Perfectly said! I grew up with a cat, and while we have had wonderful dogs as well, the earned trust and companionship of cats is unique to domesticated animals. Dogs are the Universe's way of showing us what pure, unconditional love looks like; cats are the Universe's way of allowing us the privilege of earning the affection of these incredible animals.
Oh those kittens! What happiness in the house. Thank you for standing up for cats. They have taught me more than any other avenue of learning. It is true that they do not subscribe to masculine values. They are born emancipated. We get to live with them, which is one of the great joys of life.
I am watching our three cats, Cheddar, Ricotta, and Colby, aka the Char CUTE erie, do impressive acrobatics with a toy mouse. It’s insanely adorable! My husband of 39 years and I call each other Kitty (me) and Katt (him.) We meow at each other. I also love dogs, but I am at heart a cat person. (Also, anyone who thinks cats smell bad has never been around dogs.)
My babies Esmée and Estée are now almost two and don't cuddle with each other the way they used to, but they're still hilarious, adorable, affectionate (with me and the occasional very lucky and worthy visitor) and a source of deep joy. The women I adopted them from in Sept. 2024 had a huge banner flying in front of their house announcing "Cat Ladies for Kamala." I knew I was in the right place, as deeply painful as it is now to think of that moment in time when there was still a glimmer of hope. I love this article! And Luna and Kuiper are absolutely adorable.
As a cat parent, I thank you for this defense of cats. I have a medium haired tortico girl named Tiger Lily, who just turned 4 years old in April. She is my boss and very gratified I work from home. Cats may be feminine coded, although I have known men who are cat lovers also. Cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett once said something important when she came to Dayton to promote her book, “Think Like a Cat.” The important thing she noted is that people expect cats to behave like dogs, and cats don’t, because they are a different species. If you can get someone to understand this fact, they may realize cats have their own virtues. I like dogs as well, although with my condominium life, my housing is more suited to housing a cat. Having cats and kittens makes your residence more like a home.
You mentioned your father, Robert Manne, and I am aware he is an Australian writer. I bought, read, and appreciate his book “The Culture of Forgetting.” I also like your discussion of the concept of “himpathy,” which is very important these days. In a way, it is akin to the extreme misogyny you see some white Christian nationalists exhibit, with their desire to curtail women’s rights to vote, work, and otherwise participate in public life. Misogyny and racism are two serious problems we have never been willing to overcome in American society, and it shows.
People say that cats cannot be trained, so they never try. We adopted very bonded feral kittens Max & Missy. When we allowed them to come outside with us for dinner on the terrace, I taught them to come when called. Since they were always together, I called "MaxandMissy." One night, for some reason, I just called for Missy and she promptly appeared--I did not know that she had her own identity and knew her own name! She is (still) a very smart girl.
Thanks for this. We have the sweetest kitty imaginable, rescued from the streets of Tehran. She is a joy every minute of every day. Even when sleeping, which is most of the time.
As a proud cat lady all my life, thank you for this, Kate! Although, there is another misogynistic element at play here that I feel compelled to bring up - sometimes even professed cat people claim that male cats are better than female cats. I have had both male and female cats my whole life, and this is just maddeningly untrue! As the current cat mom of two sister cats, I can attest to their loving, playful natures. Cat ladies and lady cats forever!
Receiving this in my inbox made my morning! Thank you for this. My daughter and I have been so frustrated by the discourse surrounding cats - and accepted by many who would reject the principles that are the genesis of this discourse. We regularly send each other articles, clips or other media that demonstrate an ingrained bias against cats. The misogyny is so clear.
Meanwhile, the fun, joy, comfort, beauty and personality that they bring to our home cannot be overstated. ❤️
I like cats but I have a very small dog and I experienced a lot of cat lady accusations. When my dog was stll a puppy and around 4lbs of pure fluff I probably received the comment “that’s not a dog, that’s a cat” about once a month, usually when I was trying to socialize him (walking, parks, travel). Once a man screamed it at me from a 3rd story window as we were walking on the other side of the street. Another time a man stopped me in a train station to tell me that cats are women and dogs are men; that he prefers dogs; that this dog seemed cat-like, but was actually pretty cool in spite of that quality. All I can say is that these vile men saw my love and joy of this fluffy creature as a personal and political threat-but because dogs are coded male the only way they could express their disapproval and discipline me back into a role caring for men and children was to use the cat lady trope, on the grounds that because my dog is small enough that it worked. This Substack is helping me see how extensive misogyny is and to name it. Note the way that abusive men often go after their partner’s small animals-their cats and small dogs.
I am a dog person. But cats are beautiful. Cats are wonderful. Cats are mysterious. Cats are warm and cuddly and they PURRRRRRR. I think people don't like cats because cats are independent---at least more independent than dogs appear to be. An awful lot of people want to order a pet around and cats resist. Actually, dogs resist, too, but less often. I suppose it depends on what you think a pet is for. My sense is that cats love their housemates as much as dogs love their housemates, if the housemates deserve it. If you want something else from them, that's on you. I do see a link to misogyny---but it's hard to know if cats would be more well-liked if they simply followed orders. The entitled seem to hate anything or anyone who doesn't follow orders.
Cats are discriminating, have boundaries, and are quite independent, so of course they are targets of misogynist suspicion
+1K!
Perfectly said! I grew up with a cat, and while we have had wonderful dogs as well, the earned trust and companionship of cats is unique to domesticated animals. Dogs are the Universe's way of showing us what pure, unconditional love looks like; cats are the Universe's way of allowing us the privilege of earning the affection of these incredible animals.
Oh those kittens! What happiness in the house. Thank you for standing up for cats. They have taught me more than any other avenue of learning. It is true that they do not subscribe to masculine values. They are born emancipated. We get to live with them, which is one of the great joys of life.
I am watching our three cats, Cheddar, Ricotta, and Colby, aka the Char CUTE erie, do impressive acrobatics with a toy mouse. It’s insanely adorable! My husband of 39 years and I call each other Kitty (me) and Katt (him.) We meow at each other. I also love dogs, but I am at heart a cat person. (Also, anyone who thinks cats smell bad has never been around dogs.)
My babies Esmée and Estée are now almost two and don't cuddle with each other the way they used to, but they're still hilarious, adorable, affectionate (with me and the occasional very lucky and worthy visitor) and a source of deep joy. The women I adopted them from in Sept. 2024 had a huge banner flying in front of their house announcing "Cat Ladies for Kamala." I knew I was in the right place, as deeply painful as it is now to think of that moment in time when there was still a glimmer of hope. I love this article! And Luna and Kuiper are absolutely adorable.
+1. Yes, it is painful to remember that glimmer. Damn!
As a cat parent, I thank you for this defense of cats. I have a medium haired tortico girl named Tiger Lily, who just turned 4 years old in April. She is my boss and very gratified I work from home. Cats may be feminine coded, although I have known men who are cat lovers also. Cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett once said something important when she came to Dayton to promote her book, “Think Like a Cat.” The important thing she noted is that people expect cats to behave like dogs, and cats don’t, because they are a different species. If you can get someone to understand this fact, they may realize cats have their own virtues. I like dogs as well, although with my condominium life, my housing is more suited to housing a cat. Having cats and kittens makes your residence more like a home.
You mentioned your father, Robert Manne, and I am aware he is an Australian writer. I bought, read, and appreciate his book “The Culture of Forgetting.” I also like your discussion of the concept of “himpathy,” which is very important these days. In a way, it is akin to the extreme misogyny you see some white Christian nationalists exhibit, with their desire to curtail women’s rights to vote, work, and otherwise participate in public life. Misogyny and racism are two serious problems we have never been willing to overcome in American society, and it shows.
People say that cats cannot be trained, so they never try. We adopted very bonded feral kittens Max & Missy. When we allowed them to come outside with us for dinner on the terrace, I taught them to come when called. Since they were always together, I called "MaxandMissy." One night, for some reason, I just called for Missy and she promptly appeared--I did not know that she had her own identity and knew her own name! She is (still) a very smart girl.
While dogs mimic unconditional love, cats are a perfect mirror: They treat you like you treat them. Act accordingly.
Thanks for this. We have the sweetest kitty imaginable, rescued from the streets of Tehran. She is a joy every minute of every day. Even when sleeping, which is most of the time.
As a proud cat lady all my life, thank you for this, Kate! Although, there is another misogynistic element at play here that I feel compelled to bring up - sometimes even professed cat people claim that male cats are better than female cats. I have had both male and female cats my whole life, and this is just maddeningly untrue! As the current cat mom of two sister cats, I can attest to their loving, playful natures. Cat ladies and lady cats forever!
Receiving this in my inbox made my morning! Thank you for this. My daughter and I have been so frustrated by the discourse surrounding cats - and accepted by many who would reject the principles that are the genesis of this discourse. We regularly send each other articles, clips or other media that demonstrate an ingrained bias against cats. The misogyny is so clear.
Meanwhile, the fun, joy, comfort, beauty and personality that they bring to our home cannot be overstated. ❤️
Love the kitten pictures. So sweet. Thanks for the post.
I like cats but I have a very small dog and I experienced a lot of cat lady accusations. When my dog was stll a puppy and around 4lbs of pure fluff I probably received the comment “that’s not a dog, that’s a cat” about once a month, usually when I was trying to socialize him (walking, parks, travel). Once a man screamed it at me from a 3rd story window as we were walking on the other side of the street. Another time a man stopped me in a train station to tell me that cats are women and dogs are men; that he prefers dogs; that this dog seemed cat-like, but was actually pretty cool in spite of that quality. All I can say is that these vile men saw my love and joy of this fluffy creature as a personal and political threat-but because dogs are coded male the only way they could express their disapproval and discipline me back into a role caring for men and children was to use the cat lady trope, on the grounds that because my dog is small enough that it worked. This Substack is helping me see how extensive misogyny is and to name it. Note the way that abusive men often go after their partner’s small animals-their cats and small dogs.
Those are some very beautiful handsome kitten babies.
I have always seen cats as the discerning ones, and long may that continue. What a perfect, revelatory piece xx
I am a dog person. But cats are beautiful. Cats are wonderful. Cats are mysterious. Cats are warm and cuddly and they PURRRRRRR. I think people don't like cats because cats are independent---at least more independent than dogs appear to be. An awful lot of people want to order a pet around and cats resist. Actually, dogs resist, too, but less often. I suppose it depends on what you think a pet is for. My sense is that cats love their housemates as much as dogs love their housemates, if the housemates deserve it. If you want something else from them, that's on you. I do see a link to misogyny---but it's hard to know if cats would be more well-liked if they simply followed orders. The entitled seem to hate anything or anyone who doesn't follow orders.