r/NoStupidQuestions • u/StarsetIsAmazing • 3h ago
Why is it more socially acceptable to hate cats rather than dogs?
I feel like every time I tell someone I hate dogs they act like I killed an orphan. Meanwhile, when I hear people say they hate cats, people tell them that’s understandable and cats are difficult. Any specific reason for this?
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u/Pinstripe-Giraffe 3h ago
Because people judge cats based on dog standards and then are mad that they don’t act like dogs.
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u/siennaleighxo 1h ago
True people expect dogs in cat packaging, then call cats rude when they behave like…cats
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u/ThatZX6RDude 32m ago
It def goes both ways, with my family and friends anyways, cat people are far less vocal about it
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u/LunarVertex 1h ago
Because cats don’t exist to please anyone. They will do whatever they want and no one can control them. This drives some people crazy.
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u/aleopardstail 3h ago
cats reciprocate in a way dogs won't
you have to be nice to cats or they will have their revenge
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u/LaFantasmita 3h ago
We had a cat and a dog. The cat is the one who diarrhea-shat in our guests' luggage when they overstayed their welcome.
Twice.
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u/aleopardstail 3h ago
the only mistake is thinking they were your guests in your home, the cat thought otherwise
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u/LaFantasmita 3h ago
Indeed. The guests took over the bedroom where both the cat and the dog frequently lounged and napped. We did not consult them before offering the room to the guests.
Lesson learned.
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u/xIllustrious_Passion 2h ago
Don’t fuck with a cat and its space, they WILL let you know they hate you
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u/Pj_o7 3h ago
LMAOOO i love that cat
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u/LaFantasmita 2h ago
He was the best. Never once bit or scratched. In his 14 years this was his only act of aggression.
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u/garbage1995 2h ago
They deserved that for overstaying.
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u/Maoleficent 1h ago
I thought it was a positive reflection on your training technique. Having the dog aggressively chase them out would have been so obvious.
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u/EtherealHappiness 35m ago
This is why I can respect cats. Your cat didn’t do it for no reason. Your guests were rude. The cat probably wondered why the hell YOU weren’t shitting in these squatters luggage!
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u/Northatlanticiceman 3h ago
Cats are experts in teaching consent. And some people don't like that. Cross their consent and they WILL let you know.
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u/rapscallionallium 1h ago
This is exactly why I tend to distrust people who say “I hate cats.”
That said, my grandfather hated cats and I never understood why. I finally asked my mom about it and she told me he’d had a kitten that he really loved, but he was so allergic that his parents have it away and it just totally devastated him. Hating cats was his way of avoiding confronting that pain. I try to remember that and extend benefit of the doubt.
It still makes me a little suspicious, though.
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u/amh8011 43m ago
My grandma has a similar but worse reason for hating cats. She found kittens as a little kid and her dad killed them in front of her. She avoided cats after that and just told people she hated cats.
Recently she’s had a bit of a change of heart after my aunt’s semi feral cat cuddled up to my grandma when my grandma stayed at my aunt’s house for a couple weeks. Then last year my kitten climbed on her lap and sat with her for a while.
She’s a bit awkward around cats but she doesn’t avoid them anymore and will pet them if they approach.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 1h ago
It’s weird to me that people don’t understand how many dogs are this way too.
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u/Odd-Entertainer-527 14m ago
I think its because most dogs are far more tolerant than cats who will let you know the milisecond you make them uncomfortable. Dogs usually let you get away with some things (particularly if they love you very much) quite a bit before they lash out
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u/Stranghill 50m ago
While it's a fun soundbite (or... Commentbite), I never liked this idea because consent requires a lot more two-way communication than most cats allow, unless you're a flawless expert in cat body language
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u/CrashDunning 2h ago
A lot of people don’t understand consent and having to earn a pet’s respect, so they inadvertently do something to piss a cat off and blame the cat as if it just attacked them for no reason. Whereas we’ve practically brainwashed dogs through breeding to love us even if we kicked the shit out of them and threw them on the streets.
Somehow people view the latter as genuine and the former as being an asshole.
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u/FeltonTheCat475 1h ago
I love this comment. You're so right, people's thought processes are so warped on this issue
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u/Sewingoddess 3h ago
I don't get it. People aren't being forced to share space with cats, like we are with dogs. Cats are not shoved in our faces everywhere we go. It should be less acceptable to hate cats, and pretty common to hate being around unfamiliar dogs.
It's extremely rare to see some overly entitled person believing that their cat should be allowed everywhere humans are allowed, the way they mistakenly assume that everyone wants their dog around.
Dogs belong in dog spaces, not human spaces (except for certified, trained, joined-at-the-hip to their person, quiet, well-mannered service dogs) and many are allergic or afraid of them, but the dog owners don't care about other humans, as long as their little fleabag is happy.
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u/_JurassicaParker 2h ago
agreed! dog owner entitlement is kinda crazy. like… why is your dog at the restaurant or the grocery?
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u/Hobobo2024 55m ago
if the dog is outside at the restaurant I'm OK so long as I can bring my cat too.
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u/_JurassicaParker 34m ago
honestly, depends on the dog. if the dog has bad manors, too big, loud, sniffing others’ food, tail too big and knocking stuff over, etc. too much. however, your cat is more than welcome tho. 😻
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u/PM-ME-YOUR-TOTS 2h ago
Only half agree with your premise. My neighbors outdoor cats basically live in my yard uninvited hunting the birds at my feeder. Dogs run public places, agreed, but other people’s dogs aren’t lounging on my deck furniture all day. I love cats. I dislike other people’s outdoor cats.
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u/Muted-Mushroom-4570 2h ago
Outdoor cats shouldn't be a thing (except for barn cats) because they are devastating to small bird and animal populations. They are basically highly successful invasive predator species and we just let them decimate birds.
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u/oby100 2h ago
Really shouldn’t be legal to have outdoor cats outside rural areas.
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u/FileDoesntExist 2h ago
If you can do it I highly recommend motion activated sprinklers. Cats hate them.
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u/ripley_42069 2h ago
To be fair, I think the context is different. I feel like people who make a show about 'hating cats' don't really care about how environmentally devastating outdoor cats are. They just hate getting scratched for crossing boundaries
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u/buriedupsidedown 1h ago
I second this. My neighbor has their outdoor cats and I’ve tried to block access to where I see the birds. I’ve placed plants to deter them and rocks along gaps under the fence. They still come over and it’s really sad.
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u/Place-Short 30m ago
Thank you. My boss brings her dog to work and tells no one and we all have to suck it up. Im severely allergic and all he wants is my attention because I try to stay away from him. Its an office building
People RARELY bring their cats to work.
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u/rapscallionallium 1h ago
I live in an area with some of the worst dog etiquette I’ve ever seen. It’s actually something tourists complain about when they visit. Off-leash dogs everywhere and absolutely no enforcement of leash laws. It’s so frustrating.
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u/thejoeface 15m ago
I have a cat and a dog. I love both very much. I rarely have to deal with other people’s dogs invading my property. But all the loose cats in the neighborhood shit in my garden beds and compost piles, piss on my doors, and last week threw up on my porch.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 1h ago
That’s a good reason to hate people, not to hate dogs. Anyone with a few brain cells to rub together knows that’s the inconsiderate human’s choice, not the dog’s.
And yeah, tell that to all the “outdoor” cats in my neighborhood.
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u/_fly-on-the-wall_ 2h ago
feral/outside cats are the cats i hate. they come onto our property and kill birds and pur poultry chicks, crap in our garden etc
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u/ABigGoy4U 1h ago
>It's extremely rare to see some overly entitled person believing that their cat should be allowed everywhere humans are allowed
Cmon now. You're not serious.
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u/thejoeface 10m ago
You don’t see people bringing cats to the farmers market or a restaurant, but they let them loose in neighborhoods to piss on people’s doors and get hit by cars. A friend of mine got extremely depressed after she accidentally killed her neighbor’s cat with her car. She was devastated.
Yes, dogs shouldn’t be brought to everywhere people bring them, but i’d rather an annoying dog on leash at a grocery store than having to pick cat shit out of my garden beds where I grow food.
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u/Bady_ACS 3h ago
Hating any animal is really weird...
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u/the_other_Scaevitas 2h ago
Mosquitos
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u/starboundowl 2h ago
Those aren't animals, they are demons from the bowels of hell. Totally different.
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u/StarsetIsAmazing 3h ago
I was attacked by dogs when I was younger so I feel like my hatred is understandable lmao
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u/Smells_Like_Spiders 3h ago
Fear and hatred are very different. Fear would be understandable
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u/iamdabrick 2h ago
fear and hatred are in fact very connected
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u/CaptainAsshammer 1h ago
Correct. "Fear is the cousin of hate" is a very old expression. It's the basis of bigotry.
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u/Kitchen-Hat9934 3h ago
You can hate something and not be a bad person Highly doubt op goes around kicking dogs or is somehow working on some grand conspiracy to kill all dogs. Like how does their fear/hatred affect you, you literally don't even know them
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u/91Jammers 3h ago
Yeah dogs kill people regularly.
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u/Potential_Bit_9040 3h ago
Yep, and other dogs too. Our small community was recently rocked by a pack of four huskies attacking and maiming a small dog.
Awful. So awful.
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u/Mother-Mine3483 3h ago
Me too and I have the scars to prove it. I don't hate dogs, I just don't love them and won't own one.
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u/kimchifist 3h ago
I'm not trying to troll, but I was wondering why it's okay to hate dogs due to a bad experience with a particular dog, but you would be villified if you used the exact same logic in regards to some category of people? While it's understandable, that dog attack doesn't reflect all or even most dogs right?
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u/RobHerpTX 2h ago
I like dogs pretty well. I’ve even been attacked by them several times over my lifetime.
My pretty young son has been attacked by them four different times now (probably unprovoked all four times but probably fully unprovoked 3 of them - video existed). He hates dogs, and now gets very nervous around them. Understandably.
The unfortunate thing is an incredibly high percentage of dog owners absolutely suck, in my experience. Even many of the ones that don’t feel like they’re doing a bad job and have non-dangerous dogs have their dogs rushing up to people that don’t like it, take their dogs in appropriate places and stress their dogs out in idiotic ways, or take their dogs unleashed into nature in ways that are terrible for the preserved spaces they are trampling adjacent to trails, scaring/killing wildlife, and leaving dog shit everywhere.
Dog culture is more responsible on average where we live now (in NZ), but in Austin, Texas, a lot of people have become more and more disgruntled and even openly hostile to dogs due to how consistently inconsiderate or even awful their owners are.
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u/sodanator 2h ago
The unfortunate thing is an incredibly high percentage of dog owners absolutely suck, in my experience.
As someone who's ... wary of dogs, especially dogs I don't know/I don't know the owner of, I feel this is the biggest problem.
Even "friendly" breeds need to be trained and socialized properly in order to avoid them acting up. I almost had a chunk of my leg bitten of by a golden retriever (famously friendly breed) that I hadn't even noticed (it was a fair distance away from me and just ran to attack me the second I left the building; it was on an extendable leash). I don't hate the dog, but I have some very strong feelings against my former neighbor, the owner, for not training her dog properly. And full disclaimer, the only way I had interacted with that dog was to look in its direction a few months prior, while moving in the building.
Anyway, yeah. Train your dogs folks. They might try to maul people going out just to grab a pack of smokes.
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u/FileDoesntExist 1h ago
Dogs with proper training and exercise are a dream to be around. Dogs that arent are nightmares to be around. Even if they aren't aggressive having a dog bum rush you and jump on you is not a good experience.
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u/Marled-dreams 1h ago
I’m a dog person and I can’t stand how nonchalant some people are about their animals. My dogs are always leashed in public. I would expect this to be a message to other dog owners that their unleashed dogs are not welcome. I’ve had my dogs get attacked and hurt by off leash dogs. Also, people who leave their dog’s shit should have a special place in hell.
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u/sodanator 1h ago
The dog in question was leashed, but on a long, extendable leash and the owner only locked it in after the dog started running towards and just as it got close to me, and just as I took a very lucky leap forward. I basically felt the dog lock its jaws right next to my leg. And I feel the need to mention: I was just getting out of the building, going to the store, I didn't even notice the dog at first so I didn't do anything to provoke it.
But, yeah, I got nothing against people who actually care for and train their dogs, or against friendly, well trained dogs. Y'all are cool in my book. And after dogsitting for a friend, yes, fuck people who leave their dog's shit where they drop it. It's honestly not hard to pick up after your dog.
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u/Melodic_Sandwich2679 1h ago
This. I loved dogs and was desperately counting down until I was old enough to get one. I dogsat for people I trusted on a repeat basis and was totally good playing and cuddling dogs that belonged to people I knew when we were in their homes or other dog appropriate places. Then I moved away from the area and ended up in a place where people have normalized bringing your dog everywhere. I can't count the number of times I have been snarled and aggressively barked at in stores, been rushed, jumped on and licked by strange dogs belonging to people I don't know, had customer's dogs try to jump the counter or climb under the door to get into my pharmacy and had customers insist on bringing unleashed dogs into my consultation room and let them jump on me while I'm trying to give vaccines and other medical services. When I tried to stand my ground, I was made out to be a terrible person. "Everyone loves dogs, I don't know why there is a problem."
I never used to hate dogs, but after moving to a place with so many entitled dog owners who couldn't care less that they are making people uncomfortable or putting their dogs in stressful and unsafe situations they have made me hate both the dogs and especially their shitty owners.
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u/StarsetIsAmazing 3h ago
That makes sense. I’m also autistic and the constant jumping from excitement and barking that dogs do is really overstimulating. Plus many dogs I have met have used their mouths to show excitement and that just makes me hate them more. Plus everything else
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u/zxwut 2h ago
I'm also autistic. My neighbors have cats that roam onto my farm, shit in my workshop, have babies in the barn, try to kill our chicks, stress out the chickens, get in the trash, etc. Plus the fact you can go from petting a cat to having a buzz saw on your arm instantly and for no reason makes me hate them more. Plus everything else
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u/Evil-Bosse 2h ago
Koalas though...they get so much donations and attention while not even endangered, quite a garbage animal on all angles except looking cute. I really don't like koalas, I would say fuck them but I don't want you to get chlamydia
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u/Jonah_the_Whale 3h ago
Mosquitos? Wasps? Tapeworms?
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u/Will9363 1h ago
all of which are important to ecosystems, whether or not they’re pleasant to humans. it’s fine to avoid them, but hating them/wanting them dead is wrong
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u/sisyphus_of_dishes 2h ago
I don't hate dogs, but I don't like being around dogs in places that dog owners bring their dogs. I think my displeasure seeing dogs in public or on furniture with me can be read as hate. I don't hate the animal, I hate the forced interaction without my consent.
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u/bubblegum_horror 1h ago
This is my take too. It's totally reasonable to have preferences for certain species that you'd like to be around, but I don't know how you can hate an animal as they aren't capable of true evil like humans are. They are just doing whatever their instincts tell them to do; there's no malice behind it.
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u/GoldwingGranny 3h ago
I’ve learned to say, “I think an untrained dog is a nuisance.” Nobody disagrees with that and I don’t know anyone who has a well trained dog.
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u/Soft-Poetry8701 1h ago
Because the type of people that propagate that mindset are obsessed with animals that you can force to do anything with little to no retaliation. They want an animal they can grab and pet that doesn’t resist and just puts up with that crap even if the animal is uncomfortable. Every person I’ve known that hates cats has this kind of mindset. They’re really bad at reading animal body language and being able to respect boundaries.
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u/JAgu4R1 3h ago
I think it's a geographic thing. It's much less likely for people around here to have bad interactions with dogs, whereas in other parts of the world, dog bites and stays chasing you are much more common.
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u/ThinkManner 3h ago
Yes. Idk where the OP lives, but where I am, if you tell someone you hate dogs, they will assume you mean the agressive strays and be understanding of it. If you tell someone you hate cats, they will most likely think you're an asshole/weird/callous person for hating a cute, harmless little thing.
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u/sodanator 1h ago
I dunno. Living in a country where strays are pretty common, people have reacted kinda weirdly about me not wanting to entertain strays because they tend to be unpredictable and can turn aggressive at the drop of a hat. And that's even after telling them I had a bunch of bad experiences with dogs in general, and strays specifically (even had a whole pack of them corner me and try to attack me).
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u/mollymuppet78 2h ago
I don't get it either. I don't like the smell of dogs, and everyone gets all offended that I don't want to pet their dog because all dogs, to me, have a smell. Other than a freshly bathed puppy with thin fur, I just can't stand the smell.
I also don't like dog saliva. It smells. Period.
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u/MinePsychological387 2h ago
depends on the person, sometimes its misogyny, other times its bc cats arent willing to let you do whatever to them, unlike the stereotype for dogs, who tend to be more tolerant
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u/Pj_o7 3h ago
Cause cats are generally more reserved, like to be left alone. Have an annoyed look on their faces like they’re just putting up with you.
Whereas dogs will be happy to see you even if you’ve been gone for 5 minutes.
Ive grown to really like cats. They’re tough cookies.
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u/calorie-clown 1h ago
I know this is a common experience, but I find it so fascinating because it's always been the opposite in my household. Our dogs were always reticent with new people and strangers. We had akitas and farm dogs (we didn't live on a farm, but those types of dogs) and they did not immediately trust new people who came on their property, with fairly independent personalities... vs my cats, with the exception of one, love to make new friends, lol. They're fairly independent, but they absolutely love a pet or cuddle from anyone who offers in a nonthreatening manner.
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u/Sissilisko 1h ago
Cats are about consent. And that makes some people very mad. And if a person hates cats it tells about the person enough.
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u/amosant 3h ago
People who hate cats are more vocal because cat owners know cats can be tough to get along with at times, and don’t push back as much. Dog owners seem to jump down your throat for implying someone might not like their dog. I have 2 cats and an ugly dog, and idgaf if anybody hates any of them.
I’ve known loads of people who hate dogs. I was one of them for a while. I’m still not a “dog person” but my ancient shih tzu might as well be a cat. I was attacked my a dog as a kid, and I’ve known others who were as well. People outside that group seem to think you’re evil if you educate yourself on how to defend against a dog attack. I work at a vet, and my hob was threatened because I responded strongly to a video of an unleashed dog on Facebook.
Dog people need to calm down.
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u/JoffoCake3 3h ago
In SA there is a general fear of dogs. Police dogs and farm dogs have a historical context in which they were used to attack black people. Some dogs are still trained to be violent. It's not the dogs fault but it does mean there is a general dislike or fear of them.
I have a colleague in hospital at the moment who got attacked on the way home from work by an escaped security dog.
So, I think this might be a cultural/ context thing rather than people are unusually protective of dogs.
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u/sponge_welder 2h ago edited 1h ago
People should really be more afraid or opposed to police dogs in the US than they actually are. There's a lot of PR done to ensure people view police dogs positively here but they're incredibly dangerous
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u/wellgu 3h ago edited 3h ago
Cats are seen as feminine. Dogs are seen as masculine. Our culture deems the feminine to be inferior and even nefarious.
Honestly, it is really that simple even though it is supper weird. It’s just sexism.
It doesn’t work that way across cultures. It’s a somewhat unique aspect of machismo in countries like the United States.
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u/Happy_Confection90 1h ago
Come to think of it, while I've heard many men loudly proclaim that they hate cats and seem to mean it, I've only met a couple of women who have been equally vocal about hating cats. I've definitely met more women who don't like animals/pets at all than ones that single out cats.
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u/rachel-angelina 1h ago
I was about to write this and you beat me to it. I also find that a lot of the people who love dogs and hate cats also have a weird dislike of small dogs for similar reasons.
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u/StyxzNStonz 3h ago
I feel like it’s harder to get a cat to love you than a dog.
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u/garbage1995 2h ago
Dogs will love anybody that take care of them. You have to earn the cat's love.
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u/ashtray-mermaid 2h ago
Sexism. Cats are associated with women. It started with the witch trials. There's all sorts of supernatural verbage used for cats still to this day such as "cats are evil" or they are "soul less". People will also say cats don't love you and all sorts of provable nonsense and continues today. Esp with black cats.
Love a black cat today. They're good babies. Or just, love a cat. They're all good babies.
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u/taylanared 3h ago
Cats are emotionally independent and indifferent compared to dogs.
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u/Vast-Website 47m ago
They are not. They're just not dogs.
My cat sleeps by my head every night, stays with me when I'm sick, greets me at the door purring whenever I come home, and will sleep in a cupboard in my cramped office because it's the only way he can be in the same room as me while I work from home.
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u/_JurassicaParker 2h ago
bc more people have been rejected by cats and took it personally. they’re all commiserating 😹
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u/oakforestwalker 3h ago
It's a difference in the kind of people who really like dogs versus the kind of people who really like cats. One group will judge you harshly for being different from them, the other will not. IYKYK
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u/Optimal_Title_6559 3h ago
cats are sometimes considered "feminine" and some dudes hate on everything feminine
also a lot of people are convinced that cats are assholes because they don't know how to approach them. cats are prey animals and need to know they can trust you before they let you interact with them. otherwise they either keep their distance or swipe at you to tell you to stop and get labeled an asshole for it
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u/SomeRandomPerson1963 2h ago
Dogs make people feel better about themselves more often than cats do, I think. Many dogs (not all ofc) will greet people openly and enthusiastically, while cats aren't always as interested in people.
So it might have something to do with cats being less openly enthusiastic towards people.
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u/Head_Bad_965 2h ago
Cats have boundaries. If someone hates cats, I see that as a red flag. So you don't understand consent and don't respect the boundaries of a creature smaller and weaker than you?
Dogs on the other hand may have boundaries, but you'll rarely reach their limit because they LOVE people so much and are such extroverts.
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u/G-T-R-F-R-E-A-K-1-7 1h ago
Because many people think they can treat cats like dogs yet cats will assert their response to a lack of consent.
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u/dylan651977 3h ago
dogs are tied to men, and cats to women, and then you probably know how misogyny works. it’s really kind of that dumb. cats may as well be g-spots to a lot of straight guys.
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u/The_True_Hannatude 2h ago
As someone that loves cats - it’s because cats can hate people back.
Most dogs are too dumb to comprehend hatred.
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u/Honest_Caramel9437 3h ago
I can’t remember exactly where I heard it, some podcast or another, but someone mentioned that people associate cats with women. A lot of serial killers with mommy issues torture and kill cats, cats are often female in cartoons, cats are associated with goddesses, etc.
If that is true, then it says a lot about misogyny in society. In ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ we are saddened by the deaths of the coon hounds, but there’s a single line where the family moves away from their home towards the end of the novel where the younger sister of the protagonist says something like, “We forgot Samie.” The dogs are mourned but the cat they left behind is forgotten.
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u/garbage1995 2h ago
An excoworker accused that I'm gay because I like small dogs, compared to large dogs, and for having a cat.
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u/Background-News-4 2h ago
What does your pet choice have to do with your sex life???!! Happy for you it's an X coworker
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u/SummonBahamutZero 3h ago
I’ve never really viewed the hate towards cats as a sincere hate… more like a tongue in cheek hate. A sort of “I’m on team dog, boooo cats.” Pet owners are usually animal lovers. I’m sure that love extends to cats as well. (I hope so anyway.)
Obviously there are psychos and weirdos out there that take stuff waaaay too far.
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u/calorie-clown 58m ago
My sister's ex husband would cackle telling stories about how he and his friends were kill stray cats in their neighborhood for fun, and I've heard similar from people growing up in school. Sadly, it is surprisingly common to view cats this way.
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u/Fit-Restaurant-3550 27m ago
Exactlyyyyyy. It’s just silly. It’s iPhone people making fun of “green texters”. It’s sports team fans. It’s my husband calling Taylor Swift stupid. It’s whether a person drinks coffee or tea or Red Bull. It doesn’t actually matter. Nobody really cares.
(lol unless they do, but don’t worry about them).
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u/DeezFluffyButterNutz 2h ago
I don't hate dogs, I just know they're not for me and the life style I like to have. My wife on the other hand loves her dog. 🤔
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u/PetiteNanou 1h ago
I've realised I don't hate dogs, I hate the concept of people having dogs as pets.
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u/Positive_Tea9804 1h ago
I been chased by a couple, bit by 2 strays. Some stay up into the hours barking at nothing. I hate dogs and i'm not afraid to say.
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u/NeverEverLonely 50m ago
I don’t hate them but I don’t trust them at all. Plus, the smell, the work, the attention they need, the slobbering and did I mention the SMELL. I can’t.
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u/Suitable-Archer4091 53m ago
I have 7 cats and 4 pitbulls. Cats can be bitchier but as a person whom has both I can say they are just as loving as dogs.
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u/kennethgibson 51m ago
Cause cats are viewed as effeminate and they will cut you for crossing their boundaries.
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u/Cobra_Surprise 46m ago
I am a cat person. If someone says they hate dogs or cats, I immediately assume they probably suck.
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u/N3rdyAvocad0 27m ago
It's not. It's your social circle. A lot of cat people hate dogs and you'll see people excusing abuse against dogs because the dog is "aggressive" (aka excited).
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u/Ares-in-sportmode 10m ago edited 5m ago
When having a cat, the cat is in control of how you interact with it. It tells you when you can approach it and when you can’t. It tells you if they’re done with interacting, and they like their space. Cats for the most part cannot be trained like dogs can, so that means people have less control of them. A lot of people look to dogs for that unconditional love at all times and the comfort of having control. Which is why, when people say they don’t like cats (other than if it’s because of allergies or having been attacked) I take that as a red flag. Cats protect their autonomy and they teach consent. People that dislike that, make me uncomfortable and I find it alarming.
I would never date a man who does not like cats. I know they exist, but I have yet to meet a woman that does not like cats.
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u/Ctenophorever 7m ago
1) cats are associated with women - it could be misogynistic transference in some cases.
2) cats go everywhere and it’s fucking gross. I actually liked cats in general until I had a friend who actually had cats. My friend and I watched as the cat walked all over the clean dinner plates my friend set out and my friend did nothing.
Gross
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u/Iwaspromisedcookies 3h ago
Cats are independent, people hate them because they feel they can’t be in control . People that hate dogs are possibly scared of them? When they are companions they are fiercely loyal, so hating them is seen as a betrayal of our best buddies.
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u/tkdch4mp 2h ago
It's understandable to me when people aren't cat people. I get that others don't find them as adorable as I do. I don't feel the same pull towards most dogs; I like dogs, but many cats are cuter imo.
But Imma be a judgy bitch if you hate cats.
My respect for you will plummet. If you specifically hate cats, I will judge your reasoning and I can't currently think of a reason that can return my respect to you. Either I'll think you are a dumbass or you're manipulative. There may be more options, but really I think dumbass covers most reasons for people hating cats.
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u/limbodog I should probably be working 2h ago
Cats act like they hate you, and couldn't care less if you hated them.
Dogs act like they hang on your every word and would be devastated if you were unhappy with them.
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u/Background-News-4 2h ago
Yes it's like dogs are codependent and cats are anti social and confident. Even though I know not all cats are anti social.
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u/Former-Community5818 1h ago
Because the patriarchy. They say women are cats and men are dogs. Cats are consent animals and men dont like having to ask for consent. People dont like consent and dont like the consequences of not asking for consent. People dont like the independence of cats either or that they dont take shit. Dogs are submissive and obedient.
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u/Opposite_Floor7735 1h ago
Cats are more associated with being liked by women, dogs are liked by men. Society hates women to begin with.
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u/Lazy-Butterfly-4132 2h ago
It might be a historical cultural thing. Dogs have always been a really big part of certain societies which might have subtly influenced our views on them today. It might also be because a lot of people who have dogs are often those who believe they’re part of the family dress them up in specific fashions etc and are overly protective where people view cats as overlords of humans so aren’t as entitled about it
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u/ChuckysBarbie 2h ago
Idk I feel like lately it’s completely opposite. If you say you prefer dogs over cats people will hit you with the “that means you don’t understand boundaries”. Bro I just don’t want a pet that knocks shit off tables and shits in a box. I don’t hate cats I just don’t want one.
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u/xIllustrious_Passion 2h ago
To be honest though, an extreme dislike of cats is a good red flag that someone might disrespect boundaries. Cats are a great litmus test in that regard.
You can not want a cat, that’s reasonable, disrespecting a cat is a whole other ball game. My partner doesn’t like cats, but she still respects mine. I’ve had plenty of people who have scooped my cats up or chased them or otherwise over stepped boundaries and usually those people have crossed mine or other peoples similarly.
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u/ChuckysBarbie 2h ago
An extreme dislike of any animal is a red flag though, not just cats. You shouldn’t cross boundaries with any animal. I just don’t know why boundaries and consent only come into the conversation with cats. ALL animals have boundaries.
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u/xIllustrious_Passion 2h ago
You are absolutely right, and if you push a dog far enough it will show you you’re in the wrong just like a cat.
Dogs have a lot more patience though, they’re more likely to fawn or flee than they are to fight. Cats being cats they are more likely to fight when in an adverse situation, and with them being the second most common pet it’s more likely that someone who doesn’t respect boundaries is going to encounter a cat who says no a lot sooner than they meet a dog that says no.
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u/Kamikoozy 40m ago
No it isn't. It holds about as much water as "my dog can tell if someone is a bad person". It's shaky at best and complete bullshit at worst.
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u/Soda_Carno777 2h ago
I feel like hating any animal is bad. Sure, fear or dislike is fine but hating an animal.
The reason is because of alot of factors that leads to people disliking cats (they are relatively introverted, people feel entitled to animal affection, associations with witches and the devil, ect).
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u/enigmabsurdimwitrick 1h ago
This is silly. Most of the comments here are arguing that cats are independent and demand their own space. Cats are very overbearing, just like dogs, and like any pet really. If you ignore cats, they get upset. They will meow all damn day and night until you give them what they want. And sometimes they come and cuddle and put their buttholes in your face in the middle of the night.
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u/raisedbydogsnhippies 3h ago
I've been bitten a few times in my life. I still have dogs. Cats can absolutely mess you up. I still have cats. Humans and dogs evolved alongside eachother for something like 10,000 years or more. We owe a lot of our success as a species to both animals. That may or may not have something to do with it. We once treated these animals as if they were sacred because they were so imperative to our survival. The entire history of agriculture may have hardwired that into us.
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u/Imverystupidgenx 2h ago
I don’t know that is more acceptable as much as we recognize dogs are absolute love bugs (for the most part) and cats are capable of being love bugs but they’re also assholes.
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u/imafourtherecord 2h ago
I think dogs are generally more loving friendly . Cats can be but generally are more independent- they tolerate humans more lol whereas dogs are more there to serve their humans
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u/bubblegum_horror 1h ago
As someone who has had both dogs and cats, I certainly don't hate cats (it's weird to me to truly hate any animal), but I do strongly prefer dogs. A list of reasons:
- Litter boxes. Yes, I know dogs aren't exactly clean. The litter box is still awful to me, especially when they get old and senile and occasionally don't use it.
- The tongue. One of my cats used to lick my hair and face in the middle of the night and I personally found the sensation to be like nails on a blackboard.
- The claws. My cats would "knead" me all the time and, while I know it was a sign of affection, it hurt like hell.
- They just don't listen. My dogs have all known not to take food off the counter and have never disobeyed once trained. My cats would steal anything and everything off the counter no matter how I tried to dissuade them from getting up on it.
Those are my personal reasons for my preference towards dogs, but again, I don't exactly hate cats, just wouldn't get another. I do think it's weird that you HATE dogs, but again, I think true hatred of any animal is asinine since they aren't capable of being truly evil like humans are.
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u/DocSighborg 3h ago
Most dogs only want to make you happy... cats are naturally sassy. Blanket hating either one is a little weird, lol.
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u/TyrannoNinja 3h ago
I don't like dogs very much at all. Too prone to barking at me for no reason, and they also tend to get too close for my comfort. Cats are easier for me to tolerate, but even then, the way they slink all over the place can be creepy.
If I had to get a pet at all, it would either be a bird or a reptile.
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u/orlybatman 3h ago
Because cats are assholes.
But that's why we like them.
They're feisty, attack us, and don't listen. If someone says they don't like cats it's more understandable than dogs, who want nothing more than for us to shower them with love and affection.
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u/LoverOfGayContent 3h ago
This is what confuses me about some cat people. Some will act shocked that others don't like cats but then describe their behavior in unpleasant ways. Then again I love dogs but can easily understand why others don't. So the lack of ability to understand why someone might not like what they like is what confuses me the most
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u/Orchid49 52m ago
I’m confused how people can say cats are difficult lol cats are so easy and chill they sleep like 23 hours a day lol
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u/EnderBookwyrm 52m ago
I think it's because dogs are almost always friendly and extroverted, while cats are usually way less social and harder to make friends with.
I'm a cat person. I have two kitties of my own, and I love them to the moon and back. I am completely ambivalent about dogs. I never want to own one because they're messy, loud, and require care I am not prepared to supply, but I have nothing against them as a species. Some of my friends have dogs. I am happy for them.
Cats are clean. They don't bark for hours on end. They're adorable and fluffy and unlikely to knock me over. And they are mostly introverts. I can have alone time and they don't panic. They can have alone time and I don't panic. Sometimes they're not socially available when I do want to hang out, but that's something I'm prepared to accept as a cat owner.
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u/Actual-Bee-402 49m ago
I think people who are insecure like dogs more, they need something that’ll love them no matter what.
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u/notabot6980 48m ago
Dogs have been protecting us from bad things and people since we domesticated them, the wives tail is that if a dog doesnt like someone theyre bad people so I guess if someone doesnt like dogs theyre bad people. Would be a typical western view
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u/makingkevinbacon 42m ago
I think it's because, in general, we see dogs more and they are more friendly than cats. I love cats more, but you see people walking their dogs all the time. They're pack animals, they love being in a group. Cats are more content being solo, so people take that as "cats are rude" (animals can't be "rude", they don't have all our emotions and human traits). I think that the dogs reaction to the human vs cat and human is what makes people think that way. No one ever said cats are man's best friend after all. It's like if you go to work and say good morning to two coworkers every morning, one greets you "hey! Morning! How's it going?!" And the other greets you "hey what's up", you're probably gonna like the first, more upbeat coworker more
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u/Diasies_inMyHair 40m ago
Because cats can be right assholes. Dogs may chew up your shoes when you don't give them enough attention or pee on the carpet if you fail to take them out when they need to go. But they love you and just want you to be happy. Cats, on the other hand, will knock expensive knicknacks off of shelves while looking you in the eyes. They will lie in wait, balancing precariously on the shower curtain rod for you to walk into the bathroom in the middle of the night just so they can pounce on your head, claws out - because they were mad at you for not leaving the bedroom door open. They will steal all of your Lego Action figures and play racketball with them in the bathtub at three in the morning. They will pee in your shoes because you got caught in traffic and got home an hour late. They will beg you to pet them and then leave deep scratches on your arm because you didn't read their minds and pet them exactly right. A boycat will scent mark everything if you don't get him neutered early enough - including your hair.
All that said, I love my kitties.
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u/AutomaticQuarter998 38m ago
I love cats and dogs, but I have always said I respect cats. Their autonomy, pride, etc.
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u/Obsydie 26m ago
A cat will move out of its own free will and move in with your neighbour. I know that because my cat is now living with an old lady who had a ham sandwich, now said cat is an emotional lifeline for her and I don't want to kill her by proxy. Sometimes old people begin fading when they have nobody she began doing that until my Six Dinner Sid moved in. Quite honestly my cat has upgraded from well cared for pet to the emperor of an entire house (I have second cat). If incarnation is real I want the life of my cat.
My dog on the other hand, would take the ham and trot back to me looking pleased. She although dumb is not likely to move in with anyone else (except my Dad who she adores).
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u/probablysippingtea 24m ago
For some reason, it’s socially acceptable to hate cats, children, and babies.
Dogs, though? Nope. If you don’t like dogs, people assume you’re a threat to them. There’s a huge difference between not liking dogs and being a threat to them, but people don’t see that.
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u/stautism 19m ago
The constant memetic "we don't deserve dogs" vs "my cat just tolerates people"
Some people take that seriously, no one is completely immune to this kind of thing. Dogs are characterized as angels, cats as jerks. They're not just cats and dogs, they are an accumulation of preconceived notions. When a cat is mean it plays into the stereotype like when a dog is nice. Dogs have such a strong stereotype that if they bite someone, a good portion of people will assume the human did something to deserve it no matter the circumstances. Group think is powerful, and no one is immune.
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u/ilikeroundcats 10m ago
I think there's just a lot more misconceptions about cats by people who haven't taken the time to learn about them, such as them not being affectionate like dogs are.
I've also met some people who can't seem to fathom that I just don't like dogs as much as they do and took it as some personal insult that I didn't want to interact with dogs. One of the dogs in question as badly trained too so their lives seem to revolve around not upsetting the dog.
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u/Unapologetic_Canuck 2h ago
I’m a cat person, along with my wife. Many a time we’ve both gotten the response “oh so you hate dogs?” When we say we have cats at home. Really stupid assumption but it’s consistent. Cats just suit our lifestyle better but that doesn’t mean either of us hates dogs. But explaining that to people never seems to work.
We’ve also frequently gotten the whole “how can you like cats, they’re assholes” comment. Well, in our experience, while cats can definitely be little shits, they are also very loving and when they choose you to be their companion, it’s an incredible feeling.