# Are Cats Good or Evil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 31, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050 "2026-07-31T13:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/62 "2026-08-02T12:45:10Z")
See my Comment #37. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/63 "2026-08-02T16:36:24Z")
Cats are like any other living being - they’re either good or evil. If they’re good, it’s not my problem. -Rick Decat, retirerer of replicats ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/64 "2026-08-03T01:50:24Z")
As far as cats and dogs go, one argument I’ve seen is that dogs are highly social pack animals that started out psychologically closer to humans (“pack canine” isn’t the same as “tribal ape”, but it’s in shouting distance), and have heavily adapted themselves to close cooperation with us. While cats are largely solitary creatures whose main adaptation is not being afraid of us, but fundamentally remain cats and act like them. They are more alien to us than dogs and more independent, which we interpret as “selfish”. But cats will generally act the same whether you are there or not (unless they are feeling affectionate); it’s less selfishness than just a cat acting like a cat. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Good and Evil are _moral_ constructs. All lesser animals lack a moral sense. Or at least lack one we can discern or communicate with. Actually some animals seem to have a primitive moral sense, as in a conception of what “proper behavior” is and taking umbrage if it isn’t followed. I recall reading about how chimps will sometimes help other chimps and then later attack the other chimp if they don’t return the favor, for example. And I suspect that a lot of animal socialization is from their viewpoint the equivalent of morality; a code of behavior they follow because they are “supposed to”. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/65 "2026-08-03T16:34:06Z")
Cats (people, too) are neither good nor evil. The label of Good or Evil is merely a projection coming from the person doing the labeling. “Evil” being shorthand for “I don’t like that, and I don’t care to spend the time top understand it”. This applies to the concepts of Chaos and Lawful as well. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/66 "2026-08-04T13:13:10Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > This applies to the concepts of Chaos and Lawful as well. Though the term ‘chaos’ does have a quite well defined meaning in mathematics. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/67 "2026-08-04T14:38:26Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Though the term ‘chaos’ does have a quite well defined meaning in mathematics. 🙂 which definitions boil down to: “too complicated (i.e. beyond my ability) to explain or predict” (see: my previous description of “evil”) Humans = Hubris ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/68 "2026-08-05T05:43:10Z")
Cats have no morality. _People_ who keep cats that have _any_ access to the outdoors, however, _are_ definitely evil. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/69 "2026-08-05T06:44:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As far as cats and dogs go, one argument I’ve seen is that dogs are highly social pack animals that started out psychologically closer to humans (“pack canine” isn’t the same as “tribal ape”, but it’s in shouting distance), and have heavily adapted themselves to close cooperation with us. While cats are largely solitary creatures whose main adaptation is not being afraid of us, but fundamentally remain cats and act like them. [![](https://i.imgur.com/8BCUfKm.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/8BCUfKm.png) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/70 "2026-08-05T07:34:22Z")
How did I know that @wolfpup would have a witty cartoon like that handy? Never mind; I liked it, and laughed. Thanks, **Wolfpup**! IMHO, cats are good. In addition to vermin cleanup, they can be wonderful companions. I know that my cats have helped me through some very tough times in my life. They are independent, and “that’s none of your Goddamn business” types, but they also just seem to know when things are wrong somehow, and do their best to reassure me this is just a blip, and things will get better. It’s difficult to describe how they do that, but they do that. At least, for me. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/71 "2026-08-05T11:50:27Z")
I’m convinced the main reason we kept cats around is the purring. But to the OP topic, I’m in the “neither” camp. The construct simply doesn’t apply. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/72 "2026-08-05T12:40:50Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > _People_ who keep cats that have _any_ access to the outdoors, however, _are_ definitely evil. I built my cats a 100’ x 40’ yard with 7’ cat-proof fence. They can come and go as they please through a pet door. I’ve had as many as 16 cats in this 1800 sq ft house, and their yard means peace and exercise and entertainment and contentment for all with no chance of car or predator injury. You think that’s evil? ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/73 "2026-08-05T13:11:26Z")
Related: if cats, taken as a group, are chaotic neutral alignment, what are dogs? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/74 "2026-08-05T13:30:48Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I built my cats a 100’ x 40’ yard with 7’ cat-proof fence. That’s just indoors without a roof. You know that’s not what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/75 "2026-08-05T13:38:08Z")
Does that facility also prevent the cats from harming any wildlife? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/76 "2026-08-05T15:34:42Z")
If the cats can’t escape (what does a cat proof fence look like?), then any wildlife that gets hurt put itself in harms way: “Hey, Bert - bet you can’t land next to that cat and get away!” “Oh, yeah - watch this!” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/77 "2026-08-05T15:37:15Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > any wildlife that gets hurt put itself in harms way: They were asking for it! ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/78 "2026-08-05T17:14:34Z")
That space there? it’s the _Cat Place_ nobody has ever returned from there, there are rumours of fabulous treasures, breadcrumbs and worms galore! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/79 "2026-08-05T21:20:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > How did I know that @wolfpup would have a witty cartoon like that handy? > > Never mind; I liked it, and laughed. Thanks, **Wolfpup**! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I think it’s a brilliantly insightful cartoon. It’s from Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC) written and drawn by Zach Weinersmith. 😁 > [@Spoons](#): > > IMHO, cats are good. In addition to vermin cleanup, they can be wonderful companions. I know that my cats have helped me through some very tough times in my life. They are independent, and “that’s none of your Goddamn business” types, but they also just seem to know when things are wrong somehow, and do their best to reassure me this is just a blip, and things will get better. It’s difficult to describe how they do that, but they do that. At least, for me. I fully concur. I’m obviously a “dog person” – so much so, indeed, that I’m practically an honorary dog myself. But there’s much wisdom in what you say. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/80 "2026-08-06T21:24:41Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > How did I know that @wolfpup would have a witty cartoon like that handy? It couldn’t be the slightest bit biased could it? Not that I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/81 "2026-08-06T21:44:08Z")
Cats are fine pets, until they can see the bottom of their food bowl. No matter how much food is left in the bowl, they become a very insistant animal that you must answer to. I can see the bottom of my food bowl and I can’t wait until you die so I can eat your face off. Other than that I really like cats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050.md?page=5)