What is wrong with people who express their hatred for cats?

Fat Christy

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've had a difficult few weeks. My work and personal life have gone in a direction I could never have contemplated. The two things that have provided some semblance of normality are: a collection of books that I've always wanted to read; my two cats - Hopkins and Pluck.

I didn't grow up around cats. We always had a dog. I still love dogs. I was extremely reticent about allowing cats into the apartment in the first place. Now I love Hopkins and Pluck. Cats are extremely loving and affectionate animals. When I arrive into the apartment they greet me. They'll hop on my lap, nudge my chin, touch their noses' off mine. Fall asleep on a cushion beside me as I check out Bloomberg. Those two dudes rock.

Where has this irrational hatred of cats that some people express so vehemently come from? What is it about our feline companions that make people feel such hatred against them? Is it something people take up alongside hating ginger people and FF?

It's almost a popular opinion to hate cats these days. Down home (Longford, 20 years behind the rest of the country) everyone hates cats. 'Cats are so selfish, I hate cats, yada, yada, yada'

When I lived with me ex, we had a cat. I was never a big cat lover, always a dog person but the cat grew on me. I love them now.

ThinkProgress

bloggsyjoe wrote: »

"And they're filthy animals too. That tongue they use to clean themselves with... It's either had a dead mouse/bird on it, or they've used it to lick their ar*e with! "

Ah come on now. You cannot be insinuating that a dog is cleaner than a cat. That's just not true.

Cats are extremely clean animals. They spend a huge amount of their time cleaning themselves. You'll never have to give a cat a bath.

Clean by who's standards?

How does licking yourself with a dirty, possibly disease infested tongue count as "extremely clean"? lol

Dogs are not exactly super clean either, but it's usually muck with them. Nothing a hose and suds won't fix!

Some people never wash their cats for their entire lifespan! (16 -18 years?) that's quite disgusting if think about it!

Fat Christy

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Clean by who's standards?

How does licking yourself with a dirty possibly disease infested tongue count as "extremely clean"? lol

Dogs are not exactly super clean either, but it's usually muck with them. Nothing a hose and suds won't fix!

Some people never wash their cats for their entire lifespan! (16 -18 years?) that's quite disgusting if think about it!

Holy sh*tbags, have you ever tried washing a cat?

http://optimistworld.com/files/Persian%20cat%20survives%20washing%20machine%20full%20cycle_9253_1_1___Selected.jpg

ThinkProgress

Fat Christy wrote: »

Holy sh*tbags, have you ever tried washing a cat?

http://optimistworld.com/files/Persian%20cat%20survives%20washing%20machine%20full%20cycle_9253_1_1___Selected.jpg

lol. Exactly the evil little f*ckers actually enjoy being dirty!

"Clean me? Do you want to keep your eyeballs?"

I'm amazed how anyone can stroke a cat and actually think they are clean animals!

I never pet any cats!

If I did, I'd need to wash my hands with bleach or something very powerful...

macnug

I grew up in a part of Dublin that was infested with wild cats for years until recently so to me I kinda see them as vermin. I don't like the idea of having a pet cat after seeing how dirty the wild ones can be. I understand some people like them and pet ones are cleaner but to me there like pet rats. I would never harm one though.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Robbie sums it up nicely for me. Not just people who cats, but people who don;t like them too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJFp272w9u8

Tony EH

I never really had much time for cats, but don't hate them on any silly level. But, there's a deeply unpleasant and nasty side to cats that I truly don't like. I've seen cats keep dying animals around to "play" with them for their own amusement and it disgusts me.

A dog adopts you (and your family) as part of the pack. A dog becomes truly part of the family and has a role in it.

A cat couldn't give a tinkers cuss about you or anything else.

There's a reason why dogs and man have had a symbiotic relationship for millennia. It's because they care for us and we care for them, on a much deeper level than any other animal.

Cats will always JUST be pets.

Dogs are part of the family.

--LOS--

People seem to be rating cats and dogs by how easily oppressed they are, cats just don't pander to your every need like dogs do, that's not 'loyalty', that's just being submissive and eager to please because of how domesticated they are, cats are a lot more independent and badass :cool: I am the happily adopted human of a cat Misa..........cute pics here and here. I actually think cats are really introverted and I kinda relate to them in that way, they're incredibly intuitive, but no they will not just love you blindly, you gotta work for it and you can't just fake it either because they read your emotions by staring straight into your soul :pac: They are pretty manipulative and they always seem to use eye contact to bend you to their will. I do love cats and dogs though, all animals, they're just very different. It's the dog owners who hate cats that are a little harder to like, recently I was in the park with Misa and some dog came over terrorising her, I asked the woman politely if she could call her dog away and she just laughed in my face and walked off leaving the dog loose scaring the sh1t out of my cat Really annoyed me, she does have a heart complaint and she doesn't need to be needlessly stressed out like that, don't be an asshole dog owner >.< You don't have to like cats, you just don't have to get enjoyment out of hurting them either.

Dramatik

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Clean by who's standards?

How does licking yourself with a dirty, possibly disease infested tongue count as "extremely clean"? lol

Cats have a special type of saliva which destroys germs and keeps the mouth clean. It is a known fact that a cats mouth is actually cleaner than a humans or a dogs mouth for that matter.

bloggsyjoe

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Clean by who's standards?

Clean when compared to a dog.
A cat will keep itself cleaner than a dog.

Also, just look at how they go to the toilet. They attempt to clean up after themselves. You wont catch a dog doing that.

ThinkProgress

Dramatik wrote: »

Cats have a special type of saliva which destroys germs and keeps the mouth clean. It is a known fact that a cats mouth is actually cleaner than a humans or a dogs mouth for that matter.

Bs. I know someone who got a nasty rash from being licked by a cat!

So if a cat had literally just been torturing and killing a rat, then cleaned itself... That cat is safe for a child to stroke?

People also say dog saliva is the same, but no responsible person would ever rely on this as fact.

Cats are dirty animals that hunt vermin and often wander into sewage systems too!

Filthy little critters!

MrWalsh

After I pet one of my cats she cleans anywhere on her fur that Ive touched. She seems to think that I am in fact, the dirty vermin.

bloggsyjoe

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Cats are dirty animals that hunt vermin and often wander into sewage systems too!

Lol, yea coz dogs would never do anything like that

Tony EH

bloggsyjoe wrote: »

Clean when compared to a dog.
A cat will keep itself cleaner than a dog.

Also, just look at how they go to the toilet. They attempt to clean up after themselves. You wont catch a dog doing that.

You're not looking hard enough. A dog will bury its crap.

Tony EH

Dramatik wrote: »

Cats have a special type of saliva which destroys germs and keeps the mouth clean. It is a known fact that a cats mouth is actually cleaner than a humans or a dogs mouth for that matter.

Both cats and dogs mouths are chock o block with bacteria. It's a myth that one is cleaner than the other, or humans for that matter.

--LOS--

There's probably more germs on the keyboards that you're all typing from

Ah the old "hate" word that gets thrown out so easily these days

Do not "hate" them myself but never been able to interact with them on any enjoyable or interesting level. I err more towards the canines because I can run or swim with them - play games - fight and wrestle with them - train them to do not just tricks but useful actions like fetching things I could not be bothered to do myself - and all this before you mention their utility as a home guard and alarm system.

So yea no time for cats at all myself - not that any of them come near my land anyway.

Duggy747

Don't like cats but I don't hate them, I wouldn't wish harm on them or treat one like shít. I'm allergic to them so I try to avoid them if I can and I'm much more of a dog person. Cats also generally don't do anything for me that other animals would when I see them.

Anyways, I have a load of animals and one of the rabbits is a bit strange in the head and she acts much more like a cat than any rabbit I've ever seen so that keeps the GF happy :pac:

I guess I can understand where cat-lovers / owners come from when they hear people bitch about cats. I've a degu and I've had people telling me to get rid of her / kill her / they'd kill her if they had a chance which gets tiring listening to considering she's the most friendliest and loyal animal of the lot I have.

Mr Freeze

xhoundx wrote: »

For the cat haters, If I catch you hurting a cat I will hurt you worser.

I'm a cat hater as you put it, More like I really dislike them, but I would never hurt one (or any animal I dislike) because I think they are rotten things.

Dan_Solo

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Where has this irrational hatred of cats that some people express so vehemently come from?

Probably close to the place that all the rational hatred of cats that people express eloquently and logically comes from?

Dramatik

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Bs. I know someone who got a nasty rash from being licked by a cat!

Well one of my friends in school was attacked by dog when he was a kid which left him with a half a cm wide scar that runs the whole length of his cheek. By your logic I should be on here saying that every single dog out there is an evil predatory animal, that people should not let them anywhere near a child and that they are vicious agressive animals that will attack anything that moves.

Tony EH

I wouldn't let any child near a dog, unless they were properly introduced. The dog doesn't know the kid and they can be easily spooked or put on their guard when the kid tries to maul them, with often nasty results for the kid.

Once the dog understands that the kid is part of the gang, as it were, there's usually nothing to be afraid of.

I've seen giant mastiffs playing with 2 year old's from the same family and they're as gentle as anything, while at the same time giving looks to strangers that would cause a shudder.

Chloris

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Oh but I thought all these cat lovers are telling us how independent cats are, and how they don't really need us!

How undomesticated they are! lol

I noticed that with our cats too, they were VERY domestic animals that basically leeched off their owners and stalked the general kitchen area night and day.

Just incase you were foolish enough to leave something out on counter... For maybe two minutes! They'd be up with their dirty little paws on your grub within seconds!

My dogs are far more respectful. They will sit and wait to be given some scraps. If I say no, they stop begging and walk away!

They've never stolen my food. They know which one of us is in charge, and they respect the chain of command.

That's not fair. Crappy cat behaviour is down to crappy cat owners. My cat will wait to be given scraps too. He's not allowed up on certain counters where food is prepared or eaten - this took a lot of work (and tinfoil, they hate walking on it) when he was a kitten but it's been well worth it. Just because they're more agile than dogs, people allow them to take over the house completely. We'll when they first arrive, they're guests in your domicile and they have to learn the rules.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

ThinkProgress wrote: »

Clean by who's standards?

How does licking yourself with a dirty, possibly disease infested tongue count as "extremely clean"? lol

Dogs are not exactly super clean either, but it's usually muck with them. Nothing a hose and suds won't fix!

Some people never wash their cats for their entire lifespan! (16 -18 years?) that's quite disgusting if think about it!

Well I've never seen a cat do that dog thing of "Some vomit! Fantastic, can't wait to eat that! Oh my god it's my own vomit this is even better! Nom nom nom...hey is anyone eating that nappy or is it cool if I just..nom nom nom"

or that other thing of "I just had a bath la la la, look how destroyed the towels and tub are la la la, scuse me while I go ROLL IN SOME SHÍT"

I like dogs too, but no way in hell are they cleaner than cats

--LOS--

Again today kids running and screaming at the cat for no reason, go out to say mind not doing that please and the parents stood there laughing wtf is wrong with people

Yurt2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite carried by household cats. In humans it can lead to severe neurological problems, OCD, ADD and schizophrenia. So that old 'crazy cat lady' thing - is actually a thing.

In some South American countries, infection rates are as high as 60 percent of the population.

I've also found that females obsessed with cats are generally on the crazy side themselves. Whether this toxoplasmosis or not I'm not sure, but I take cat obsession as a red flag and filter out women with the same.

Pumpkinseeds

katydid wrote: »

Empathic is true enough - they so know when people feel uncomfortable around them and deliberately come over and make them more uncomfortable by digging their claws into them...

Cats are cruel

Ah, you see that's where you're mistaken. Cats don't like eye contact or a lot of attention from strangers, so when you ignore them they actually see that as being cat friendly and that's why they approach people who ignore them. The digging of claws as you describe it, is kneading and is a comfort thing they do.

Pumpkinseeds

All this talk of Toxoplasmosis, but how many people know anyone who contracted Toxoplamosis? Have you ever even heard of anyone contracting it in your county? On the other hand most of us have at some time or other stepped in dog poop. The Toxoplasmosis argument is silly in this day and age. As for sandpits, research is showing that the agates in sand can be carcinogenic and affect a childs immune system. Don't want animals to poop in the sandbox?, simple solution, put a cover over the sandpit.

--LOS--

Yurt! wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite carried by household cats. In humans it can lead to severe neurological problems, OCD, ADD and schizophrenia. So that old 'crazy cat lady' thing - is actually a thing.

In some South American countries, infection rates are as high as 60 percent of the population.

I've also found that females obsessed with cats are generally on the crazy side themselves. Whether this toxoplasmosis or not I'm not sure, but I take cat obsession as a red flag and filter out women with the same.

I guess you missed this part....

"Crazy cat lady syndrome" is a term coined by news organizations to describe scientific findings that link the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to several mental disorders and behavioral problems. Research conducted later found that cat ownership does not strongly increase the risk of T.gondii infection, and in fact eating unwashed vegetables and undercooked meat is a stronger risk factor.

I suppose you also filter out women who handle raw meat and don't wash their veg religiously? I tend to filter out people who get their science from news organisations myself :P

Dan_Solo

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

The digging of claws as you describe it, is kneading and is a comfort thing they do.

Comfortable for who!?!?
I thought it was leftover behaviour from when big cats would bleed their prey to make the meat keep longer?

Yurt2

--LOS-- wrote: »

I guess you missed this part....



I suppose you also filter out women who handle raw meat and don't wash their veg religiously? I tend to filter out people who get their science from news organisations myself :P

Pro cat propaganda....

A good cat cull would likely reduce toxoplasmosis pretty effectively. Crazy cat women would likely object, but whatever...

Yurt2

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

All this talk of Toxoplasmosis, but how many people know anyone who contracted Toxoplamosis? Have you ever even heard of anyone contracting it in your county? On the other hand most of us have at some time or other stepped in dog poop. The Toxoplasmosis argument is silly in this day and age. As for sandpits, research is showing that the agates in sand can be carcinogenic and affect a childs immune system. Don't want animals to poop in the sandbox?, simple solution, put a cover over the sandpit.

Well in the US almost of a quarter of people are said to be carriers. You probably know several people that are latent carriers.

metaoblivia

Yurt! wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite carried by household cats. In humans it can lead to severe neurological problems, OCD, ADD and schizophrenia. So that old 'crazy cat lady' thing - is actually a thing.

In some South American countries, infection rates are as high as 60 percent of the population.

I've also found that females obsessed with cats are generally on the crazy side themselves. Whether this toxoplasmosis or not I'm not sure, but I take cat obsession as a red flag and filter out women with the same.

It's overstated how much cats and Toxoplasmosis are related. As Pumpkinseeds pointed out earlier, the majority of people who are exposed to it get it through handling raw meat or drinking contaminated water. Also, most people have already been exposed to it and are immune to it. So that 60% infection rate in South America - well, cats aren't primary cause of that and most of those people are absolutely fine.

Additionally, a cat has to have Toxoplasmosis itself before it can pass it on; I feel like many people who use this argument against cats assume that all cats just have this in their feces at all times and that's not true. A cat has to be infected itself, and they become infected by eating diseased prey. Their feces is then infected for about 2 weeks. You can get your cat tested for Toxo if you're concerned.

maxwell smart

Does anyone else thinking about that movie, American Psycho, when reading the Baron's threads?

Pumpkinseeds

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Comfortable for who!?!?
I thought it was leftover behaviour from when big cats would bleed their prey to make the meat keep longer?

Kittens knead like that when they are nursing from their mothers to encourage the milk to flow and it's a habit they don't seem to lose when they're adults. Our 4 do it when they're getting comfy on the bed or on us.

Pumpkinseeds

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

All this talk of Toxoplasmosis, but how many people know anyone who contracted Toxoplamosis? Have you ever even heard of anyone contracting it in your county? On the other hand most of us have at some time or other stepped in dog poop. The Toxoplasmosis argument is silly in this day and age. As for sandpits, research is showing that the agates in sand can be carcinogenic and affect a childs immune system. Don't want animals to poop in the sandbox?, simple solution, put a cover over the sandpit.

My neighbours baby was stillborn because of toxoplasmosis. In Ireland, in the last ten years.

She loved her garden, as did the neighbours cats. The neighbours felt that letting their cats out was more important than people's gardens being kept clear of cat sh!t.

I don't hate cats, I quite like them. I prefer dogs though, you can take them out with you running or walking and they tend to be more interactive. We had cats that I loved growing up, but I've never met a very clever one.

Pumpkinseeds

Yurt! wrote: »

Well in the US almost of a quarter of people are said to be carriers. You probably know several people that are latent carriers.

Probably, and most of them probably have it from contaminated raw meat/veg/water.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

AvB hasn't been back...I've a sneaking suspicion that this was a subtle and very well calculated way to get everyone to kick off without having to talk about BMWs or IT guys

Pumpkinseeds

Candie wrote: »

My neighbours baby was stillborn because of toxoplasmosis. In Ireland, in the last ten years.

She loved her garden, as did the neighbours cats. The neighbours felt that letting their cats our was more important than people's gardens being kept clear of cat sh!t.

I don't hate cats, I quite like them. I prefer dogs though, you can take them out with you running or walking and they tend to be more interactive. We had cats that I loved growing up, but I've never met a very clever one.

You know categorically that the Toxoplasmosis in that case was directly from cat faeces yeah? Not just an assumption based on the fact that there were cats in the neighbourhood? You know, beyond doubt that your neighbour wasn't exposed at any stage, ever, to any of the other potential Toxoplasmosis sources? I'm guessing that you're just guessing. We all get exposed to it at some point, no need to blame the cats for it.

Yurt!

Yurt! wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite carried by household cats. In humans it can lead to severe neurological problems, OCD, ADD and schizophrenia. So that old 'crazy cat lady' thing - is actually a thing.

In some South American countries, infection rates are as high as 60 percent of the population.

I've also found that females obsessed with cats are generally on the crazy side themselves. Whether this toxoplasmosis or not I'm not sure, but I take cat obsession as a red flag and filter out women with the same.

Our Vet was up the duff last year; wouldn't handle the sheep because she said they'd give her toxoplasmosis.

Said cats carried it too.

Lying bitch.

Pumpkinseeds

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

You know categorically that the Toxoplasmosis in that case was directly from cat faeces yeah? Not just an assumption based on the fact that there were cats in the neighbourhood? You know, beyond doubt that your neighbour wasn't exposed at any stage, ever, to any of the other potential Toxoplasmosis sources? I'm guessing that you're just guessing. We all get exposed to it at some point, no need to blame the cats for it.

You asked if anyone knew of anyone who had it. I told you about my neighbour.

Your hysterically defensive response is something I've noticed to be typical of the more obsessive cat owner, one who can countenance no criticism, regardless of it's validity.

kfallon

Adriel Vast Laptop wrote: »

AvB hasn't been back...I've a sneaking suspicion that this was a subtle and very well calculated way to get everyone to kick off without having to talk about BMWs or IT guys

Just dropped a massive shít bomb and fúcked right off.....probably laughing too as he went

kowloon

Grew up with both Cats and Dogs, as well as other animals. I've never understood why I'm supposed to be a 'Cat Person' or a 'Dog Person' as I like both.
What I have noticed though, is there are very few people who actively hate dogs; plenty of people who are afraid of dogs, but generally they don't have to deal with them as people are supposed to keep their dogs under control. But people who hate cats are different; there are some among them who love to brag about harming them. I used to know someone who came from a family of cat haters, their Father had a golf club that he would chase away cats with.

Pumpkinseeds

Candie wrote: »

You asked if anyone knew of anyone who had it. I told you about my neighbour.

Your hysterically defensive response is something I've noticed to be typical of the more obsessive cat owner, one who can countenance no criticism, regardless of it's validity.

Eh, nope, there's nothing at all hysterical about my post, and I'd counter your post, which blamed cat poop as the cause, by pointing out that it's the kind of knee jerk reaction of a person who doesn't like cats. Nobody is asking you to like cats, I don't care whether you do or you don't. It just helps to get your facts straight.:)

Ficheall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP4NMoJcFd4

porsche959

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've had a difficult few weeks. My work and personal life have gone in a direction I could never have contemplated.

Have you had a visit from Detective Kimball?

jobbridge4life

Like cats and dogs I don't think they are mutually exclusive TBH.

ancapailldorcha

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Eh, nope, there's nothing at all hysterical about my post, and I'd counter your post, which blamed cat poop as the cause, by pointing out that it's the kind of knee jerk reaction of a person who doesn't like cats. Nobody is asking you to like cats, I don't care whether you do or you don't. It just helps to get your facts straight.:)

Candie didn't say that her neighbour caught it from cats which is extremely unliekly, just that her neighbour had it.

Yurt2

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Probably, and most of them probably have it from contaminated raw meat/veg/water.

You can't say that with certainty.

You can logically reduce the possibility of toxoplasmosis by not having cats around. (As well as preparing meals hygienically and cooking meat thoroughly)

Pumpkinseeds

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Eh, nope, there's nothing at all hysterical about my post, and I'd counter your post, which blamed cat poop as the cause, by pointing out that it's the kind of knee jerk reaction of a person who doesn't like cats. Nobody is asking you to like cats, I don't care whether you do or you don't. It just helps to get your facts straight.:)

And you yours. If you ask people if they know anyone who had toxoplasmosis, and then they tell you, don't get overwrought when they mention cats. The strain my neighbour had is carried by cats. Cats. A fact confirmed by the labs.
So there goes your knee jerk theory.

I also stated I like cats. No cat hate here.