If you are a cat owner you will know all about theirindependent ways. If you don’t own a cat, you may haveobserved the fascination that cat owners have aboutfeline behaviour. Cats are the masters of finance and wecan all benefit from their investment prowess.

Here are six important lessons we can learn from cats.

Great investment tips... from cats

Image source: Tambako The Jaguar Flickr

You don’t have to figure outyour entire financial life beforetaking the first step. Just getstarted and forget the excuses.This might mean consolidatingyour many super accounts intoone, taking out life insurance,paying off your credit carddebt, or starting a savings plan.

Beginning something todaymeans you are way ahead ofany of the best intentions.

If you can’t maketime to lick all your

paws - it’s OK tolick just one

Image source: Charles Barilleaux, Flickr

You don’t need to have all theluxuries of life today. Fastcredit means it’s easy to buythat huge 3D TV but end uppaying for it a lot longer thanyou’d planned.

Debt can be a devil unless youuse it wisely.

Shed your fur coat

Image source: Tim Sackton, Flickr

Once you have started asavings or debt reduction plan,keep it going. Make regular andsteady contributions, howeversmall.

Have the money takenautomatically from your pay orbank account. That way you’llnever miss it. Just think if youcould save just $150 everymonth and earn 7% you wouldhave over $78,000 in 20 years.

Feed meconsistently - if not

constantly

Image source: Brian Leon, Flickr

Don’t be afraid to walk awayfrom investments that don’tfeel right. It’s your money andyou are going to need it tolaunch your kids on their livesor fund your retirement.

If you don’t understand aninvestment orrecommendations that arebeing made to you, say so. Ifyou’re not comfortable, give adiscerning sniff, put your tail inthe air and move on.

Haughtily dismissthose things which

are beneath you

Image source: Doug Weller, Flickr

Err on the side of caution.There’s nothing wrong withtaking your time to fullyunderstand before you leap.

It’s OK to be a bitjumpy and

suspicious ofeverything

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You need to clean out your litter tray from time to time. Never beafraid to sell a bad investment. If you doubt that the investmentwill recover, better to sell it and invest what is left in somethingthat you believe will perform better. As long as you learn from yourinvesting mistakes, there is no such thing as a total loss. Take itfrom the cats!

Bury anything that smells

Image source: cat-astrophes.com