2) In fact, once you have one (Pokemon or cat), you find all others irresistible. You gotta catch ’em all.

Here’s a Dawn, in the spot where I caught my first Pikachu.

3) Of course, neither Pokemon or cats are easy to catch.

4) But, if you feed Pokemon, they’re easier to catch. Just like cats.

5) You can use lures to attract Pokemon to Poke Stops so you can catch them. Kind of like opening a tin of Tuna Deelight.

I found an Athena by the rhododendron.

6) But the lures only work for a short period of time. Then they disappear: cats after a meal.

7) You can catch a Pokemon by throwing a ball at it. But it might move or deflect the ball. Throw a ping pong ball at a cat and watch what happens.

8) To help your Pokemon evolve into more interesting and powerful creatures, feed them. Yup. You guessed it. Just like cats.

A huge Elsa Clair was roaming my yard.

9) You can also power up your Pokemon by sprinkling stardust. Sounds like catnip to me. Talk about powering up.

10) People who play the game and collect Pokemon love to get together and talk about their creatures. A lot. An awful lot. Go ahead. Ask me — or any other feline fancier — about our cats. Or our Pokemon.

I found another Calvin in the garden. I think cats spawn other cats.

I rest my case.

Do you know other ways Pokemon are like cats? Tell me in the comments.

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