I like cats, but this argument is dumb. The people I know who don’t like cats don’t like them precisely because cats don’t respect boundaries or consent the way dogs do.
People I know who don’t like Cats don’t like them because they expect them to allow them to cross all their boundaries like dogs do. You can’t expect a basically wild predator to respect your boundaries, you can however respect its boundaries and that is where the folks I’ve met who dislike Cats fail.
They try to hold it and get scratched because it didn’t like it. They overstimulate it and get scratched because the cat didn’t like it. I’ve seen SO many people who dislike Cats because they don’t understand how to approach an animal with caution and respect, and think that because the wild predator responded to discomfort the way a wild predator would do, that Cats are bad or evil.
Edit, to clarify, my comment was about people who say Cats are evil, not about people who simply don’t like them.
Yes, you can’t expect an animal that basically tamed itself to respect your boundaries, and that’s why dog people don’t like them. They jump on the counter or try to break your coffee cup if it’s too close to the edge of the table.
But overwhelmingly, in my experience as a cat shelter volunteer, people who have owned catsand do not like them feel that way, not because Mittens got overstimulated and scratched them once, but because they cannot cope with their boundaries being disrespected all the time. It isn’t the cats fault, true. It’s just an animal acting the way it evolved to act–but let’s try to be understanding about why many people struggle with them as pets.
It really does take a certain personality to be okay with living with a cat.
I’m my experience folks who call Cats “evil” usually don’t have a very clear understanding of consent or non-verbal communication.
Congrats! You got my biggest eyeroll of the day
Cats taught me boundaries and karma as a kid. Lessons all should learn.
I like cats, but this argument is dumb. The people I know who don’t like cats don’t like them precisely because cats don’t respect boundaries or consent the way dogs do.
People I know who don’t like Cats don’t like them because they expect them to allow them to cross all their boundaries like dogs do. You can’t expect a basically wild predator to respect your boundaries, you can however respect its boundaries and that is where the folks I’ve met who dislike Cats fail. They try to hold it and get scratched because it didn’t like it. They overstimulate it and get scratched because the cat didn’t like it. I’ve seen SO many people who dislike Cats because they don’t understand how to approach an animal with caution and respect, and think that because the wild predator responded to discomfort the way a wild predator would do, that Cats are bad or evil.
Edit, to clarify, my comment was about people who say Cats are evil, not about people who simply don’t like them.
Yes, you can’t expect an animal that basically tamed itself to respect your boundaries, and that’s why dog people don’t like them. They jump on the counter or try to break your coffee cup if it’s too close to the edge of the table.
But overwhelmingly, in my experience as a cat shelter volunteer, people who have owned catsand do not like them feel that way, not because Mittens got overstimulated and scratched them once, but because they cannot cope with their boundaries being disrespected all the time. It isn’t the cats fault, true. It’s just an animal acting the way it evolved to act–but let’s try to be understanding about why many people struggle with them as pets.
It really does take a certain personality to be okay with living with a cat.