# Are Cats Good or Evil?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050>\
**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:** 6\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/82 "2026-08-06T22:28:43Z")

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> [@Cardigan](#):
>
> Related: if cats, taken as a group, are chaotic neutral alignment, what are dogs?

Chaotic goofballs. At least my 3 have been.

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**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/83 "2026-08-12T20:41:36Z")

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I tend to agree with [Konrad Lorenz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konrad_Lorenz) on the fundamental attraction of life with a cat:

> The cat is a wild animal that inhabits the homes of humans.
> 
> – _Man Meets Dog_

> The appeal of the cat lies in the very fact that she has formed no close bond with [man], that she has the uncompromising independence of a tiger or a leopard while she is hunting in his stables and barns: that she still remains mysterious and remote when she is rubbing herself gently against the legs of her mistress or purring contentedly in front of the fire.
> 
> – _Man Meets Dog_

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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/84 "2026-08-12T23:15:37Z")

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The question was succinctly answered in the 7th post. Here, I’ll quote it for you:

> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Yes.

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**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/85 "2026-08-13T03:22:49Z")

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I dunno, I had one cat that would bring me rabbit legs and the ferals outside bring me stuff like mouse heads every so often. I don’t know of any dog that’s brought me snacks, unappealing or otherwise.

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**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 13, 2026, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/86 "2026-08-13T05:05:41Z")

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That’s because “share” is not in a dog’s vocabulary. That scene in _Lady and the Tramp_ where he [noses the last meatball](https://youtu.be/1nWNXO3CZkU?t=90) over to her? Utter baloney.

“Savor” isn’t, either.

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**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cats-good-or-evil/1032050/87 "2026-08-15T06:05:38Z")

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> [@Frodo](#):
>
> it’s the _Cat Place_ nobody has ever returned from

_The undiscovered cat tree from who’s bourne no prowler returns_

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