“I hate cats!” We’ve all heard this line being thrown around at one point or another, as somehow, even in this obviously feline-obsessed digital world, there seem to be many who are still not fans of cats at all. What are the reasons some people hate cats? What’s the thought process behind this hatred? That’s exactly the topic I’m going to try to tackle here.
I’m going to start this article off by stating the obvious: I’m a cat person. Even if you’re here for the first time, you’ve probably noticed that already just taking a look around, or considering the name of this website is “KittyClysm.”
That being said, if you stumbled over onto this page because you hate cats and were curious about what I had to say, I assure you, I’m not here to judge you. Cats just rub some people the wrong way. I understand that. Others have completely valid reasons for writing off cats completely (and yes, while we cat-lovers may never want to admit this, there are some highly valid reasons for truly disliking cats).
But I want to note at the start of this article something that should be completely obvious – I myself, being a cat person, am not personally capable in any way, shape, or form, of accurately putting myself in the head space of a person who hates cats. I’m aware that this article is based on assumptions I have about those who hate or just really dislike cats, and I’m not claiming these points to be otherwise. If I do get some of these reasons for hating cats wrong or misrepresent some of the reasons in my descriptions of them, I do want you to take to the comments section and correct me where I’m wrong.
I don’t think people who hate cats are bad people for hating cats, let alone “evil,” and I don’t believe anybody should think this way about them. I think if you understand why a person hates the things he or she does, you’re more likely to see them as the whole person they are, and not just one-dimensionally as a “cat hater” or something silly like that. People should love and hate what they like and not be judged for it, unless they are causing harm to the things they hate, of course.
On the other hand, being a cat person, I obviously do think most hatred toward felines is misplaced. I’ve met a lot of people who really disliked cats who have grown to love them after meeting a very special one. My own father fits into this category.
But while I think hatred for cats can often be reduced at minimum to indifference toward them, I don’t think that absolutely everybody is going to jump on the bandwagon of basically worshiping felines, the way we “cat people” do.
Again, I’m obviously a cat person, so you shouldn’t be surprised I have this line of thinking. I just want my biases firmly acknowledged at the start of this article. Now let’s get into it…
8 Reasons I Believe Explain Why Some People Hate Cats
1. Some might hate cats because they’ve been attacked by a cat before.
This is probably the single most valid reason to dislike cats there is. Are cats dangerous? They can be. And a scared or anxious cat is almost certain to make a bad impression on a human. I know a number of people who were bitten by dogs as children, and I would never judge them for not giving dogs a second chance after that experience. Those who have been attacked by cats should certainly be given the same courtesy. Biting, scratching, or any other kind of attack by a pet may have been an accident or a part of an unlikely and unfortunate chain-of-events, but still, if it happened, that’s of course a good enough reason to not be a fan of that kind of pet from that point on.
2. Some may hate cats because they’ve seen or heard stories of others being attacked by cats.
The fear, anxiety, and distrust a person can develop in a species of animal because of the potential to be attacked doesn’t necessarily have to take place because one was themselves attacked. Often times, it’s enough to just see someone else attacked or hear a secondhand story from someone who was attacked to feel that distrust.
Have a mother or father who had a terrible experience with cats and recounts it so well you almost feel like you were there? It’d be hard not to be swayed to dislike cats if you were regularly told this kind of a story growing up. Not sure why you hate cats but realize close friends or family members have had issues with cats in the past? Maybe this is a part of why.
It’s also not impossible to develop a distrust in a species without any firsthand experience or any close secondhand experiences with them. Think about snakes, for example. Many fear them, primarily because they worry about being attacked, even though they have no first or direct secondhand experience with snakes. Neither is necessary to develop a fear that you may be attacked if you go near even a pet ball python. Some may develop a fear or anxiety about cats scratching or biting them without even being attacked or having known someone who’d been attacked personally.
3. Some may dislike cats because they just don’t understand their appeal as pets.
A lot of people who don’t like cats can’t see what there is to like about them. What kind of a pet walks away from it’s owner, won’t “put up with” cuddles and petting all that frequently, and is intelligent, but doesn’t even bother to respond to its own name? Who could sign up for owning a pet like that when there are more cuddly, loyal pets to be had?
Personally fall into this camp of people? Take a look at this article if for a better understanding of why cat lovers love cats.
4. Some people probably just haven’t spent enough time with cats to like them.
When it comes to food, some flavours are simple, while others are more complex, meaning it may take you some time to develop a taste for them. As far as pets go, I feel like dogs are equivalent to simple flavours – you get their appeal on the first go and don’t need any time to develop a liking for them. Cats are more like complex flavours that may have to grow on you over time.
I’m convinced some never get to the point where they love cats simply because they haven’t spent enough one-on-one time with them, never gave their complexity a chance to grow on ’em.
Some cats take a lot of warming up to before they open up to you and begin to be the kind of pet you’d love to have. They need to trust a human before you see this side of them. Some cat people just have a way with cats that makes this kind of familiarity happen instantly, but it’s not true of all cat people and not true with all cats – even if you love cats it may take a specific cat time to warm up to you, and thus time to really be the kind a pet you absolutely love.
I think that most of those of us who love cats started off liking them and really grew to love them over enhanced time with them. Versus dogs, which I’d say it’s usually a love-at-first-sight kind of experience considering their incredibly friendly, loyal, attention-appreciating personalities.
5. Some people may not yet have met a cat they liked.
Listen, some cats are a**holes, plain and simple. I once house-sat a friend’s cat, Weiss, for a month – that cat drove me up a wall. Never was content to let me pet him, let alone hold him. Listened when I said, “No,” long enough to get me to be distracted by something else, then *boom* – 20 min later, doing the same naughty thing again. He pried into places he wasn’t allowed in, jumped on counters when we weren’t looking… Needless to say, I was not a fan of Weiss. And I’m a cat person.
Ironically, this jerk of a cat was the most sugary sweet fella around my friend’s sister, who he practically seems to have imprinted on like a duckling. I have never in my life seen a cat who’s so rude and ridiculous around everybody besides the one person he deems to be his favourite, but I know that many cats are something like this.
Avery, on the other hand, has a personality I’ve loved since I met him. He’s cuddly, but not overly needy (usually). He’s the type of cat who quickly understood and respected the word, “No,” stays out of what he knows to be trouble, and, while he’s not the best company with new people, he’s sweet, considerate, and will actually let them pet him for a while, even upon first meeting them.
There are also cats that swing the hyper-friendly way, and are practically dog-like (my brother‘s cat Beau is like this), but most are somewhere in between, really being wary of strangers and those they’re not all that familiar with, but not outright being a**holes to them.
If you’re not a fan of the special kind of jerk that a few cats are, and don’t like how most cats are indifferent to you – if you’ve never met a truly affable cat with a personality you’ve liked, there may yet be a cat you’ll love out there. Could even be hidden in plain sight – a cat you know yet (#4) haven’t spent quite enough time with for them to show you their true colours.
6. Some people’s personalities just don’t mesh with a cat’s personality.
Scientific studies have proven that different personality types gravitate to cats over dogs, or dogs over cats as pets. Obviously, this doesn’t exclude people from liking, loving, or even cohabiting with both of these two most popular pets at once. At the same time, we’d be crazy to deny the truth of the matter: that feline personalities are just not going to appeal to some people.
No one person is going to be liked by everybody, and no one type of animal is going to be liked by everybody either. Some people just, plainly put, will never be all that fond of a specific flavour, scent, subject, hobby, or personality type. People like different things and some will just never be fond of cats because they’re not their kind of thing. End of story.
7. Some people may hate cats because they have cat allergies.
Having allergies is no reason to write cats off completely, but since, as I’ve stated, cats are an acquired taste at times, a cat allergy may in fact make it impossible or at least very difficult for a person with cat allergies to spend enough time with a cat to get “over the hump” of hating or disliking cats, so to speak.
8. “I’m a dog person.”
Obviously, this is what I’d consider to be the true cop out excuse for hating cats. Why the heck would you liking dogs have anything to do with you hating cats? Does your love of chocolate ice cream prevent you from loving vanilla? Obviously, you likely mean something else when you state you’re a dog person to somebody who asks why you hate cats (maybe one of reasons #3-6?). If you get asked why you hate cats and start to recite this phrase as an explanation, pause for a second and reconsider. Offer up a description that more adequately explains your dislike of cats instead.
9. “Gross! Cats SMELL!”
Brought up by Darin in the comments, I felt like I had to address this. Hating cats and cat owners because they smell is something I quite frankly feel like I haven’t heard in a decade. Everybody and their mother with a cat, two, or 5 that I know personally hasn’t got a house, clothes, or even litter boxes that reek. The reason for all the stinky cats and cat owners, in my opinion, has something to do with the fact that litters that don’t clump well leave that terrible cat pee smell lingering in the air (which then gets all over the house, clothes, and everyone and everything else). But if you’ve got a half decent clumping litter, which I think most options you can get your hands on fit into the category of these days, you won’t get that cat stench anywhere, not even near your litter box.
Personally, I found the cat litter I currently use, World’s Best (reviewed here) to be the most ideal in terms of keeping cat pee smells away. The last litter I had Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh, did the trick well enough, but not quite as well. If you’re a cat owner and have issues with litter smells, do yourself and those who sniff ya a favour – switch to a better cat litter! I personally always buy the multi-cat formulas when they’re available, even though I have a single cat. It feels to me like multi-cat formulas do a hell of a lot better at smell reduction than “standard” single-cat formulas. There are also usually scented options, but I’d recommend buying one bag to test those, as you or your cat may not like the fake lavender or whatever other scent they happen to use to make those smell “better.”
This is a bit of a ridiculous thing to hate cats and cat owners for, but I can see why the negative bias exists. Like I said, though, smelly cats & owners just shouldn’t be around anymore, really, especially in this day and age of options, options, options when it comes to litter!
10. Some people may hate the idea of owning a cat because they think cats cannot be trained.
Another one I added to the list because it was brought up in the comments; not just on this post, but on many others. I firmly believe that the statement “Cats can be trained” is outright untrue. Not only do I believe it’s possible to train every pet cat, I also believe every cat owner should be doing it: and I give my explanations for why here.
Don’t believe you can train a cat to stop running away from humans, quit scratching furniture, or even keep off counters and tables? It is possible, and if you do it right, the cat won’t simply resort to bad habits when your back is turned, when you’re not in the room, or as soon as you leave the house. I can attest to this having trained my own cat in these (and many other) ways.
If it’s possible to train cats, why aren’t more pet cats trained? I think it just plain comes down to the fact that most cat owners are indifferent to what many (including myself) believe to be annoying or unsafe/unhygienic bad behaviours. Either that or pet owners don’t know how to train their cats, which is why I’ve taken up the cause of writing as many full on guides about different things you can train a pet cat to do, and I’ll continue to do so on this blog.
In my opinion, blaming a pet cat for poor behaviour (like crying and begging for food all day) is as bad as blaming a pet dog for poor behaviour – it’s not fair on the cat just like it’s not fair on the dog. Dogs need training to behave well and if they behave poorly, it’s because their owners did not train them at all or did not do a good job of training. Same with cats, in my honest opinion. And again, I do believe every cat owner should be making an effort in this department (for so many different reasons), as uncommon as this opinion may be.
Why Do You Think Those Who Hate Cats Dislike Them?
Do you personally hate or dislike cats? Why do you hate or dislike them? What explanations have you given to people who have asked about your feelings toward them in the past?
Are you a cat person who’s met or spoken to people who have told you they hate cats? What were the reasons they gave? Why do you think some people hate cats? Can you understand why they might feel this way about them?
The one thing I ask is that if you leave a comment down below, you’re respectful of those who hold the opposite preference (like or dislike) toward cats from you.
I find them to be pointless, dirty, unfriendly, weird creatures. They are known to go through bins, drink water out of toilets, bring in half eaten dead mice, skulk around trying to eat others food, jump up on counters and leave muddy footprints and germs, they scratch and attack people, are random and quite dumb in several ways. They leave their kittens to die. A lot of pet cats are not pets, just parasites, they go wherever the food is. People who sleep with these creatures and kiss them are a bit on the looney side.
I like cats, I like dogs, I like horses, and birds, and bats. I like pretty much all animals, except maybe mosquitos and cockroaches. This does not mean I would want to have any of those animals at home. That is a different story.
I have a cat that we adopted about 4 years ago, when he was already between 2 and 3 years old, and lived in the street next to my son’s gym. We used to pet him, all kids did. The cat got hurt in a leg (bitten). We took him to the vet, came home to heal. Never left. I adore him. He is clean, does not go on countertops or my bed (we know because we have cameras at home). He has never hurt anybody, not a scratch. He is not cuddly, likes company but prefers to be about 3 feet away laying quietly. Who knows what his story has been… He never meows. He never goes on anybody’s lap. But my son picks him and puts him on his shoulder and hugs him, and even though we see the cat does not enjoy it, he waits patiently until “the cuddling ends”. He has never had a flee. He always uses the litter box, or he asks to go outside on our backyard (fenced) and uses a corner to do his business. There is no smell in my house. He is neutered.
After almost 4 years of having this gentle animal at home, my husband (who was raised by his parents to “dislike cats”) does not touch him. He never had any problems with any cats, yet he “dislikes cats”. He has had several problems with dogs, but yet “Dogs are good and loyal” no matter how many kids get chewed by a Pitbull.
I find “hating an animal” like a blank statement somewhat strange. I find hating anything as a blank statement quite extreme. I am sure a lot of people who are against bias, prejudice, etc., fall comfortably and proudly in the “I hate cats” group. In my opinion, it is an interesting contradiction. There seems to be something deep that triggers this hate. In my husband’s case, it is how he was raised. His own life experience cannot compensate an opinion that has been deeply imprinted in him. He will never realize what he is missing… (BTW my husband is the kindest man and would NEVER hurt a cat).
First of all, I saw so many people commenting how the hate cats. Stop it. I know, I’m an animated cat that likes to post videos on YouTube, but I love cats. I want people to understand, that cats are like people. Black people. You know what people did to black people, and the same thing with cats. We need to respect cats. Cats are not selfish, lazy, or all of that. They are funny, cool, and smart. When cats bite you while you pet them, that means they show affections. Cats are therapists, too. They calm you down. People who hate cats, especially dog people, maybe you need to stay with my cat for a week of two. He will Love you. I’m not saying dogs are bad, I like them. But one time there was two dogs with an owner. The two dogs attacked me, and I am now with a cast on my arm. But I still like dogs. You, haters, you need to still love them, if you want. But if you don’t want to, then shut your mouth and go home. I’m not listening to your disgusting, mean comments. So, please, think about it.
I honestly loathe cats. I would never give one house room. I have been attacked by cats several times after giving them NO PROVOCATION whatsoever, in fact I even buy a present for my sister’s cat at Christmas, and he has attacked me badly enough to leave blood streaming down my face. I have also been unfortunate enough to have had a downstairs neighbour whose cat fouled the communal stairs despite there being a cat flap out into an enclosed garden and a litter tray available too. When I asked the owner to clear it up, they refused point blank, saying that cats are “free spirits” and no-one should rein them in. So I spent an hour or so with the Marigolds on picking up someone else’s cats faeces and sanitising a fitted carpet. Cheers. I have in the past visited an elderly gentleman with extremely poor mobility but who loved being able to look out at his spick and span garden and watch the birds at the feeding table. His neighbour had 8 cats and had covered her entire garden in concrete. So the cats came into the gentleman’s garden murdered the bird population he enjoyed watching so much, and left their calling card in his lawn to such a degree that no local gardener would mow it, and he could not mow it himself because of his mobility problems. He tried putting pepper down to deter the cats, and firing a water pistol at them, but still they came. Eventually he got someone to put up a little fence to try to keep the cats off his property. The cat owner cut it down and threatened him with the RSPCA for “trying to kill her cats.” So having been attacked myself and seen how spiteful cat owners can be I have decided that I am just going to admit that I can’t stand the wretched creatures and that the law needs to change to be able to have destruction orders on cats that attack, in just the same way as would be likely demanded if a dog attacked someone. I have had dealings with many dogs of a wide variety of breeds down the years, from soppy Golden Labs to snappy Jack Russells, Rottwielers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dobermans, and Shar peis. Never has any dog EVER so much as made a move to bite me but numerous cats have taken chunks out of me at various times. I have given up trying to find good in cats and their owners because I have looked hard for many years and never found either.
I love it when people list “environmental destruction” as a valid reason to hate cats. I mean c’mon…the hypocrisy is just too obvious. You do realize that you are a human being, right? Of all the animals living on planet earth, humans are the last on the list of having any right to complain about how something affects the environment.
Any other reason to hate cats is within your rights and I can respect that. But far too many times I hear people bitch about their affects on the environment, and in that category as human beings, I feel it’s probably best that we shut up.
Accept the reality that human beings are by far (really really far) the most environmentally devastating animal to ever live. What cats do falls quite short of what even just one human does throughout their lifetime.
It’s just a bad argument. Try again.
Sorry, but you’re wrong. How about nearly 4 BILLION birds killed by cats in the USA alone, and nearly as much small mammals.
There is a plethora of research out there to confirm and explain this. And there is so much more than you know… until you read the scientific data based on years of research, and avoid reading Joe and Suzy’s ‘we love kitty cats’ blog. Take the time to read thoroughly the actual research papers. Outdoor DO damage our natural ecosystem by needlessly destroying native wildlife.
Cat people don’t like to hear this, but cats are a non-native, invasive species. If you read the research on that, as well as learning how domestic cats came to be, you would understand that. Non-native speaks for itself. Invasive—“ An invasive species is a species that is not native to a specific location, and that has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.”
The imbalance created by a non-native, invasive species is staggering. They outgrow the native species and compete for natural resources of our native animals. Small animals and birds, that cats love to destroy, are food for hawks, owls, eagles, snakes, and so on.
Cats are notorious for destroying countless nests during nesting season, and it’s done in a slow and painful way, the same way as any animal killed by a cat. As someone who monitors nest boxes and open cup nests for the Cornell Nest Watch program I can say it would take hours to tell you the horrors our native birds have to endure because of roaming cats.
It’s difficult to hear and accept proven scientific data, but the truth is out there.
Spend a day volunteering at a wildlife rehab center or individual rehabber… see and experience this for yourself what these animals go through.
There is a cure for the carnage, and that is cat owners being responsible and keeping their cats indoors where they belong. Not only does wildlife suffer needlessly, but those outdoor cats WILL pay the ultimate price. It’s not a matter of if… but when. Fact: outdoor cats’ lifespan drops 50% compared to those kept indoors.
As for me, I don’t hate cats. I hate, loathe, what they do. But what I truly despise are cold, callous, indifferent and irresponsible cat owners that open the door to let their cat outside to create a horror show too horrifying to even make the cut for any wildlife show.
There is no reason to allow a cat to destroy animals. There’s no reason to think it’s funny, cute, or that it’s somehow helping people. It’s not.
It sickens me to se how the majority of cat owners brag about their cat killing a beautiful hummingbird, a 2 day old nestling, ripping off half the skin off a squirrel’s face, taking the entire ear with it. And there is so much more.
Cat owners claim that their cat is their “Baby” or “Family member.” But.. if that’s cat was their baby… they would be in jail and their “Baby” put into the foster care system.
Most cat owners don’t care about their cats or they wouldn’t let them out to take their chances with predators, cars, the worst of our society who take pleasure in torturing cats or dogs.
So yes… cats are detrimental to the ecosystem.
To add…. that’s nearly 4 BILLION killed by cats PER YEAR. In the USA alone.
I am a cat owner and although I do not agree with your overall position, I do think that you got a point. Cats do destroy wildlife, but which fault is it ? It’s the human’s fault. People who do not sterilize their cats, let them breed like rabbits and go outside. I believe that people should not let their cats roam freely outside. It’s dangerous for the cat, and for everything else. Sensibilization should be done to raise awareness about this issue. When a pet (doesn’t matter which) is doing bad things, most of the time, it’s on the owner. If a cat kills all the birds in the neighborhood, it’s the owner’s fault for letting it outside.
Some are gonna say that it’s cruelty to let a cat inside for it’s whole life. First it’s not true for all bacause some cats (who have never been outside) are scared of it. Also cats can be leash trained (contrary to popular belief) and it’s imo a good alternative. The cat is not in danger, it can interact with the outdoors, it won’t be able to kill animals, it won’t terrorize anyone. It should be normalized.
So it seems like most of your anger comes from irresponsible cat owners.
And I get where your frustration comes but in term of “killing for no reason” we humans are actually another league. I do assume cats have no compassion for their preys. I kinda understand that (although I morally disagree with killing birds for no reason). I mean, a lot of people (if not most people) don’t have any compassion for pigs, donkeys, rats. A lot of people would not care at all if they hit a rat with their car. And killing for no reason, we do it on an industrial scale. I doesn’t mean we should hate our entire species (although some humans do).
Sorry for the spelling since english is not my first language.
I understand and respect your opinion, but the statistics I stated are t an opinion but facts compiled from years of research by professionals in the field.
You can call or email the Audubon Society, or Cornell Lab of Ornithology… who also has a data collection program for nesting birds and feeding birds. Cornell Nest Watch, and Cornell Feeder Watch. In addition to their own studies, again from many years of research, there is also the data collected by those of us who have and monitor nest boxes, and some also who have BlueBird Nest Box trails consisting of up to 50 or 60+ nest boxes. Those who have feeders also can participate in their Feeder Watch program. Both programs require monitoring conditions and events re nesting birds, cavity nesters and/or open cup nesters. This data I comprised of information gathered using specific questions and additional comments, and within those questions are ones related to cats. In their instructions for participating they have specific rules, which includes instructions on how to deal with cat predation. What those of us who’ve participated in the Nest Watch program have found is that cats are at the top of the list of nest predators, ranking far above native predators such as hawks. Squirrels, raccoons, etc.
Audubon Society and those at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are highly educated and are degreed professionals who are very willing to educate on anything to do with birds, and very helpful in educating people about the serious problem with predation from non-native species, including cats.
Many bird species on the declining and endangered list are vulnerable and are in trouble. Native predators do not hurt the bird populations due to something in place that keeps the checks and balances where they should be. This is called “Mortality compensation.” MC doesn’t happen when it comes to non-native predators. Native predators don’t hunt for fun, nor do they hunt prolifically. They take only what they need to survive and to feed their young.
If you would take the time to read the research papers in full you would understand how critical it is to keep cats indoors, for both the birds and small animals, but also for the cat as their life expectancy drops by 50% when they have access to outdoors where they can roam.
Again, what I stated isn’t my opinion. They are facts compiled by experts, scientists in the field, animal behaviorists, and many others who have dedicated their lives to helping our vulnerable native species.
You may want to look up the research papers that give the numbers on how many birds lose their lives due to cat predation… nearly 4 BILLION, and nearly as many small mammals.
I would invite you to take a look at the numbers of species of birds who are now extinct due to cat predation and habitat loss. Those don’t include the numbers of other animals forever lost to extinction.
Anyone who proclaims to love animals wouldn’t ignore the serious problem with outdoor cats.
Australia had to take extreme measures to exterminate feral cats. They have lost some of their animals to extinction, brought to extinction by cats. Those are birds and other animals that are gone forever.
Who could possibly be okay with that when there is an easy remedy?
Look into her research. It is flawed.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Wildlife lovers, including birds and other native animals, people (such as myself) who maintain and monitor nest boxes to help our native species, some of which are in decline, those of us who spend time, energy, and expenses to have and fill feeders, to have nestboxes and try to keep the adults and young from being destroyed by cats, those of us who have been (or are) vet techs and volunteers at wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities who have seen, even in situations outside of their personal property… the absolute horrors that is left after a cat attack, the broken bodies that are sometimes so bad that they can’t be identified. how devastating it is to see the horrors we do, and all because of cats and their irresponsible owners could care less about our vulnerable native wildlife or the people who put a lot of time, energy and expense into experiencing what we love, the beautiful wildlife.
I certainly didn’t sign up for coming home to a bird bath filled with bloody water, nestlings and fledglings shred into pieces, baby rabbits and squirrels with their skin ripped off, and more.
We have a moral obligation to protect our native wildlife. And since irresponsible cat owners won’t do the right thing, we have to take care of things ourselves. We have a cat trap that we use to remove strays and deposit them at the local shelter. Maybe after a fine the owners might rethink what they’re doing, and if not… maybe the cat can be adopted by someone who actually cares about cats enough to keep them inside
I’m so very sorry for your friend. How heartbreaking for him to have to endure that horror show.
I hate Cats. What other animal shits, steps on it and then tracks it all over the house? Gross.
I hate cats because they go from litterbox to kitchen counter, litterbox to bed, drinking out of toilet to sleeping on pillow. Nowhere is off limits to them. They meow soooo annoyingly for food, or for no reason. Their claws destroy furniture. They shed everywhere. Also indoor cats seem like prisoners with Stockholm syndrome. Not to mention litter boxes are absolutely disgusting. Cat people are crazy. Animals should be outdoors.
Why I don’t like cats is because I have this half feral cat hanging out in my yard and giving my dogs cat fleas. Killing birds in my yard, and digging in the garden. He’s a tom and like I said half feral. He meows for food but he’s always out of reach. I’ve tried reaching out for months with him to no avail. He’s cute but certainly not cuddly. And wouldn’t dare try to pick him up for fear of being scratched. Some cats you just cannot domesticate. Their wild and always be wild. He’s mangy and gross and smells gross, like cat poop. Even 4 dogs, and me telling him to shew he will not go! He’s sly and sneaky which also why I don’t like him. And mean! You cannot trap him, it’s like he knows what it is. I’ve had animal control trying to trap him with traps. He also has some kind of sickness, coughing that now 1 of my dogs has. I have to take my girl Lab Stella to the vet. And he kills birds! I find dead birds that he leaves at the door! He has to go!
Absolutely with you on all accounts. I’m sick of the roaming cats killing all of the beautiful wildlife that visits our property. Vulnerable wildlife shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price because someone thinks their cat belongs outdoors. I’d rather have 20 rattlesnakes than one cat. Why? Because snakes, and other native wildlife, kill only for survival, be it food or i. Defense of itself and young. Cats, to quote an ornithologist, “A cat’s desire to hunt and kill is independent of their hunger.” When wildlife kills the ecosystem is still in balance, what’s known as “Mortality compensation,” and cats disrupt that.
I wish the author had mentioned statistics in that list of “Why” people hate cats. The stats are horrifying, the numbers staggering.
To delta
Your first point makes a shit ton of assumptions. I strongly dislike cats. I however have done copious amounts of research on animal behavior. Specifically cats and dogs. I understand what a cat is communicating better than some of my friends who own cats. I know how to make a cat feel comfortable so that it will aproach me. I still fucking hate cats tho. I find them cute and cuddly. Ive met cats i vibe with. Most however ive come across are assholes for no reason that could only be apparentl to someone who has a degree in that field.
Example:
Two of my good friends invite me over for dinner a lot. They have two cats. Ive been there dozens of times before this time visit. My friends told me witch cat was really friendly right away and which one wasnt a people person. I avoid the all black cat that didnt like people everytime and played with the black cat that had a spot on his chest. My friend was done cooking dinner so we moved into the kitchen to smoke. The all black cat comes over to me, I did nothing to call her toward me ahe just walked over and rubbed my leg, very friendly. I figured the cat wanted ro be pet, i may hate cats but i love petting animals all of them, i never touch cats with out their permission. I put my hand down slow and put it close to her nose letting her smell me. I do this with every dog and cat i meet. When i do this they smell me and if they are vibin me they bring thier head directly to my hand This cat did that. I didnt even have a chance to pet her before she bit me to the point where i bled. This all happened in like a min from the time she rubbed my leg to biting me. In that minute all of her body language was welcoming i didnt even touch her she brought her head to my hand. Then bite me as soon as my hand touched her. After i got a bandaid my friend apologized for not tell me that she does that alot. She’ll pretend to want to be pet then immediately bite guest. She said that their is no reason that she can figure out why she does that. My friend had her since she was a kitten. The cat from what my friend tells me she has never been abused or roughed up by a human. I believe her cause the cat is an angel to my friends.
I have many more stories of years of experiences that are the reason i cant stand cats. Mind you up untill i waa 18 i loved cats. I had a childhood cat since I was five the cat died 15 years later and in that time ive had other cats. I loved all of them..but the cats i met once i left home have been some of the biggest assholes ive met and overly aggressive. Pit bulls have such a bad rap when i know more people have been attacked by cats unprovoked. Also i hate cats cause they can bite you and cause serious damage provoked or not and when a dog tries to tell a human to back off and they ignore the dog and the owner and get bit the dog gets put down yeah thats not the cats fault but i also hate small dogs for that same reason. I can go on and on about why i dislike cats and the valid life experiences ive had that aid that opinion. My point to all this is just because you’ve had good experiences with cats doesnt mean everyone else has. I’ve lived with cat that have made my life hell or desroryed the place enough to loose my deposit. I dislike how they behave so i dislike them, like i do for many humans. You wouldn’t be talking shit and generalize people as ignorant if this was an article why people dislike or hate people. Also cat owners should tell people how to handle their cats and some do and thw cat is still an asshole. I donr mean for this to come off as an attack of what you said i just strongly dislike cats and channeled that not trying to be agressive.
Really good comment, Quiche. I can absolutely see your perspective and I fully agree with you that people should be telling those who are guests in their home how to handle their cats. Some cats are absolutely hyper aggressive – it can’t be denied. And while I do think they can often be socialized properly, it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it’s true that we just don’t understand exactly why they’re behaving a certain way so we can fix it.
Again, great comment; thanks for leaving it!
I’m a former vet tech, and what you’re describing is “Petting aggression,” and MANY cats are like that. And you’re right… the bites are extremely dangerous, as is their feces. When I got bit by a purring cat that appeared to be begging to be petted, I got bit, and I had to get antibiotic shots and 2 different oral antibiotics. This was before I was a vet tech, but now I know the signs. Beware the purring cat, is what o tell people, and watch for the twitching tail and the ears going back ever so slightly.
I used to be a vet tech, and what you described that all black cat did to you is called “Petting aggression,” and cats are the only ones who do this. Countless children are taken to hospitals for antibiotics for that bite, because they can lose a limb when the infection sets in. And that’s WHEN. Cat bites are far more common than dog bites, because most dog owners are responsible enough to keep their dog indoors, and their dogs are properly socialized and treated well
Cat bites take 3 antibiotics to keep the infection away… I shot, two different types of tablets.
One should never have an aggressive and/or unpredictable pet and let it around others.
Sorry you went through that.
Cats are selfish, lazy, mean, useless, they walk in their own shit and piss then walk all over your house ( including counter tops) they have ZERO loyalty and are only capable of self indulgence. When was the last time you heard of a guard cat? They are good in barns though.
I think people who hate cats have a problem with empathy and reading cats’ body language and generally blame the cat rather than themselves. Cats don’t lash out “for no reason” any more often than people lash out “for no reason”. Just as with people the reason may be hard to determine or more part of another problem than the situation at hand, but that doesn’t make it random. Cat-haters just refuse to understand, or are incapable of understanding, the things that caused the outburst and won’t take responsibility for that. Cats warn you with body language well before they swat (unless you’re really hurting them, which you shouldn’t expect them to be patient about anyway), and your own ignorance of that body language or ignorance of how to touch a cat without causing pain or overstimulation are not the cat’s fault, they are yours.
It is true cats expect you to react quickly and correctly to their communication, but so do you. Think of the last time you said something half a dozen times, just to be brushed off yet again. Did you feel frustrated, agitated? What about the last time someone just plain didn’t respond during a conversation? Did you wait silently for them to decide to listen, or did you get annoyed and say it louder? Cats aren’t stupid, they know when their communication isn’t getting through to you, so if you don’t listen, they tell you in a way you won’t just continue to ignore. Some of you ignore -everything- but a bite, and so that’s the only way it actually works for the cat to communicate with you. If you listened to anything else, the cat wouldn’t have to resort to it. If you stop petting when the tail starts flicking, the swat never comes. It’s true.
I know “Cat” is a tricky language to learn, but people who hate cats don’t even try before declaring all cats assholes. They don’t spend any time actually analyzing what led up to the situation or what cues were given first. They just whine “I got scratched for NO REASON” without stopping to realize they brushed the cat’s fur backwards, which can be really painful for them, not just annoying. Or they say there was no warning when the cat showed visible annoyance for the last 3 minutes of the interaction and only gave them a nip when they ignored it. Use your human brain to go back over it and figure it out. There is no way for the cat to learn English and say “hey I’m overstimulated so please stop petting me” because they are animals who have neither the brain structures nor oral anatomy for that. It’s much easier for you to just watch for tail swishing and realize that means the same thing. You have, I assume, both the eyes in your head and the brain structures necessary to comprehend it. It’s amazing what happens when you stop blaming a “stupid selfish cat” and take responsibility for behaving like a stupid selfish human.
Then there are the people who keep comparing them to dogs, as if every pet is supposed to be a differently shaped dog. Fuck that, just get a yappy little dog with pointy ears if that’s the problem. Yeah, cats aren’t cripplingly codependent like dogs. Their ancestors didn’t depend on a pack for survival like dogs’ did, so why would they be? They don’t follow you on long walks to strange places because they’re territorial creatures with a home base they protect from other animals, not animals that roam far and wide with their family. They don’t kowtow to the one in charge like dogs because there isn’t one cat in charge in their groups. Their social structures involve groups of individuals with roughly compatible personalities, like human social groups. They’re different animals from dogs entirely. That’s a good thing. Treat a cat as an equal instead of an underling and you’ll get a better reaction. You probably didn’t like it the last time some jerk barged in and started acting like the boss of you, either. Even if you listened, you probably didn’t like them. What have you done to earn the cat’s respect first before imposing your strange human rules on them? Don’t think you can treat a cat like a dog and that’ll force them to react like a dog in spite of thousands of years of evolution. Treat them like a cat and expect them to be -a cat-.
You have to earn it to be good friends with a cat. But it’s worth it, because then they like you for a reason besides blind adoration. Take responsibility for holding up your end of the relationship, or at least stop unilaterally blaming the cat when you fail at interacting with them. Cats don’t do things at random. Your unwillingness to empathize and understand their way of thinking doesn’t mean they’re unfeeling assholes, but it just might mean that about you. Cats whose social and physical needs are being met are remarkably patient and understanding with humans, and they really do their utmost to communicate. You just can’t ignore their needs and communication and then make out that -they’re- the assholes when they don’t react well. Cats aren’t selfish, they just aren’t impressed and deferential when you are. Be the human, be the one who uses your big brain to reason and empathize and recognize patterns. If you truly listen, you’ll find cats are very eager to teach you how to interact with them. They want to live in harmony with you, they even want to be friends. They just won’t tolerate being treated like shit and not listened to.
Omg. First section, about not interpreting cat’s body language right, then blaming the cat – cutting, yet so on point.
Second section – making the point “as if every pet is supposed to be a differently shaped dog” – I died laughing, so true. This part: “You probably didn’t like it the last time some jerk barged in and started acting like the boss of you, either” – especially funny, can’t even handle it.
And this – “You have to earn it to be good friends with a cat. But it’s worth it, because then they like you for a reason besides blind adoration” is probably why I’ve always felt like the more time you spend with a cat the more you just can’t think of dogs the same way. That and them feeling like more of an equal, rather than you simply being their boss, which you also mention.
Good lecture. Really good lecture. Am sure it will fall on deaf ears, but you did well 😉
I am going to respectfully disagree that this is a good lecture. Delta’s attitude towards people who dislike cats is one of the reasons that people push back so hard at certain types of cat lovers. How is it helpful to call people who aren’t fond of cats stupid and selfish? What is gained from implying that they are lazy and incapable of empathy? What evidence actually supports those claims? The major studies that suggest some correlation between personalities and whether or not people identified themselves as dog people or cat people have found that dog people scored significantly higher than cat people on measures on empathy. Still, there seems to be a subset of cat lovers who enjoy calling people stupid, unintellectual, or even authoritarian for preferring dogs. This self-righteous attitude can be genuinely damaging and has helped bring me to where I currently stand on cats.
I do not like cats, and but it wasn’t always that way. There are some cats I have met that are funny or sweet, and I get that my cat-owning friends have valid and special relationships with their cats, even though they kind of seem from the outside like a PITA and the world’s worst pets. I do think they are pretty gross. I am sure some people would make that similar arguments about dogs or kids, but I don’t know of anyone who insists that dogs or kids are actually the cleanest organisms alive moments after cleaning an eviscerated rodent off their floor. I am allergic to dried cat saliva and cats are covered in dried spit. Maybe on a microbial level that spit is somehow ‘clean’ but it is still saliva. If someone took a dump in my frying pan and then cleaned it, it might be technically free of germs, but it would still be the pan they pooped in. The health and safety issues that Sage mentions are also a concern. Sure, dogs and children also spread germs, but the litter-box-to-counter range of a cat is in a class all its own. Oof, or litter-box-to-pillow. That one disturbs me.
I am also really over having some cat owners talk down to dog owners about, ‘oh you have to work for a cat’s love,’ or ‘oh dog owners just like blind obedience and they can’t handle an animal with a mind of its own,’ or, like ‘they don’t understand that kind of complexity.’ I had a dog. I didn’t see pet ownership as a vital part of my identity and a way to show off my love of ‘complex and intellectual’ things. I didn’t need my dog in order to validate my sense of control. I just liked having a really intelligent animal companion AND being able to leave a glass on the counter and own houseplants. I don’t think it is a valuable use of my time to have a pet that can’t handle most things, like going in the car or getting wet. I don’t ever want poop sitting in my house. I enjoyed having a pet that could learn quickly and that shared an unique emotional connection with me. He would do his own thing when I was trying to work and would hang close if I was upset. That isn’t blind loyalty, that is a reciprocal, complex, interspecies relationship.
Anyway, my real, like REAL, problems are mostly with people who feel that because they love cats, everyone else should have to, or that their love of cats should take precedence over the health, safety, and rights of other people and species in their environment/community.
I had a cat as a child but developed severe allergies. I will still pet a cat if I see one, but I have to immediately wash my hands or I will break out in hives. My allergies and the way cat owners have reacted to them are one of the reasons I have developed a dislike for cats. I have had too many people treat my allergies like they are something I made up as an excuse for avoiding cats. I can’t make up asthma and hives. I don’t have some gag-store snot that I am making pour out of my nose like a nifty magic trick. When I was getting my undergrad degree, I worked in a small office that I thought was a really friendly and delightful place. Then one lady suggested getting an office cat. I apologized for being the worst and all, and explained my allergies and their severity. I even met with my allergist to have my allergies re-tested, in case they had shifted or lessened, but they had only gotten worse. Instead of listening, everyone decided they weren’t really that bad and that the cat would heal me of my allergies. When I reiterated that my allergies were quite bad, a fellow employee accused me of hating cats (I was fine with them, I just couldn’t be around them for long) and several people starting acting very cold. About a week after they got the cat, I started having to carry my inhaler to work because I was already having trouble breathing despite the allergy meds I was taking. I was exhausted all the time and had two sinus infections and an asthma attack in the next three months before I ended up quitting. It made me feel worthless that the people I worked with for several years were fine with me being sick, so long as they got to have their office pet. I went from feeling impartial, to starting to developing a dislike for cats. It wasn’t the cat’s fault that I had allergies, but after seeing how loving cats caused some people to act like entitled jerks, I felt kind of the way people must when people say they dislike kids, but as a result of terrible parents. Only for some reason it seems like this behavior is totally socially acceptable when it comes to cats. It is kind of like the debate about library cats and whether or not taxpayers with allergies should have less access and fewer rights than taxpayers who like cats. In that one case, massive internet uproar from cat lovers who didn’t live in the community got a cat reinstalled in a library. The councilman who protested against the cat seemed like a jerk, so I get people being mad about this, but people halfway around the world were dictating what concessions the resident taxpayers would need to make just so they could declare victory. And like, WTactualF. (To be clear: obviously, medical service animals have a valid and valuable place accompanying their owners in public spaces.)
Nowadays, I am actively involved in conservation. When a small but vocal group in my community started a TNR program, it was upsetting to see friends and colleagues vilified for trying to protect indigenous species. We had a kill shelter and a no-kill shelter in town. The people in support of TNR were outraged at the idea of killing cats, but not at all bothered by the destruction caused by large populations of outdoor cats. It felt like their sense of compassion only extended to furry, pet-shaped creatures. With climate change and increased issues with mosquito populations where I live, the native bird population and their role in our ecological niche would seem like an asset worth protecting, even if you didn’t care about the animals themselves. But the TNR group was more concerned with their feelings about cats than with the already beleaguered ecosystem that the cats threatened (and research on the quality of life for feral cats isn’t exactly uplifting either). Valuing a functionally invasive species over and indigenous one is the opposite of how conservation works. The arguments I have seen against conservationists and others who are opposed to TNR skew toward the truly bizarre. I have seen people twist the arguments to try to accuse conservationists of hating immigrants (?? which is completely illogical and maddening). I have also seen people say that conservationists who call cats invasive species are hypocrites if they aren’t also calling for people to be euthanized. I don’t know of any person working in conservation who doesn’t understand that humans are an invasive species and that we are to blame for introducing cats to non-native environments—that is literally what we are trying to fix or prevent from worsening.
It feels like living in some alternate universe to have someone call you selfish and narcissistic because your having allergies or caring about the natural environment is preventing them from having their way. And it is really astounding to watch someone call people unintelligent for disliking cats, and then turn around and pretend their emotion-driven arguments are based on logic.
Many people dislike having things pushed on them. Some people think it is unfair to have to deal with a roaming colony of feral cats or even just a neighbor’s cat killing the birds in their yard and using their garden as a litter box (hello, toxoplasmosis). And it is frustrating that these things exist in the same communities where there are leash laws for dogs. It just seems like a selfish and lousy way to treat you neighbors and it is hard to comprehend that sort of entitlement.
To Delta’s point about ‘cat haters’ being too lazy to understand cats’ warning signals, doesn’t it seem equally likely that there are warning signals that show up before someone declares that they hate cats? I would imagine that plenty of ‘cat haters’ would be impartial to cats if people didn’t feel so free to make their cats into other people’s problems—and insult their intelligence or empathy at the first sign of resistance. Surely it isn’t too difficult to try and learn why people might be reacting that way? And just as I was careful to say that certain types of cat lover are responsible for the behaviors I have just described, I might recommend that Delta pauses before leveling blanket criticisms on anyone who doesn’t like cats. Thankfully, you have avoided doing this in your thoughtful post (which I really appreciate), so it is definitely possible.
Literally one of the best essays about the dangers of irrational cat lovers I have ever read. I am dating somebody with two cats and I thank heaven that might cat allergies are not so severe that I can’t cope with them with a dose of Claritin. I also have made respect for because she is absolutely militant about not letting her cats roam the great outdoors. It staggers the imagination to see how incredibly nasty irrational cat lovers can be towards those with a different point of view.
Yes… cats DO bite and become aggressive for no reason, many times behaving like they want attention, to be petted, and leaving the unaware that the cat is exhibiting petting aggression.
There are SO many other reasons most people hate cats. Read the research papers written by the scientists who’ve done the leg work for mire years than you’ve been alive.
But I will bet… that you won’t, because it’s not going to fit with your narrative.
It never ceases to amaze me how someone cat get a “Pet” without knowing anything about them. I’m not going to cover or give attention to your statements that are more drivel based on no scientific fact. But then there’s this…
You will get sued if your cat bites someone, and if your cat is deemed aggressive it will be out down. And that will be on YOU.
It’s not up to others to read your cat’s body language, and honestly… that’s just laughable. How about you or your child getting bitten by a large dog and the owner saying oh well… it’s your fault for not knowing my dog’s body language. How about that? No? And why not?
I don’t think you know the definition of empathy, BTW.
Where is YOUR compassion for the nearly 4 BILLION birds killed cats each year? Where is YOUR compassion for the vulnerable wildlife who are senselessly being torn apart, experiencing excruciating pain and fear? Where is YOUR compassion when tiny nestlings are torn from the nest where their mouths are gaped, not in expectation of food from one of their parents, but because they are expecting that same excruciating pain and gut-wrenching fear, not understanding at all what is happening to them. Look it up on the web and see the devastating results of a cat attack.
Ever seen a baby rabbit with its skin ripped off? What about a squirrel with its skin torn off of one side of its face… taking its entire ear with it? Want to know why I can give such specifics?…
I was a vet tech and volunteer at a wildlife rescue and rehab center… and I’ve seen the results of a cat attack. But I have a challenge for you….
Take a day and volunteer at your local wildlife rescue and rehab center, or spend a day with a rehabber who is federally licensed and works to save birds from cat attacks. But I doubt you will because it doesn’t fit with your narrative, and you can’t bear the idea of being proven wrong.
You’re afraid your cat will be exposed for the killer it is. “A cats desire to hunt and kill is independent of its hunger.” And because your cat was bred to kill… it will, and the least of its kills are rats and mice, with the majority being birds, and small mammals barely below that. Read the research data… if you dare.
Lastly, you obviously don’t understand the difference between pity, empathy, and compassion. And anyone who loves birds and other wildlife respects all life… not just one particular animal, which is the very height of ego bordering on narcissism.
Compassion is a verb.
And almost all cat owners could care less about what their cat destroys when they let it out the door. And that… is a lack of compassion.
Cat owners are ultimately to blame for the destruction their cats do. The staggering numbers of birds and other wildlife killed by cats is said to be the top human-caused reason for the destruction of native wildlife, second only to habitat destruction.
You lack knowledge or the humility to obtain enough to realize keeping your cat indoors is the COMPASSIONATE thing to do to save wildlife. Keeping your cat indoors is the COMPASSIONATE thing to do to keep your cat safe. A cat’s life expectancy goes DOWN by 50% when it’s let outdoors compared to those who stay inside.
You think your cat has right to be outdoors (when it isn’t a right at all)….
Your cats “Right” to be outdoors will get it killed.
But I’m assuming you don’t care about that either.
I used to like cats much more than I do currently, when I was a child. It was only when I began to grow up that I gradually came to see the reality of the damage that cats can do to the ecosystems around them, and it changed my opinion.
After becoming involved in wildlife rehabilitation, it became instantly and brutally obvious that the cats were contributing greatly to the destruction of native animal populations of many kinds (I live in Australia where the problem is particularly bad). The vast majority of animals brought in for rehabilitation were from car strikes and cat attacks, although the vast majority of cat attack victims didn’t survive unless antibiotics were able to be administered immediately after the attack.
A critically endangered species of native parrot had 80% of its incubating females killed by cat predation in a single breeding season. As a result more than half of the eggs they were incubating or the nestlings they were raising also died. Nearly all of the offending cats were pets let outside to wander by irresponsible cat owners.
When I moved to my current residence by the beach four years ago, a big reason was because of the beautiful ecosystem (native coastal forest) and the stunning array of native birds and animals: eastern rosellas, black cockatoos, sulphur crested cockatoos, galahs, musk Lorikeets, bandicoots, bettongs and wattle birds. The birds would sing a beautiful chorus every morning and the little marsupials would cone out to play and forage at dusk. It was heaven, until the cats arrived with a neighbor who refuses to keep them indoors.
I often wake up now to colourful, bloodstained feathers strewn across the grass, or dead uneaten bodies left intact and uneaten on the ground. The cats kill needlessly and for sport, not even eating their victims, and the behaviour of all of the vulnerable wildlife here has changed as a result.
Many cat owners don’t care about this at all and are perfectly fine to have the cost of their cat’s pastime paid in the lives of the creatures who belong here. Nothing anybody can say will change their minds. They call themselves animal lovers, but in reality the only animals they love are their cats and the rest can go to hell. I’d be happy if I never saw another cat here again.
They really do destroy native populations. You should head on over to my article about whether indoor cats are prisoners and make your argument there, I honestly think it’s so relevant to the conversation, yet rarely does anyone factor in other animal lives into whether they should keep their cats indoors. It’s sad – to me it’s like trading away a sightly more entertained cat for hundreds of bird lives.
I know they’re necessary to have outdoors to keep down rodent populations in certain places, but in most where overpopulation of cats exist, it’s completely our fault and they are not doing good to their ecosystems being there. I hope this keeping cats indoors trend continues, and that more awareness is brought to just how many lives outdoor cats slay, because it’s just not fair on the native bird populations especially.
Cats aren’t actually needed for outdoor rodent control, and studies done on cats (fecal matter and stomach contents) prove that mice and rats are NOT what they’re eating. In their destruction they swallow parts of the animals they kill, and the majority of what they find are birds, lizards, frogs etc. rodents are food for owls and hawks, snakes and even raccoons and opossum. Mother Nature balances everything perfectly if humans would let her do her job. Meaning, everything will right itself if cats were kept inside… well, almost anyway. Cats have killed billions of birds and caused the extinction of over 3300 species world wide. Cats are decimating wildlife at an alarming degree.
Sounds to me like it’s a people problem, not a cat problem. Cats are a natural specices that were transported to different parts of the world by humans. This was due to the benefits they provided to humans as a means of rodent control. Rodents at one time were a huge threat to man’s survival. They carried diseases such as the plague and destroyed food supplies. In fact the origins of the word mouse ment theif or robber. So cats throughout history have contributed a great deal to the survival and we’ll being of humans. Yes, cats do kill things. That’s exactly the reason they were once valued by humans. But doing what they do naturally is not a reason to hate them. If you want to blame something for the destruction of native specie’s, you need look no further than your own actions. People have been destroying natural habitat and wipping out entire specie’s since the beginning of time.
Really thought provoking comment, Sally! Thanks for stopping by & leaving it.
Incorrect! Domestic cats are NOT a native species anywhere and are the product of breeding between the European Wildcat and another I can’t remember the name of from Africa.
Also, loss of habitat is one reason for declines in bird populations, but domestic and feral cats are right up there with habitat loss. The newest studies are on Audubon’s and Cornell’s sites, and it’s also made the news.
Many of us garden for wildlife, maintain nest boxes, and do what we can to help our native species survive and thrive… until some cat comes along and tortured and kills everything in its path.
But hey… even the experts say that cats are one of the most destructive man-made causes in the deaths and declines of our native species.
Letting your cat outside KNOWING it’s destructive and killer nature… is an act of cruelty and abuse to innocent and vulnerable wildlife. And there is no such thing as accidental cruelty. Period.
I have aspergers and can’t read body language very well. Cats have difficult body language that I cannot interpret fast enough, resulting in scratching and hissing.
I’m also into microbiology and parasitology. Cats are incredibly unhygienic and carry many kinds of (deadly) bacteria and parasites.
My wife loves cats and we have an elderly cat that pisses on EVERYTHING. She’s too old to get surgery so we’re stuck with this until by some miracle she passes her bladder stone. I only put up with it because that cat means the world to her and I could never take that away from my wife.
The meowing and scratching everything is an earsore. Just something about their sounds pisses me off. The last thing I want to hear is claws raking off the door frame and whiny noises.
The hairballs/puking is something I cannot stand. I refuse to let the cats sleep in our bedroom because of how disgusted I get just thinking about it.
I’m not a dog person either- most of them are too wild and can cause me to have a sensory overload. They’re also pretty unhygienic. At least they listen, though.
I like guinea pigs. They’re the only animal I personally want to own for the rest of my life. I currently have 10. They’re easier to train than dogs (in my opinion) and much better for cuddling. Their body language is also extremely easy for me to read so I can pick up on very slight changes in their behavior and posture.
It’s nice to see people bonded with their cats and dogs. I could never handle something like that, so kudos to those who give these animals the love they deserve. Maybe someday I’ll understand everything better. I don’t mind sharing the house with cats or dogs, as long as I’m not forced to interact with them against my will.
I clicked on the article because I want to know if there’s a deeper reason behind me not liking cats. As previously mentioned, my wife loves cats and I just want to become comfortable with them to make her happy.
Kudos to you for being so understanding of your wife’s relationship with her cat. I’m glad to hear you at least have an amazing connection with guinea pigs; I feel like pets enhance our lives a great deal, and to me it makes no difference if you find a connection with a cat, a guinea pig, a ball python, or a lizard, it’s life-changing no matter what.
It’s not just you who gets frustrated by the puking and peeing. I love my cats to bits, but when either of these things happen, even I get incredibly frustrated. Luckily, I’ve been able to resolve these issues when they popped up with my cats, and I no longer have them.
If you’d like to help her pass the hairballs to reduce (or even prevent) puking – try giving her about a dime’s size of 100% petroleum jelly every other week. And to pass the bladder stone, mix some water with catnip and offer it to her daily – the additional water should really help her pass it easier. No need for you to suffer through problems that can potentially be easily fixed!
I don’t have anything against cats, but I just don’t like taking care of them. I’ve been cat-sitting several months for my sister’s cat and for some reason I thought cats pretty much entertained themselves and wouldn’t require a great deal of attention from me. Not sure why I thought that, but this cat definitely requires a good bit of attention. A dog would definitely be worse though.
Completely fair! Some cats need one heck of a lot more attention than most, and I do feel indoor cats need way more attention than outdoor ones, but your sister’s cat seems like a needy one – like mine or my brother’s cats. Definitely dogs need more, though, it’s true.
Enjoy your antisocial life and your stinky house filled with cat piss that has all the surfaces covered with traces of urine and feces.
Thanks, I will. 🙂
Enjoy your toxic one!
I’ve always been of the opinion that, in terms of cat relationships, you get out of them what you invest in them. If you hang out with your cat, play games with him, talk to him, generally interact with him, you will be rewarded with a stronger bond. Kind of like dealing with people; the more you interact with them in a good, constructive way, the more likely you will have a good relationship with them. In fact, cats remind me more of humans that any other pet!
My cat, Kyrian, is totally my buddy. Although he loves my wife, he clearly favors me. He comes when I call, understands a respectable amount of my words (and tone), and simply seems to enjoy hanging out with me.
We have four cats (not by choice; two were foisted on us), and one day, I accidentally stepped on the tail of one of the newer cats. The cat, scared and upset, hissed and growled at me. In a flash, there was Kyrian, interposing himself between the other cat and me, hissing at the cat, and adopting a defensive stance on my behalf.
I like dogs, but I love cats. Dogs have their good points, as do cats. And dogs have their bad points, as do cats. For me, I simply prefer cats (having been owners of both pet types at one point or another). And for every story about a cat barfing on a bed, or peeing that awful cat urine stench, I can counter with stories of dogs who eat poop or barf, or lick their privates then try to lick your face, or eat paper money or Super Bowl tickets. Every cat (and dog) is different, and there’s good and bad specimens of both pets out there.
Oh, and addressing the opinion that cats are useless, tell that to breweries, feed supply stores, and farms, all of which employ cats to keep rodent populations down.
I have to agree with your assessment that the more you interact with a cat, the more you get out of that relationship. Cats genuinely remind me of humans, too. All quite different from one another, all have minds of their own that you sometimes just have to accept you can’t get to do as you like; very people like for sure!
I haven’t owned dogs, but I think I would find it hard to have them, in part because they feel so emotional and get attached so closely, I think I would feel horrible every time I left the house! I totally agree about the stories of dogs being unhygienic and a little gross to clean up after being about matched even with cats, and that each pet is different and some individual cats or dogs are just better behaved or easier to care for than others.
So true about keeping rodent populations down. I cannot imagine what cities would be like without them. Ugh rats…
I don’t like cats even though I live with one, I would mostly say its because I can’t relate to cats at all. I try to be nice to the cat, help it play games etc, but I just feel such a strong aversion to cats since acquiring one through marriage. When my husbands cat moved in I learned that it is common for perfectly healthy cats to randomly throw up places, like my mattress. Also their urine smells terrible and the dust from the litter gives me a headache. My husband is disappointed but wont clean up after the cat at all so it just adds so much work. I clean my dog every week and clean up his messes right away. At this point the mere sight of cats makes me cringe and feel sick. It actually came close to ending our relationship because I can always smell the cat and no vet visit has fixed the disgusting vomiting. I swear the cat throws up when I am waking up on purpose, when I was pregnant she would throw up on my things all the time while I was getting ready for work. I especially hate our cat, but having her in my home has given me such a strong aversion to cats that I feel sick to my stomach when one touches me. And my husband is so obsessed with her, she grooms him, licks his beard and his face so I can’t even kiss him a lot of the time. My dog has been trained not to lick faces at all and I wash up after I play with him.
It is not common for perfectly healthy cats to randomly throw up – no matter where. Sensitive stomach issues are caused by a lot of different health related issues: most common ones probably being allergic to the food you’re feeding, or issues with the acidity of the cat food. I would try switching over to a sensitive stomach cat food to see if that helps. Your cat probably just happens to be sleeping on the bed when all of a sudden a nauseated feeling starts up and she likely can’t help herself (and doesn’t know to try to move to save you trouble).
Also their urine smells *are* terrible, which is why you need a good litter. The dust is horrible with most clay types, and I absolutely abhor the smells of them, but there are many litters that do much better at everything – clumping, staying clean, reducing smells, not smelling horrible themselves. I’m currently using World’s Best Litter – the multi-cat kind, and had to switch to another kind when I first moved a short while back.. boy did I hate my life trying to deal with that litter those few weeks until I could get my hands on the good stuff again.
If your cat is driving you nuts and your husband won’t do anything about the problems you face with her, do yourself the huge favour of being proactive and patching up every issue you can related to her if it’s possible to fix. Need help? I’m happy to give you advice on any complaint I know how to fix, and if I don’t, I’d happily research tips that others have for sorting the issue out. You don’t have to like her to make your life easier with respect to her. You owe it to yourself to at least try – for your own sanity’s sake.
All this is great, but the real reason to hate cats is…..that if put all the qualities of a cat into a person, they would be scumbag, con artist, full of bs, stab u in the back liar types. Everything about thier personality is everything we as humans find disrespectful, and repulsive in each other. That people hate cats.
I personally hate cats because I find them useless. Its as simple as that. They are small and fragile. Skittish. They lay around all day and accomplish nothing. They arent working animals that can accomplish useful tasks. They couldnt protect a family from an intruder, let alone even try to. They ignore their owners. Get hair all over the place. Hate people. Then theres the “Crazy cat lady” with 37 cats all living in squalor. You have never heard the term crazy dog lady. You dont see people playing at the park or beach with their cat. Throwing a ball or frisbee for the cat to retrieve. You dont see people proudly walking their cat. I dont think I have ever seen an advertisement for a cat breeder but I see lots of advertisements for dog breeders. Who is going to pay money for a cat when they can go to the nearest grocery store and pick one up for free from a cute little girl that has a box of unwanted cats? But many people pay good money for the dog of their choice. Cats are a dime a dozen. You rarely see a dead dog on the side of the road but every day I drive by (or over) a flattened cat. This is because if someone hits a dog they stop and try to locate the owner because they are devastated that they killed or injured a dog. If someone hits a cat they are like “Meh, its just a cat.” Cats? Useless! Dogs? Mans best friend.
I havent attacked anyone for their positive opinion on cats. Ive just stated my opinion. If you like cats thats great and thats ok. I dont like cats. And that ok as well. It takes all kinds.
For me is funny, because I hate cats but when I have one in my arms I like them.
That is pretty funny, I have to admit 😉
Maybe they do have some sort of mind control mechanism?
Anyone else notice the cat lover have a excuse for all the deal”breakingly”anoyying and disgusting also selfish things cats do..cat lover : oh the urine there’s ways to make that better
:oh the taking a shit in the litter and then walking on my bed my pillow my table my counters oh you just gotta train them more even tho they do it behind your back
:oh the straight up using you oh never mind that there just individuals..evan tho dogs are too and show lots of love loyalty
My honest opinion not saying it’s a fact is cat lover are like subs they find pleasure in being terribly used and mistreated by things as long as there cute
It is said that people are what they hate and I think that applies to personal and cultural biases against cats.
I hate pets. They use their tounges as toilet paper, lay on pillows with their junk where you would put your head… Too gross for me.
They are animals. They belong outside.
I dislike cats and have never had a good experience with them. A few examples are:
– my roomies cat who scratched up the carpeted stairs, peed in the living room corner and was overall annoying to the point where that cat was not allowed in my room at all.
– my ex’s cat who would come over and ruin my plants and shed hair everywhere. We broke up due to her cat.
– another ex’s cat who also scratched up my place and when I mentioned getting it declawed heated opinions ensued. It was at that point I stopped dating women with cats. Luckily my wife shares my opinions on cats and has a cat ban in our house.
– my aunt’s cat who would jump up on the counter while I was eating.
– my cousin’s cat who likes to scratch me and is an overall anti social jerk.
– my sister’s cat who is demanding and also scratches and hisses at everyone for no real reason.
Add in the whole cats being manipulative, disloyal, demanding, hissing and they just lounge about all day as well. I do not find them cute but see them as evil bundles of fur ready to attack and cause trouble. I’d rather have a fish than a cat. I would get zero joy from having a cat and I don’t grasp the concept on why people like cats (i.e the amount of effort vs the reward in return) but I do respect their opinion and that people like different things.
Sounds to me like cats are just not your thing at all, which is totally cool. Based on what you said, it seems pretty obvious you’ve plenty personal experience with cats to know whether or not they’re up you’re alley, and they most certainly are not. I respect that, and really appreciate you taking the time to describe what struck the wrong cord for you about many of the ones you’ve met.
@Elise Xavier – Overall, I think there really isn’t a point to trying to convince people of why their opinions are wrong or invalid. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I honestly don’t understand why people can’t seem to get that through their heads. Some people hate cats, some people love them. Who cares? You’re just wasting your energy, just relax and let people live.
You trying to convince me there isn’t a point trying to convince people of anything? Seems a tad self-contradictory to me 😉
I don’t understand your wording but okay!
I appreciate the authors open admission to his biases towards cats which unfortunately, clearly shows his lack of understanding of why people hate cats. None of the answers really jive with me. And for the record, I’m not gonna say I hate cats as much as I have a strong dislike towards them. I feel like The word “hate“ is too strong and regrettably, people who absolutely hate or despise things tend to miss treat them. So for the record, I don’t advocate any harm being done to catch however, I strongly dislike them end it all boils down to one thing which encompasses everything… Their personality.
Cats Lovers will say that cats are independent, not disloyal. But these two are not antonyms. I am an independent individual who takes care of myself and I’m certainly loyal to those I love and those who love me. Cats are loyal to anybody. The only sign of loyalty they show is to those who they are using to meet their needs. When they rub against you, they aren’t showing affection. Instead, they are claiming you as their own by rubbing their scent on you. What’s worse, is that while they see no problem with rubbing their smelly selves on you, they lick themselves in order to wipe off the human smell after you touch them or try to cuddle with them. No cat likes to be cuddled with. Some tolerate it if they feel it will get them something. But they don’t like it.
The crazy thing is, loving a cat is like falling in love with a narcissistic sociopath or a gold digging female who only keeps you around for the purpose you serve them. Most people are smart enough to avoid these kinds of people and even despise individuals like that. But the few who can’t get past appearances get sucked in and even if they think I know deep down that they are being used, they don’t care because they are too attached to let go.
And let’s face it, most people think kittens and cats are adorable. And that is what they use against you just like a gold digging female beautiful face and a rocking body. But those who can see past that cute, cuddly looking exterior can see that cats and humans were never meant to mix.
And those who state that cats have domesticated themselves unlike dogs who have been domesticated by humans and for much longer, are 100 percent correct. But this doesn’t mean cats are smarter by any stretch of the imagination. Just means that they are more manipulative and narcissistic. Cats have domesticated themselves because they realized that they could manipulate people into giving them what they need. And humans are much more capable of it than they are. Dogs on the other hand could be domesticated by humans because of their innate loyalty and desire to be around others. Cats are independent as has been said. They don’t even like other cats. In fact, I’ve seen horrific videos of cats eating their own kittens. How disgusting.
Personally, I think people can like or hate what they wish. But because of my strong disliking for cats, I really do think that people need to wake up and stop being manipulated by these fur balls at the bottom of the food chain and let them be the independent narcissistic assholes they are.
I agree with the idea that people who tend to hate things end up mistreating them – I like your distinction there.
I can see what you’re saying. Cats are definitely manipulative insofar as they get us to take care of their every desire. And absolutely agree they are nowhere near as loyal as dogs – but what other animal is? Honestly, dogs are a high standard to have when it comes to loyalty.
I definitely can’t see them as horrific, disgusting creatures. Yes, I’m sure there have been cats who have eaten their own kittens, I’m sure there have also been dogs who have eaten their own puppies, there are also humans who kill their own infants – but these are obviously freak occurrences, not the norm, and should not be treated as such.
I do think if you’d interacted with cats more closely you’d find them to not be nearly as bad as you think. I think you present cats as all take and no give, but while they don’t give nearly as much as dogs, I do think cats give quite a bit of love, affection, and care to their humans. Do I think you’d personally like them as much as dogs? No way, but again, I think that’s a high bar you have there as no other animal can compete with how much a dog gives.
I dislike cats because they’re arrogant creatures. They’d kill anything smaller than them, or rather, “play” with it untill it’s dead.
They show little to no regard towards their “slaves” as long as they provide them with food.. I read a case where the cats ate their own “provider” when she grew old enough to find difficulties getting out of bed.
I hate cats from the bottom of my heart. These animals are disgusting creatures that cares for nothing except their own survival.
I have friend’s and even siblibgs who loves these creatures, and I’d love for them to see through my eyes, what beasts these things are in reality.
Disgusting animals. I’d much rather have a pig, a dog, or a donkey than these miniature killing machines.
Aweful, that’s what they all are. By nature.
Agreed
people love to project a wide range of human emotions onto animals that just don’t have it. animals don’t have motives quite like humans do. it usually tends to be something we don’t like about ourselves that we project onto them.
I hate cats. I used to not really care either way until my husband brought a kitten home.
I attract kittens like no one’s business and I’ve always found it slightly annoying. Kittens are more fragile than puppies (in my experience growing up), and I’ve never known any good kitten games, so I’ve always ignored them.
My husband’s kitten glommed onto me and after a few sleepless nights with her licking me for hours and her stupid fat ass waking my daughter up when she felt the need to follow me around constantly – I couldn’t take it anymore. Then, something outside spooked her and she “redirected” or whatever and attacked me. I have several scars still.
I fucking hate cats now. I don’t tolerate anyone’s cat approaching me anymore because of the experience of having a cat in my house.
I have had beloved pets that weren’t as insufferably annoying, so I haven’t demanded the cat be removed from the house, but she isn’t allowed in the parts of the house that I spend the most time in.
I’ve realized, as I read your comment, that one of the things you don’t understand is that like humans, cats have different personalities. Being someone who owns both a cat and dog, I am indifferent to both animals. My friend has a cat who is totally antisocial and refuses to interact with anyone and isn’t scared to retaliate when touched, however mine (Timmy), is clumsy, mellow, and loves belly rubs. He has never caught any birds or mice and runs up to me when I call his name just like my retriever Janelle.
You shouldn’t base your opinions on only one experience.
Well put, Karen!
Lol people can have whatever opinions they want. The most annoying thing is when people tell others what they should or shouldn’t feel, just mind your own buisiness and let the man hate cats, he doesn’t have to agree with you.
What I find most annoying is when people try to shut down conversations for no apparent reason?
She wasn’t saying he had to agree with her. She was just sharing her opinion.
Her saying, “You shouldn’t base your opinions on only one experience”, doesn’t sound like she’s being understanding of other people’s opinions. I’m simply saying that he is allowed to feel that way even after only one experience. That’s how humans are.
People who don’t like cats seem to have no problem at all with slagging them off to a cat owners face. I’m not overly keen on dogs (although I’ve improved in recent years) but I wouldn’t dream of insulting them directly to a dog owner. No idea why this is so common but it really irks me. The whole ‘cats are evil and don’t really love you’ arguement is nonsense too. They’re all individuals, like anyone else.
I actually find this to be so true. Maybe it’s in part because dog people feel like cat people can’t possibly connect with their pets the same way they do with their dogs? Obviously, it’s not true, but I do feel many dog people genuinely don’t understand that deep connections can be made between humans and felines.
Maybe read the research on what animal behaviorists have found out about that whole topic
You probably won’t,though. Because you know it won’t fit your narrative.
@elise, you mention that you trained your cats not to get on counters and such. You might want to think that over. The minute you walk out the door, that cat would do everything and be on top of anything you didn’t want him on. I know from experience. I once had a cat, and I liked her. Now it’s different I like cats but I tend to hate them if they live with me. I see how gross it is for them to step in their litter box and then on your food surfaces, or stepping in my pillow. I hate how sneaky they are waiting till you leave the house to jump on everything. How they think they own the whole house, if you scold them they are so dumb that they have no idea why! A dog will learn, a cat walks away ignoring you giving you the finger! The smell is another issue, you might think your house doesn’t smell, but you are used to the smell other people that come to your house will smell it right away. I guess a cat from afar is ok, but living in my house, I start hating it so fast!
I know cats who do that (get on counters the second you turn around/go to bed/head out the door), but my cat does not. I think there are proper ways of training cats to do what you’d like them to do, and they involve giving cats alternatives to the behaviours they’re already doing (i.e. if you want cats to stop scratching x furniture piece, offer them y and z furniture pieces to scratch up instead, then they’ll get used to scratching only those – if you want them off counters, make sure they have something equally high up and interesting to be on as counters, and they’ll keep off the counters).
They are sneaky, but not in any malicious sense, only in the sense that if we don’t give them alternatives to the old habit they were engaging in, they will keep engaging in it when we’re not around. Just like hiding under beds – they need places to hide, so just preventing them from going under a bed is not good enough – you need to give them spots to hide that *aren’t* under the bed as well as telling them not to go down there. Cats need to scratch – you saying no to scratching up all furniture is just going to lead him or her to scratch behind your back, and so on. You need to offer alternatives, because these behaviours are biological and necessary for a cat to be happy and healthy, they’re not merely “bad habits” like humans biting nails would be.
A cat can definitely learn, you just need to make sure you’re not trying to train it the same way you would a dog.
I’m an ANIMAL lover. I grew up in the country surrounded by animals and as an adult, I’ve happily owned many cats, dogs, goldfish, koi, a rabbit, and a lovebird who lived to be 18. Each pet was loved and trained – even the koi. As a responsible owner you should take the time and effort to train your pets. Each pet requires different direction, even within species and breeds. Their personalities are unique. It took a firmer, consistent training with my chow than my other dogs, and he turned out to be quite the gentleman. All of my cats have answered to their names, and never has jumping on counters been tolerated. I had one cat who was so intelligent, he always tried to open doors by turning the knob. One day, he got one open. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs now. I had 2 cats who have passed on. 2, I got as kittens, the other 3 were mature. The older ones were actualy easier to train than the kittens. Each has its own personality. I just accept them for who they are. One is a friendly cuddle bug, one is standoffish, and one is the independent leader of everyone. She cuddles on her terms only. As far as smell, I use crystal litter, due to one cat’s allergy. If my house smelled my sister or housekeeper would tell me. They hate cats and they both tell me bluntly what they think. My housekeeper complains about the hair but I just reply that’s why I need her. Lol. If one is thinking about getting a cat, but has doubts, I would suggest fostering for a local shelter. You can try it out to see if it fits.
This was a wonderful comment, thank you for leaving it!
First off – you trained a koi? Are you made of magic? How on earth do you train koi and goldfish?
Secondly – I love that our ways of thinking and treating our pets seems to be ever so similar. I agree completely with you on so many fronts. Also – love that you told your housekeeper the pet hair is why you even need her – so funny and very true!
Yeah I’m not a cat person to say the least. I have friends with cats and some are OK and some not but the deal breaker is the smell. Cat piss makes me Gag and when a cat pees on your pillow ugh…. Frustrating.
Cat pee can definitely be horrible smelling. There’s a lot you can do to improve it though (in terms of diet change + better cat litter). I can’t remember the last time I smelled cat pee since using my current combo (Royal Canin Sensitive Kibble + World’s Best Litter); really helps there to not be pee smells.
And I’ve luckily never had a cat pee on my pillow before. Cats rarely pee in weird places, the exceptions being if they have a health problem (a UTI) or if there’s something wrong with the their litter box (not clean enough for example).
I think you are missing the point “Cat Lady”
The cat is peeing on your stuff regardless if it smells or not. That is an issue for a lot of people and to say it is uti or some other generic answer is silly. You said it yourself they all have different personalities and some are just going to pee on everything that it can back its rear end up to.
I have two cats that belong to my girlfriend I will happily donate to you so they can reach there full potential.
“That is an issue for a lot of people and to say it is uti or some other generic answer is silly.” It’s silly to point out that cats peeing in weird places are sick and not behaving in normal ways for cats?
They all have different personalities but none are going to pee on everything just for the fun of it. They’re going to do it for a specific reason that’s not personality related. It’s illness related.
If a dog peed at the door because he couldn’t get outside to do his business, you’d blame the owner for not helping him to go in the right place in time. If the cat doesn’t make it to the litter box, it’s not the cat’s fault either.
They think they own every object in the house. They think they own every surface in the house. If you want to accept that in your life, fine. More power to you. But I like things to stay where I left them, and I don’t like feet that have been walking around in litter boxes walking around where I eat and prepare food.
I like other peoples’ cats in small doses, but I like order too much to welcome an untrainable and remorseless little ball of chaos into my life. It’s just a non-starter. I get that this isn’t an issue for some people, but it’s an issue for me, and for lots of people. Agree to disagree, but I’m not ignorant if I don’t understand the gospel of cat ownership. Tried it, hated it, nothing wrong with that.
It’s more than okay to not want to adopt cats, but I have to admit, letting a completely un-trainable, remorseless ball of chaos into my life would be a non-starter for me, too – I just don’t happen to think cats are un-trainable or remorseless.
I’m one of those cat owners who’s not cool with cats being on counters, tables, or desks (yes, we do exist), so I’ve trained my own cat not to do this. If I adopt any more cats in the future, as I expect to, I’ll train them to never jump onto these surfaces either. I find training cats is actually incredibly important, but I happen to believe most cats are untrained – not because they can’t be – but because their owners simply don’t care to train them or don’t bother trying.
Avery never goes under the bed. I trained him to stop going under beds because I was afraid that one day we might have a house fire, he’d hide beneath a bed, and we wouldn’t be able to get him out of the house in time. As I’ve mentioned, he never goes on tables or counters. He doesn’t scratch at the window mesh, try tipping over garbage cans and rummaging through, or try prying his way into food cupboards. He doesn’t chew wires or scratch up furniture, though he did try to do all these things at one point. He now knows what’s okay to do, and he knows what’s not allowed. If he gets it wrong and we scold him, he is indeed sorry (sulks and looks guilty and sad, like most dogs do when they’ve done something wrong), and he does in fact change his behaviour. I may not be able to train him to do the kinds of things I can train some dogs can do, he’s no Golden Retriever, but I don’t need him to be able to do those things anyway. Just to do some basic things, for his safety and for my sanity, and those are all definitely things he (and I’m convinced any cat) can do.
Your cat sounds pretty aight. Good on ya.
Thanks! 🙂
I am a cat non-lover. I have asthma, and anytime I am near a cat it is immediate wheezing, and chest tightness. People (cat lovers) assume a person can just go to their allergist and get a pill or a shot, and be good to go. That is not always the case. I take some strong allergy meds twice a day, and get a shot. Still doesn’t help. There is also the question of insurance. These pills and/or shots are not free. They are expensive.
When people say “when someone says they don’t like (insert whatever that person likes that the other person does not) I immediately do not like them”, it makes them look incredibly small minded, and judgemental. It is true that humans hold little empathy for others situations until or unless they go through it themselves.
I do not like cats. They are smelly. Every single cat owner I know says their home does not smell. Yet walk in, and they smell. I worked with a woman who’s scrubs smelled like a litterbox every shift. While I do realize that is not the cats problem, we do not live in a world that polices who owns what animals. So a lazy person that still works outside of the home may stink to a non-cat owner. Sort of like how none of the cigarette smokers I know do not smell the grossness of their own home. They are used to the smell.
My biggest issue is the fact that cats are major predators. They have extinct 33 species in the world. Cats are not native to the United States. Again we can’t police who is, and who is not a responsible owner. Indoor/outdoor cats are an enviromental nuisance, plain and simple. Anyone that disagrees with that is either willfully ignorant, or in denial.
I want to thank you for writing this article objectively. It gets very tiring being badgered for not liking cats. I am indeed a dog lover, and have less asthma issues with them. However I never pretend that dogs are for everyone. It is nice to see something written from a cat lover that seems to understand us cat non-lovers ☺️
I recently watched a documentary on allergies (food allergies, but still allergies) – I really don’t think those of us without them understand them very well. I feel most of us think allergies are all like mild hayfever or something to that effect, and that’s certainly not true. They can get really debilitating and life threatening. And yes, obviously they can be *very* expensive to suppress.
Cats definitely are major predators and cause massive environmental impact – outdoor cats are the cause of so many bird deaths every year it’s hard to know just how much meddling they do with the environment. I do agree that more awareness should be brought to this issue, and it should play a bigger role in the decision about whether to have an indoor or outdoor cat. Definitely, it’s an enormous factor behind why I keep my own cat indoors.
I did do my best to try to write this article objectively, and am glad you felt I did a decent job at that. Hopefully more cat people will be able to see a cat non-lover’s perspective a little better – because I feel sometimes it gets to the point where some cat lovers’ “hate” for cat non-lovers makes cat non-lovers hate cats more (yes, a mouthful).
Catch 22 – how could you ever want to love cats if you despise all the people who love them? On our end – being more understanding is definitely an asset for converting more people to be okay with cats.
Number one a person has been attacked by a cat. It should be noted that even if you’re attacked by a cat it’s possible to be a cat person. I know this for a fact because my youngest sister when she was a kid had a cat walk over her face and boy she was a bloody mess. Now she’s doing good and you can’t tell the cat walked over face. As pets she has a cat, 2 dogs, 11 rabbits and is considering getting ducklings in the Spring. She loves her cat and the rest of the animals. I’m like Ellen Pilch, I find out a person doesn’t I think there’s something wrong with that person or I don’t like that person until I find out different. A friend of mine hated cats but on one occasion a cat rubbed against her let her hold the cat and surprisingly she started a turn around but I don’t know the end result. Good Post.
Was it a house cat that walked over your sister’s face? Did something happen to it to irritate it before this happened? Good on her for giving cats another chance. I’m sure most in her situation would find it hard to do so. Especially if they’d been that hurt that early on by cats.
I think definitely some people take a while to come around to liking cats. For my mom, it took one special cat, her cat Walker to “convert” her. She was okay with Avery, but Walker really wore her down and now she loves all cats, versus before when she disliked them, and after meeting Avery, put up with them or was okay with them at most. So interesting how people can change just because of one special kitty!
And the opposite happened too! Haven’t you heard the story about that dog that attacked the toddler?
If you didn’t they you might as well have to keep reading.so there was this toddler playing around in front of his house (riding a bike) then all of a sudden the neighbors dog comes from behind and starts dragging the child around,luckily that toddler had a cat who can rushing biting and scaring the dog away,but that isn’t all….the toddler was seriously injured (but I don’t really remember what happened)
I wish you would have expanded a little bit more on the perception that people think cats are gross and that they smell and that anyone who owns a cat- they smell and so does their living….
I hope to get a cat in the new year, and I am drawn to your blog because it seems you have the same living situation as I do- a studio apartment with a roommate aka boyfriend… and although these were my perceptions before (the smelly thing) proved wrong by some other articles, no matter how much I claim it’s all about cleaning the litter box on a reg basis, people just still think cats smell and so do their humans, and their spaces. I told a friend the other day I’m looking into getting a cat and immediately they said ” cat. gross!” and again was confronted with this “misconception” (I still don’t own a cat so I don’t know the facts…)
But it seems people forget that dogs smell too.
Somehow, I don’t think I’ve met a cat owner who has smelled or whose house has smelled before? So this didn’t occur to me to write about because I thought it stopped being a thing since new litter formulas these days really don’t smell bad at all (and like I said, I’ve never met a cat owner who’s smelled, and I’ve met some with 3-5 cats in small flats or single bungalows..).
I think it’s easier to have clean cats than clean dogs – because cats do a lot of the work themselves. Cat breath can smell REALLY bad depending on the food they’re fed, but I actually switched cat food before because I didn’t like how it made my cat’s breath smell – you can find one that will be just fine. And same with litter – my litter (World’s Best) is made of corn kernel, it doesn’t smell. Last one I had was made out of walnuts. Again. Didn’t smell beyond sticking your head right next to the litter box, and even then not *bad.* These two types of litter mask #1 and #2 smells quite well. Some cat litters are terrible at clumping, though I don’t think this is the norm anymore. With those – it won’t matter how well or often you clean cause cat pee often reeks, and you can’t get every piece if the litter didn’t clump properly. You have to dump out the whole litter every so often if you have a terrible clumping litter, or you’ll end up with a pee smell in the air. But again, these days, I’m finding there are less and less of these terrible litters around.
I think the smells come from those two things primarily (food + litter), and if you find some good ones, you never have that issue and sorta forget it ever really existed for anyone. I know some cats, especially overweight ones, do have issues cleaning and *those* smell, same with some very old cats who cannot clean themselves anymore, but at that point you have the equivalent of a dog who needs a bath every once in a while – which is no big deal, just bathe your cat if it can’t do the job anymore.
So yeah, for me, it’s not just about cleaning the litter box regularly, it’s about getting the right litter & food; more important than anything when it comes to bad smells I think. But I’m going to do some research on the topic of cat smells and see if I can get an article or two out on that topic, since it’s an issue that still seems to still be around even though I luckily don’t personally deal with it anymore.
Any more article requests go right ahead and list, because I’d be happy to help you prepare any way I can! 🙂
Just added a section on this – #9. Thank you again for bringing it up!
When someone tells me they don’t like cats then I automatically don’t like that person.
Do you ever ask those who tell you this why they don’t like cats? Curious about what explanations people give in person.
Ever consider that maybe they have a valid reason for feeling that way? Humans naturally have aversions to creatures or anything that seem dangerous to them, and as someone who strongly dislikes cats because of many bad experiences with them, it makes complete sense. I won’t appologize for disliking them. Oops.
I guess that’s why I hate humans.
It’s that mentality that perfectly explains why most cat owners are dead inside when it comes to protecting any animal… but for the one they OWN. No respect or compassion for vulnerable wildlife that don’t deserve to be tortured and killed because a ca owner is too lazy to keep them inside and clean a litter box, and too cheap to purchase or build a Catio to keep both their cat AND wildlife safe, and too lazy to enrich their cat’s life by playing with the cat, spending time with their cat, buying toys for their cat, etc.
Why have a cat if you’re not willing to keep it safe? If you have an animal you don’t have time for, or take care of, and think nothing of the fact that you cat’s lifespan drops by 50% when it’s sent outdoors… then that cat really should be in someone else’s home, with people who will do the right thing and keep the cat safe and happy.
But then, I can’t even count how many cat owners dismiss the lives of human beings over their cat. I guess when you hate humans… it’s understandable and completely predictable that you don’t value any life at all, be it our native wildlife, or that of human beings.
How about leveling the playing field and lets allow everyone’s dogs out to run and go where they want?
So go ahead and hate humans. That goes right in line with placing your cat’s life over all other living creatures.
You either respect and value a life, or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways.