The Case for Cats

Cats are replaceable.

That's a forgiving way of paraphrasing what someone said to me a few weeks ago.

Really, they said if you lose a cat, you could easily find an exact copy of it out on the streets. Dogs, however, are one of a kind.

If I'm being honest, I didn't know what to make of this conversation. I couldn't tell if they were messing with me or not. I'd like to think they were.

Even if it were just a joke, this anti-cat perspective isn't completely unheard of, and this definitely isn't the first time I've encountered it.

But I'm not here to change minds. I don't think I could. Instead, I'm interested in exploring why people dislike cats.

Man’s Best Friend

The popularity of dogs versus cats ranges worldwide. There are some places where pet cats slightly outnumber dogs, or dogs greatly outnumber cats. It all has to do with culture, but, for now, we’re going to focus on the U.S.

My boyfriend, Mason, and an adoptable cat who was only nice to him. He was the chosen one.

In the U.S., cats and dogs are the most popular pets. Unsurprisingly, dogs are more common. The portion of U.S. households owning dogs is 35% greater than those with cats.

It seems dogs are the standard. And this goes beyond some statistics about pet ownership. Dogs are truly treated like man's best friend, and of course they deserve it.

They are loyal and trainable, making them great workers and companions. This is why we see dogs with so many different jobs, ranging from service animals to search and rescue.

Cats aren't really seen in the same light and maybe for good reason.

Cats and dogs are very different animals with different skill sets and behaviors. I don't think it's fair to directly compare them. For this reason, I really hate when people say they dislike cats because they don't act like dogs.

Cat Behavior

Cats are notorious for being aloof and unpredictable. I think this is a huge generalization and misunderstanding of their behavior.

Yes, cats can be aloof, but this is them trying to protect themselves or just their way of expressing themselves.

Does this stray cat look aloof to you? She hopped right into my lap. You can see the shock on my face.

If you upset or frighten a cat, it will avoid you. You have to earn their trust and love.

I wouldn't say cats are unpredictable either. There are exceptions to this, but a basic understanding and awareness of cat behavior explains and prevents it.

My cat is a good example of this. Savannah loves affection. However, her mood can change really quickly.

Whenever I'm interacting with her, I keep an eye on how she's doing. Cats can get overstimulated when you're petting them, causing them to lash out.

This can seem random, but there are usually cues. With Savannah, I can just tell she's getting annoyed by the way she looks at me. She'll start watching my hand as if she's planning her attack.

This is my sign to back off. Like most cats, she'll come to me if she wants more attention.

Maybe I'm just good at reading Savannah, but, to me, cat behavior is pretty intuitive. I do understand what it's like to not be able to read an animal, though.

From my perspective, dog behavior is a lot more nuanced than cat's. I thought a dog wagging its tail generally meant it's happy. Apparently that's wrong, and there's different types of tail wags.

Even with dogs, there are so many tiny behavioral distinctions that can't be generalized. So, it's not fair to label all dogs as friendly and affectionate, just like I wouldn't say all cats are aloof and mean.

The question is, where do these generalizations come from? I think it goes beyond a simple misunderstanding. There seems to be a stigma around cats, that is admittedly less prevalent today, which is rooted in their history.

Superstition

Not all of cat history is positive. Though Ancient Egyptians worshipped feline deities, these little creatures weren't always held in such high regard.

Throughout history, we can see multiple instances in which cats are tied to superstition. This can be either positive or negative.

The negative connotation, specifically about black cats, seemed to begin in Europe, eventually spreading to other regions.

These friendly voids were associated with witch craft and seen as bad luck.

The hysteria was so severe there were mass killings of black cats during the Middle Ages and during the witch trials.The superstition persists to this day, though not to the same degree.

According to a survey by YouGov, 15% of Americans believe black cats bring bad luck. This is enough to affect the lives of black cats in the U.S. who face higher rates of euthanasia and lower rates of adoption.

In Japan, on the other hand, black cats are actually seen as good luck. They are believed to bring wealth and prosperity.

What's interesting is they also have a higher population of pet cats than pet dogs. Perhaps this is a result of the positive connotation surrounding felines.

The point is that the perception and treatment of animals is heavily influenced by culture.

The good news is that cat ownership is increasing in the U.S., so maybe the futures of black cats, or any for that matter, are just a bit brighter.