cat lovers, why do you love cats? please read the whole question...?

Question

I usually petsit dogs. This year, my new clients have been mixed households, dogs and cats, and the cats outnumbering the dogs. They are all lovely animals, but the cats DRIVE ME NUTS. Each one is has weird unique needs, and they all communicate with the same stare and flat, repetitive YOW. Now I know, if I LIVED with them and wasn't just a guest, I would come to understand in time what each one expects of me. (But some of the owners claim to be baffled as well.) I have lived with cats in the past, but they weren't mine and we always sort of ignored each other

Cats want three things: to be fed and watered, have doors opened, and their litter changed, and they don't care who does it. If you don't, they'll wander off and find another human who will. How can someone have loyalty and love for such a fickle creature? Yes, I know they bat their feline eyelashes and look gorgeous. So, is that the only reason to keep them? Pure beauty? Because if it is, I guess I can understand it

Answer 1

As a cat person, I ask you, why do people have children. When they're babies, they too only want to be fed and watered (so to speak), to be picked up and to have their bums changed. When they become teenagers, they turn on you and hate you more than hate itself. Then when they hopefully become successful adults and finally begin to respect and understand you, you get old, and they start to think of you as nothing more than an annoyance, lock you in a home and forget about you until you die and then they wonder why you left all of your money to the cat.

If you allow then cats will love you unconditionally for their whole lives. There is way more to cats than cuteness and stares that bore into the very back of your head. The flat, repetitve Yow you describe probably means something in the catish language - which if you had a cat, you would eventually learn to decipher their dialect. Get yourself a kitten then you'll understand.

Answer 2

Hopefully I can give you a different perspective on keeping cats. Each one has it's own meow. There are several types of meows for every cat. I can walk by my cats and know who is hungry or thirsty or who wants some love, just by listening. I don't even have to see the cat to know which one it is. A person has to be observant for a long time to understand them. I can tell if they are sick too, just by the meow. I have owned cats for 20+ years. Have only ever owned one male that didn't get along with the others and had to find him another home. He had to live alone with no other animals, to be happy. I had as many as 19 cats awhile back but now because of old age (each has averaged at least 16 years) we are down to 8. They have their own pecking order too. If we do not give them sufficient attention, they let us know by biting us on the foot or on the arm, not serious enough to injure but just enough to get the attention they crave. Our cats have the freedom to go in and out as they please because they have an enclosed catwalk. It keeps them safe, other animals out, and the wildlife is safe. When they escape occasionally, they sit at the front door and meow to come in.

Answer 3

I have always thought of myself as more of a dog person. I can't own a dog at the moment but I do own a cat. The way he is with me is different then the way he is with my family and boyfriend. He cuddles with me all the time, sleeps right next to me in bed. He is shy when visitors come around, unless they bring out his feather toy. Dogs are fun to wrestle with and take for walks but cats are so sweet to cuddle. In fact if I close my bedroom door at night, he will scratch at it the whole time till I let him in to sleep next to me (similar to dogs)They are very low maintenence too, for people that work long days or travel often, or don't have the time to train a dog, it's a better option. I think cats are excellent companions as well as dogs. I hopefully will be able to have both, but for the time being I'm looking into getting a second kitty.

Answer 4

I like them BECAUSE they are self sufficient and couldn't care less if I decide to go on vacation for a week. A few pats and cuddles and they are good to go. Dogs are so needy they make me tired sometimes. That's even before the twice daily walks.
I cat sat one that followed me around meowing it's stupid head off and wanting me to hold it all the time, I found myself hiding from it in the bathroom.
I am an animal lover, really, it doesn't sound like it but I really do. I love both dogs and cats, just like cats more.

Answer 5

My cats are very loyal to me and my mother, always have been. All three of them open the door themselves, they dont want us to. They let us know when they want to be fed, and who they want to feed them. Why would any cat care who cleans there littler? At least its clean, and they will tell you if it's not clean, or clean enough. They sit there watching you clean it and are very happy becuase someone did it, they dont care why. They have there own minds, there own talents. There deff the farthest from "a fickle creature". Also if you ignore a cat, of course he's not going to like you. Would you like someone who just ignored you? But if you show love, they will back. It will be an unconditional love they have for you, the rest of there lives.

They own my family, and run the house, we don't.

Answer 6

My cats must have been weird: in addition to basic needs, they ADORED being underfoot, following everywhere (can't take a shower without company!), and demanding petting and praise. And they do care about who handles them: ours snubbed us, bigtime, EVERY single time we had someone else care for them.

They can drive you crazy, though, even when you know them really well...kinda like husbands (and 2-legged children, I guess....never had those).

It's not beauty per se---I'd say just pure "charm". (Our current furbaby is often described as "uglier than home-made sin.") But there's something about a sleeping cat that is so relaxing, and they just look so darned CUTE when they're playing, sunning themselves and meditating, or prowling around.

Dogs, by contrast, just tend to look very goofy and gawky or plain-muffin boring in their movements (don't hate dogs, just love cats more). Never saw a dog, ANY breed, that was as stunning as a black-and-silver tabby, or an applehead-type Siamese.

Answer 7

I have always owned and been around cats. Cats don't come from social animals, like dogs do. Their way of interacting is drastically different. Cats don't feel the need to please you and win affection, they don't beg.

I like cats because they are independent, and unique. Dogs are all much alike, in my experience, they slobber all over you trying to get attention. Every cat I've ever known is different and distinct.

One doesn't just get an instant devoted animal with a cat like one does with a dog. One has to earn the respect and love of a cat. I like an animal that I know isn't going to just follow me around because they think it will get them more food and pets (like a dog will) but rather a pet that I know wants to spend time with me because I am worth it.

I am a lifelong cat lover.

~AJ~

Answer 8

I was born a cat lover sure we had the family dog but me always cats there are special ones and stupid ones. I had a black cat born under my bed for 16 yrs he was very smart and cool he used to follow me as a child to the bus stop and everywhere. He used to come to a whistle just like a dog so they are not all typical kittys. I have one now that is normal and one that is very smart.

Answer 9

I have quite a different experience with my cats. They each have their seperate personalities and are quite different from one another. They love to play and are actually quite loyal. They are indoor/outdoor cats, but never venture further than my own backyard. Maybe it helps that I've raised them from birth, but they truly are the most interesting creatures in the world to me. They all have their little quirks and favorite things and need lots of love and attention just like dogs.

Answer 10

Great Question First off... yes cats are a unique creature...Very demanding, and assertive...But unlike a dog, you have to earn a cats trust... And when you have a bond with your cat, it is such a greater bond then you will ever share with your dog.... My cat knows me better then alot of people do, when I am sad or mad she knows and she acts according... She is very demanding, but so am I and so we work well together....