# Why I don't like cats **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363 "2011-05-26T21:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/61 "2011-05-30T13:20:46Z")
I have had Gordon Setters- classic hunting breed- for 29 years, and I can honestly say I have never had ONE of them roll in shit. Mud? Yes. Shit? Never. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/62 "2011-05-30T18:05:39Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Mud? Yes. Shit? Never. Not even horse or cow shit? I’ve seen many a dog go gaga for herbivore excretion. Now I’ve never seen a dog roll around in _dog shit_. But I have seen them eat it - or smelled it on their breath :smack: :p. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/63 "2011-05-30T18:12:24Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > T > We have six cats and a dog. When a cat wants to eat, it wants to EAT. Mine will come and cry and head butt me and scratch at my legs. Annie starts waking my mother up at 3:30 in the morning, by coming up and batting at her face, knocking things off of the dresser, and crying incessantly. [This kitty](http://blogs.discovery.com/daily_treat/2011/05/feline-forcibly-makes-dude-open-kitty-snacks.html) takes it a step farther than that… very demanding! Clever, too. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/64 "2011-05-31T01:55:58Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Guin was talking about her _own_ dog. I have a long list of objectionable things in badly trained or untrained dogs that belong to other people. But my POV on all this is considering cats or dogs as an addition to one’s OWN household and why that can be a good or bad thing. I understand that and that’s great but the thread is not about her dog. Generally speaking dogs are barking nuisances. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/65 "2011-05-31T02:11:59Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > There are – our cat was neutered and still sprays. > > But I do prefer cats. From my own experience, if you get a male kitten and neuter it before puberty hits, you won’t have any spraying problems. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/66 "2011-05-31T07:52:49Z")
I think my puppy rolled in skunk shit, last summer. It just overcame her instinct. Classic wolf-cloaking… Assuming the scent of the prey. I know it wasn’t dog sjit… because it was small and ropy. Had a very distinct and musky scent. Could have been coyote or racoon scat, too… that occured to me. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/67 "2011-05-31T09:24:59Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > I have had Gordon Setters- classic hunting breed- for 29 years, and I can honestly say I have never had ONE of them roll in shit. > > Mud? Yes. Shit? Never. Okay…? This doesn’t contradict anything I’ve said, if that was what you were trying to do (If not, I apologize for my misinterpretation). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/68 "2011-05-31T09:27:46Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > T > His theory was that people cat people treat their relationships to their fellow humans the same way they treat their relationship to cats. You really would not want me, and I suspect many people on this board, to treat humans the way we treat cats. It would go something like this: **Me:** (walking down the street minding my own business) **Person:** (happens to walk by my line of sight) **Me:** SQUEEEEEE! Oh look at the cute human! (Squats and makes tsking noises, extending hand) Here, human! **Person** : (runs away, or hesitantly approaches) **Me** : (if person hesitantly approaches, gently reaches out to scratch person under the chin) Awww, what a CUTE person you are … I wish I could adopt you, really I do, but the other persons in my house wouldn’t approve … How 'bout a pet-pet, okay person? Lemme see, do you have a home? If not, I can take you to the shelter … And that is just strange cats I see on the street. You really don’t want to know about my interactions with my two beloved housecats. ``` -- CairoCarol, a.k.a. "Cat Slut" to my long-suffering husband ``` ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/69 "2011-05-31T09:43:59Z")
Cats can be trained to puke in certain places by carefully grabbing them and moving them where you want them when they start heaving (don’t worry, they’ll stop trying to barf when they realize something more interesting is happening). Doing this consistently, combined with a little bit of the ol’ verbal shaming when they do it wrong, will result in a cat that calmly moves to an approved location \*before \*yakking his brains out. I’ve got mine trained to hork on the porch where his litterbox is kept, or on the linoleum on the opposite end of the house. He goes to whichever’s closest. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/70 "2011-05-31T13:45:20Z")
> [@phantom\_lamb](#): > > Okay…? This doesn’t contradict anything I’ve said, if that was what you were trying to do (If not, I apologize for my misinterpretation). You said: Mostly hunting/retrieving dogs tend to have the strongest instinct for poop rolling. I said Gordon Setters ARE hunting dogs, and they don’t roll in poop, or at least mine never have. I stand by saying that is is in individual, per dog thing, not a purebre vs. mutt thing, is all I’m saying. I’m sure there are fluffy, foo-foo Poodles or Bichons that enjoy a good roll in poop, as well as mutts of any description. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/71 "2011-05-31T15:12:56Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > That wasn’t his theory. If that had been his theory he would have claimed that cat people barf up hairballs and stick their assholes in their friend’s faces. > > His theory was that people cat people treat their relationships to their fellow humans the same way they treat their relationship to cats. Applying THAT theory to dog people would mean that dog people conduct their human relationships with a high level of involvement, commitment, interaction, and play. What, they walk their SO’s on _leashes_? Make 'em shit out in public? Kinky. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/72 "2011-05-31T16:31:26Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Generally speaking dogs are barking nuisances. Perhaps in your personal experience, but I live in a neighborhood that’s about 70% dog owners, and it’s renowned for how peaceful it is. Certainly dogs bark now and again, but that’s a good thing. That’s one of their jobs, which at least they do, unlike kitties, who seem to have decided that vermin-removal is beneath them now that they don’t live in the barn anymore… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/73 "2011-05-31T16:47:33Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Perhaps in your personal experience, but I live in a neighborhood that’s about 70% dog owners, and it’s renowned for how peaceful it is. Certainly dogs bark now and again, but that’s a good thing. That’s one of their jobs, which at least they do, unlike kitties, who seem to have decided that vermin-removal is beneath them now that they don’t live in the barn anymore… That would be my experience and the majority of most home owners. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/74 "2011-05-31T19:50:39Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I also think cat people are sort of noncommital, nonserious, pet people. They really want a pet but don’t want the commitment and responsibility of companionship. They also tend to treat people and relationships the same way. > [@Stoid](#): > > Applying THAT theory to dog people would mean that dog people conduct their human relationships with a high level of involvement, commitment, interaction, and play. The problem with this theory is that you can spin it either way. Dog lovers can say that dog people are more committed and more responsible while cat people are standoffish and self-involved. Cat lovers can say that dog people are needy and co-dependant while cat people are independent and self-sufficient. Of course this also assumes that all dog owners are the same and all cat owners are the same. Are there people who own cats because they percieve them as ‘easier’ than dogs - sure. But there are also cat owners who are incredibly committed to their pets and treat them as treasured companions. And there are plenty of dog owners who leave their poor mutts out in the yard all day barking their heads off, or lock them up in a crate ten hours at a time and are too lazy to give them a good walk afterwards (and then wonder why the dog is poorly behaved). Personally I don’t get what the point of arguing about it is. Both are nice in their own ways - I have enjoyed sharing my house with both dogs and cats at different times. Both are annoying in their own ways - cats require catbox cleaning and only snuggle on their own terms, dogs often are stinky and require you to schedule your life around feeding them and letting them out to pee. But the sweeping generalizations about cat owners vs. dog owners are pointless, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/75 "2011-05-31T20:30:57Z")
This thread is stupid. All cats and all dogs have the potential to be huge, expensive, annoying pains in the asses. And both have the potential to be very cute, fun, and excellent companions. There are pros and cons to both! There is no final proof that one species is better than the other! ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/76 "2011-05-31T20:57:36Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > This thread is stupid. All cats and all dogs have the potential to be huge, expensive, annoying pains in the asses. And both have the potential to be very cute, fun, and excellent companions. There are pros and cons to both! There is no final proof that one species is better than the other! New to the internet? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/77 "2011-05-31T21:06:18Z")
I used to like cats well enough. Not enough to own one but I didn’t mind them at other people’s houses. Then I saw one walking on the kitchen counter at someone’s house and they didn’t even do anything about it. Good God! They might as well have poured the litter box on the dinner table. Now I can barely eat a meal in a cat house. Dogs have plenty of bad habits. One of my dogs used to like to roll in shit - which resulted in an immediate bath - but at least she couldn’t get on the cooking and eating surfaces. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/78 "2011-05-31T22:02:36Z")
I like cats well enough, but there are too many “outside” cats in our apartment complex. We used to have a resident population of alligator lizards that I would see from time to time, but they’ve eaten most of them. A couple of the cats have taken to climbing into the trees and started to wipe out hummingbird nests, which really pisses me off. The cats could disappear and I wouldn’t miss them a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/79 "2011-06-01T18:39:55Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > This thread is stupid. All cats and all dogs have the potential to be huge, expensive, annoying pains in the asses. And both have the potential to be very cute, fun, and excellent companions. There are pros and cons to both! There is no final proof that one species is better than the other! As the OP, I can’t speak for other contributors, but the thread was not offered as “Dogs are objectively superior to cats.” It was: “This is my subjective opinion of cats.” And if you’re going to dismiss all discussions featuring opinions as stupid and pointless… ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363/80 "2011-06-01T19:22:29Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I like cats well enough, but there are too many “outside” cats in our apartment complex. We used to have a resident population of alligator lizards that I would see from time to time, but they’ve eaten most of them. A couple of the cats have taken to climbing into the trees and started to wipe out hummingbird nests, which really pisses me off. The cats could disappear and I wouldn’t miss them a bit. I am a cat person and this would drive me batty. As for the walking on counters thing, none of my 3 cats to date have done this. If you scare the crap out of them and make them think the world is ending when they get up on the counters or table, they stop trying. If they do it while you’re gone, there are other methods like the Ssscat or setting up mousetraps under newspaper. Besides, it’s not like dogs are immune to counter-surfing unless they’re small and the counter is tall, but dogs tend to be more food motivated. It’s a lot rarer to see a cat eating an entire cake just because it was there and having to go to the vet because it made itself sick from “dietary indiscretion”. BTW, my cat does chirp and come running to greet me when I get home, but I didn’t have to train her to not jump up and rake my thighs with her claws in excitement. She also follows me around from room to room in the evenings (during the day, she is usually curled up somewhere sound asleep), lies next to me on the couch when I watch TV, and has learned to sit for her dinner. Back when I let her outside, I could stand at the door and call her name and she’d come running. I fuss over her constantly, pet her, and obsess about her weight and her ailments, and I take her to the vet more than many dog owners. I hardly think you could say we aren’t devoted to each other. Of course, I, too, am a “cat slut” (love it!) and gravitate towards any kitteh I see, even if I’m in my nice clothes and really should be going somewhere. I would like to have a dog at some point, but I felt the need to defend catdom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-cats/583363.md?page=3)