Why do some people like cats so insanely much?

83 comments

Better question is why people don't like cats.
- Some people are better with consent than others.
  
  And it goes both ways. Lots of dogs will run up and jump on you, lick you, ram their nose into your crotch, etc. Most cats won't do anything they might be considered intrusive unless you've put quite a bit of effort into convincing them it's ok.
- Animals in general, lots are cute and innocent
  Maybe it's because cars are more common so you're more likely to know one, and also that they show up online a lot more
  When you ask someone "what's your favourite animal" it's usually not "cats", but people like them enough
- Personally I don’t want to have some animal jumping around on my furniture, eating my (potentially harmful) plants, kicking down stuff, sleeping on my face at night.
  But I like them … at someone elses home.
- Not sure if you're serious.
  They kill birds. For every responsible cat owner there are a dozen who pretend it's fine.
  Imagine having a pet that preys on native animals. I would be incredibly ashamed.
  They should be grandfathered in Australia, as in no new kittens. A lot of councils are moving towards zero tolerance for cats outside. Most owners can't afford enclosures so they're SOL.
  Commence down votes toxoplasmosis carriers, idgaf.

My cats are the perfect balance of affection, entertainment, and low maintenance.
Dogs are great, but I can leave my cats alone for a long weekend and when I get home, the house is just as I left it.
- As someone with dogs, I envy this so fucking much.
- I have both dogs and cats and cats are indeed very low maintenance.

I’ve gotta be completely honest, anything is better than other people.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii
Also because my cat is the cutest
- What the hell does toxoplasmosis have to do with liking cats?
  
  It inhibits the fear response in rodents, so they are more likely to cuddle up with cats
  The joke being that humans are infected too
  In rodents, T. gondii alters behavior in ways that increase the rodents' chances of being preyed upon by felids. Support for this "manipulation hypothesis" stems from studies showing that T. gondii-infected rats have a decreased aversion to cat urine while infection in mice lowers general anxiety, increases explorative behaviors and increases a loss of aversion to predators in general. Because cats are one of the only hosts within which T. gondii can sexually reproduce, such behavioral manipulations are thought to be evolutionary adaptations that increase the parasite's reproductive success since rodents that do not avoid cat habitations will more likely become cat prey
  
  Apparently it is a popular American myth.
  
  @Caligvla as @otter said, T gondii stops rodents from being afraid of cats. It also makes male rodents sexually attracted to cats.
- On the whole, there was little evidence that T. gondii was related to increased risk of psychiatric disorder, poor impulse control, personality aberrations, or neurocognitive impairment.
- lmao imagine having an affinity towards felines because a parasite told you to

Because I can actually observe my adopted cat loving me more with every passing month. We're learning each other, he communicates with me and gets closer and closer. For the first year he didn't even think about cuddling but now he's on my laps everyday. It's really nice to feel him liking me more and more so I like him back as well. It's a very positive circle of affection.

Cause they are cute and mimic babies.
And they infect your brain with a cat loving infection.
- Toxoplasmosis?
  
  That's the one!

I've had both over my life. Both have pros and cons.
As others have said, cats overall require less attention; both in interaction and maintenance. Our cats are really good about keeping house bugs to a minimum with their natural hunter instincts. Flies,moths and other critters don't last long. Also litter boxes are something I wish dogs could figure out lol.
Dogs are more social, so they'll need more from you. They need frequent outside time to run and exercise/bathroom. Most dogs don't care about catching bugs and critters like cats. However, if treated right, will defend the house to the death from intruders.
In my current situation, cats are better. If I had a much bigger, we'll fenced yard, I'd love to have a dog again.
- You can easily train a dog to use litter boxes. There are actually indoor grass mats you can buy. It’s mostly a way to deal with very old dogs who have trouble keeping it in.
  But please don’t do that with young and healthy dogs. They need outside time. If you don’t want to do that, just don’t get a dog.

I've had cats and dogs, and in my sample, cats have been better at navigating boundaries. Also, the beans. Also, the everything.
- My dog is terrific at navigating boundaries. He knows to cross them when he can't see my eyeballs.

Toxoplasmosis
- What? Source? 🤣
  
  Cat poop

My family had cats when I was a baby. The cats put a lot of time into imprinting me to give them baby food, heat etc (babies are resource rich from a cat point of view).
I always obey commands from cats.

Have you had a cat?
- Exactly
- He is asking why insanely much! I know a woman who has like 20 cats she doesn't even have time to spend with them and taking care of all them. But just because she loves cats she can have that many
  
  Having cats you can't take care of is where it has veered into the realm of mental illness.
  
  One man's "insane" is another man's "calling that insane is insane"
- Yeah, they are okay, but not that great

Cats are independent and dogs are dependent. That's why I like cats better. I also don't want to deal with the death of a dog that I'd probably consider my best friend. No thanks.
- It's not like the death of cat is any less traumatic, cat's show appreciation in different ways that is all.
  So you end up missing the little crazy cunts anyway :-(
  
  Found the auzzie
- Having had both kinds of animals of pets multiple times, it isn't any easier unless you simply just don't interact with the animal and thus don't have a connection with it.

I am not a cat person, but I've lived with a couple of them and they can be really charming little companions. They can also be incredible assholes and imo their charisma doesn't make up for it. Some people just weigh the pros and cons differently.
- I think it's more of a gamble with cats. Dogs are just gonna love you. Some cats are completely sweet and cuddly, and others attack your ankles everytime you try to get water.
  
  Depends on the dog too. Maybe you’ve only experience good dogs but there are MANY dogs out there with dangerous behavioral issues. “Dogs are just gonna love you” just isn’t true. It depends on the breed, the dog, and their history.
- Part of this is people continue to believe cats can't be trained. It's harder, but possible. It also means you have to work harder to train out bad behaviour (and they will only mostly stop while you're around). So getting your cat to not bite you can be done, as well as training them to not go on the counter when you can see it.
  Cats are also domesticated differently than most animals, and will absolutely, literally shit on things they know you care about if you piss them off.
  
  It makes sense that bad cat owners are responsible, in large part, for bad cat behavior. That said, if it's so difficult to raise a cat properly, then maybe cats just aren't good pets for most people.

Cute

Toxoplasmosis.
- Doesn't affect humans in this way.
  
  Look out everybody, this user is infected!
- Only if you literally have AIDS or some other near-complete immune dysfunction.
  
  TP is unique in being the only infection able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
- Only if you've been mistaking what you find in the litter box for tootsie rolls.

In short, they're like our siblings, minus the sibling rivalries.

They can be friendly if you treat them right and they're mostly low commitment.
Dogs need cuddles and pets daily. Cats can take care of themselves on a day-to-day basis.
- My cats definitely need cuddles every day, they want to drink from the sink at least once a day, when I'm working at my desk they'll sleep on my lap or stand in front of my monitors staring at me for attention, they'll cry at the bedroom door.
  Maybe they're just needy because we're very affectionate with them, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
  As I was writing this comment...
- With cats it feels like they just deal with you out of convenience. Dogs 100% love you and would die for you.
  
  My cat actually acts a bit like a dog : follows me, wants pets, fiercely protective.
  
  Which is a lot of pressure to deal with, for some people. They also, depending on the breed, 100% depend on you for basic needs. Cats are at least mostly self-sufficient in that regard, and can be trained to do more.
  
  I once witnessed our cat take on a dog that was 4x his size to protect our other cat who he didn't even particularly get along with. Cats can absolutely love and protect.
  
  That is only because the cats sense that you don't like them. If you actually liked them they behave pretty much as you experience dogs does to you.

Because they do. This is like asking why some people like movies.

Toxocutiosis.

I have a friend with FIVE CATS. I worry about her sometimes... Paula Poundstone has....12? 13? 14? I worry about her, too.
- That's a name I haven't heard in a while.
- There are more pressing reasons to worry about Paula Poundstone.

My cat might vomit up hairballs on whatever surface it finds every few days, but I've never walked in to find that it shit bloody diarrhea all over the kitchen after spending the previous evening eating grass in the yard. That's not something I can say for my dog.
- Hairballs are usually a sign of digestive problems so you should get that checked

I grew up with dogs and cats, the cats never tried to kill me, the cats never killed someone I was close to. The cats were loving and cute.

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