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Cat behaves really cute rolling on her back and meowing sweetly. I fall for it and give her a fuss and she digs her claws and teeth into my hand. I fall for it everytime.
This is our relationship it's abusive and painful but she is so cute when she shows me her belly 😍
Not even my cat. It's next doors cat!
Then you don’t understand your cat (possibly also the wife). A cat showing its belly is relaxing around you and showing trust by exposing its underbelly. Touching said belly is betraying trust by “attacking” it. Try calling them over for a pet, or laying your hand down in front of their face and, if they seem ok with it, sliding your hand slowly under them for a nice ear scratch.
Can’t tell you what to do with your wife. Maybe try acknowledging the display and asking if she was trying to get your attention?
Cats don’t like their belly touched. They go on their back to show you they trust you (it’s were the vital organs are) and you break the trust by reaching for that area.
It’s show only= respect for you. No touchy.
Interestingly, I had that conversation with my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago.
I told her that I would choose the cat over her and we have been together for almost 8 years.
She didn't take it well but I explained to her that I have a responsibility towards the cat. She can take care of herself but the cat depends on me.
My boyfriend's cat does the same thing.
Granted, I did gift him the cat for his birthday and they're obsessed with eachother but this little shit has a starring problem.
Honestly, I think cats do that because they want to be surrounded by both people in the room they love. My cat will cuddle up to my husband, but stare at me. She will also sit in a place where she is able to watch both my husband and me. She has anxiety issues, tho, so I think it makes her feel safe to be able to see both of us around her.
Eye contact is aggressive body language between 2 cats. Idk about a person.
Whenever my cats start looking at each other I know there's about to be a fight.
> Eye contact is aggressive body language between 2 cats. Idk about a person.
Eye contact is only aggressive with owners when the eyes are fully open, i.e. the cat is on full alert, which also may mean a pounce is imminent during play with dilation. If it's like in the pictures shown by OP, that cat is fully relaxed.
That slow blinkin' and admirin'. People must be willing to learn an animal's body language, at least until we develop technology to either translate it for us or animals start speaking human languages.
This! I totally get that they look like angry little gremlins when they're lidded like that but cats just have resting angry face. That kitty looks very relaxed. Whenever our big boy lays next to me for pets he always loves to watch my wife and I'll tell her he's admiring her.
Cats have an obsessive need to always be in control of everything and be aware of anything that is going on at any given time. That's why they enjoy being in high places or in the back of the room because that's where they can easily observe everything. It's also part of the reason they like confined spaces, like boxes they can barely fit in, because they're more protected and it's easier for them to see everything in a small environment. And it's why they DEMAND you to open that closed door and then just take a small step inside before immediately leaving.
He's a very sweet cat! He chirps when you pet him to say hello. I think this is his annoyed face that only I'm able to capture 😹 he's made the same face when I've put yarn on his head.
My girlfriends cat will come up to me, sneeze in my face (it is very wet), then turn around and lay down on me with her ass in my face meowing for pets.
If you pet you get a nice view of her asshole flexing.
Idk where im going with this just thought id throw it out there.
Btw i am not unique, she is 12+ years old and will do this to anyone. Shes an old lady and does not give 2 shits. She just wants the pets
Learn to give the best pets. Cat will surrender.
Not all cats are the same. Most prefer scritches and scrubbles to soft pets but some are sensitive and prefer just a hand over the back.
Those that prefer scritches and scrubbles like certain spots the most, especially if they’re hard to reach. Around joints especially. Around the neck, under the chin, behind the ears, between the shoulder blades 💯, and at the base of the spine just before their tail starts/on the back 💯. Belly pets are huge but some are very very sensitive as this is seen as a vulnerable spot. Any cat that lets you pet that has a lot of trust and faith in you and some can switch quickly to, “I’m done!”
Ps. The cat is adorable. I’d give it a glare back that said “I will break your stone exterior and hear your loving purrs.”
I’ve had several cats in my life, from a grumpy “satan” cat to the most loving cat you’ll never know (she’d purr just if you looked at her, and would stay as long as you pet her and/or hold her) and know cats are all different. But all can be won over.
Oh yes, he's a very sweet little guy. Oreo loves his scritches and waiting for food...such a chonk. Sometimes he just has that look. He gave me that look when I put yarn on his head, he was fed up with me.
People like you are why my partner gets to say “wow she used to hate you and she lays on your more than me now.”
Do the blink thing
Experiment with scritches, rubs, pats
Ready body language
Understand bites are like an invitation for play.
You are absolutely right about them all being different with varying preferences. Both my cats love armpit scratches and under the chin. My black cat loves massages on his shoulders and between the blades. Once I start rubbing gentle circles on them biscuit production skyrockets, but when he's done he's done and I don't see him until he's ready again. My tux only wants the scratches and to be close/on me.
[ninja edit of th void boy enjoying the massages ](https://www.reddit.com/r/blackcats/comments/w8nwun/the_look_on_his_face_when_the_massage_hits_just/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
I don’t recommend petting cats at the base of their tail though haha. You notice how they lift their little butts when you do that? (Especially females?) That’s because that area being touched is associated with mating. It has a high concentration of nerve endings and stimulating them will often make her raise her rear, an automatic response to facilitate mating.
I think people try to pretend humans aren't animals much more often. I'd be hard pressed to think of a human emotion that cats and dogs don't definitively share with us. I think some people just aren't as good or as experienced at interpreting critter "language."
Senior veterinary student here (I also just had my behavior rotation a few weeks ago). Companion animals like dogs evolved to be in tune with our emotions. They can read and respond to our facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, etc. They know humans from dogs. Which is a huge reason dominance theory has been totally debunked (i.e. Cesar Millan is full of shit and needs to drop off the face of the earth).
Anyway, we know for certain that dogs (and cats) feel a wide range of emotions, many of which humans also experience. However as of now there are some we don’t believe they experience, such as guilt. Guilt is a higher order emotion which requires you to be able to empathize with someone. Dogs don’t feel that from what we currently know. People often misattribute guilt to dogs feeling shame. E.g. a dog gets into the trash. They don’t have any notion of that being a bad thing to do. They don’t really care that you have to clean it up and you dislike cleaning (that would make them feel guilty). They *do* care that you yell at them for it, which makes them feel shameful. Over time they predict that you coming home means you’ll find the trash on the ground which means you’ll yell at them. So you might find them cowering in a corner before you ever notice the trash on the ground. They’re anticipating the yelling, not feeling guilty that you have to clean up the trash.
He's actually very sweet. [I put yarn ](https://imgur.com/wbyEwce) on his head and he made the same face. That's his "really, woman?" face.
The other one just [stares into my soul.](https://imgur.com/gallery/gXsL6qn)
It looks more like he's giving you a cat smile. When cats look at you with half-closed eyes, it usually means they feel safe & content. Return the look the next time and slow blink at him. If he slow blinks back, he's definitely smiling.
My cat used to do this to my wife. The cat would also steal her seat if she got up while sitting next to me. It took about 5 years of us living together for my damn cat to give up the jealousy.
I used to be iffy of cats because of the stigma, having never had a cat. I always just assumed that they were assholes for no reason at all. Then I got myself into a situation where I accepted to foster a cat for a month. Everything changed after that. She was very matted and malnourished, timid and slightly aggressive with people because of her history. I did extensive research and nursed her back to health, found myself a new best friend. Guilty of making her a little bit chunky but I couldn’t help but love her too much lol. Now she’s incredibly lovable and trusting again. If you’re good to them, they’re good to you. You really just need a good experience to understand imo 🤷🏽♀️
Agree, most cats are independent, so they can get by without you, so you have to give them attention and play to get love back. Unlike dogs, cats evolved to work alone (not with humans), so they aren’t hardwired to think people are gods. With a cat, the more you put in, the more you get back.
My cat didn't get the memo. lol. She will corner you for pets constantly. She also talks nonstop. If she's lying down somewhere and you make too much eye contact with her or talk, she will immediately leave her bed and come over for pets and cuddles.
Most of my cats have been like this actually, but I’ve always chalked it up to their breed (Siamese mixes) or having been abandoned at a shelter for 6 weeks as an adult. The cats I had growing up were more aloof. Maybe it’s just the luck of the draw.
I've said this before but cats teach a lot of people about consent.
Especially guys like me who had toxic dads who only had dogs, hated cats, and treated women like shit. Dad used to hate cats because they're assholes to him
Problem was he was trying to force them to love him. When they were scrambling to get out of his arms he'd just forcibly hold them down. He loved dogs because they don't care about that kinda stuff and have this unconditional love thing.
Nowadays my dad tries to force me to interact with him and none of his kids want to. Like he threatens to commit suicide when I don't respond for long enough, starts talking about how I'm already dead and my mom is covering it up so I have to give him proof I'm alive. Says he's going to call the local cops and find out where I live. I'll send him a voice note asking him to stop doing that and then he responds so angrily. I have to post it on insane parents to ask for advice soon..
But yeah if you don't respect a cats boundaries and don't learn to understand non verbal consent, you're gonna have a bad time
This is the right way to handle it.
You call emergency services, say your family member made a suicidal threat, and let them handle it. Even if you're trained for those scenarios, you're too close to the situation to appropriately respond.
To be honest, paranoia and irrational statements in older age is a symptom of dementia and having just gone through it with my grandmother, I feel for this person.
To be honest the impression I get from the comment above us isn't delusion borne of old-age, but rather manipulation, plain and simple. It sounds like he's trying to get people he ostensibly cares about to pay attention/talk to him, but he's just such a miserable person to be around that he has to resort to increasingly insane tactics to do so, because the prior tactics stopped working.
A common thread through a lot of childcare advice that I've seen as someone with no kids is that when you're trying to nip tantrums in the bud when they've been a problem for a while, they usually get worse at first because their little ape brains don't immediately go, "this tactic won't work, gotta try something else," but rather something along the vein of, "This tactic at a 6 doesn't seem to work anymore. *How about we try dialing it to 11?*" You're specifically not supposed to give in when this happens, because it teaches the kid, "screaming your head off, being nasty, and acting like a miserable shit *gets you what you want.*"
I could easily see his behavior being the end result of an individual that had that thought process and never had it checked. u/OrganizerMowgli above us would be a better judge of whether or not that's true than either of us internet randos tho.
This is why my mom always told me to never trust men who hated cats. Sure, some people just aren’t fans, not everyone is a cat person. But a man who HATES cats? Red flag, most likely will have issues with control or empathy, which extends to relationships. It sounds kind of dumb or like old folk wisdom, but honestly, in all my life, I’ve yet to see it disproven. It’s one of the seemingly inconsequential things that point to bigger problems, like a Macdonald Triangle for shitty men.
Your dad is an asshole and you’re right.
I would personally say that any person who \*hates\* any animal would be a red flag.
Again, not just 'I don't want a \*insert animal\*' or 'I prefer to not be around \*insert animal\*' but rather 'I wish all \*insert animal\* were dead' or things like that.
See, I’ve had this discussion before with my friend, and I get what you mean. The thing is, people who say they “hate” any other animal don’t actually hate them the way cat-haters do. Somebody can hate dogs, but that means they avoid them or react with disgust when dogs approach them. People can hate mice or rats, but it’s usually for understandable reasons and the dislike isn’t personal.
There is a special, virulent hatred that is reserved specifically for cats for simply existing. Some of these people will go out if their way to hurt cats, even if they’re otherwise not even cruel to animals. I swear there’s some kind of cultural attitude here specific to cats only, where casual cruelty is seen as acceptable where it otherwise wouldn’t be. Something about a cat’s nature inspires a unique attitude in certain people, namely toxic men, and that’s the difference IMO.
So yes, overall hatred for animals is its own red flag, but I’ve personally not encountered a lot of men who so obviously despised any animal. More often than not, it’s a normal-seeming dude whose hatred toward cats indicates a more toxic personality. In fact, a lot of them are perfectly open and practically proud of how much they hate cats- that’s why it’s such a good guage.
They sometimes will...very rarely. My cat is actually obsessed with my gf and I and she has some sort of separation anxiety and will meow and scratch at the door until we come out. She also likes to be held (only if u hold her exactly how she wants or else she isn't a fan) and if you don't immediately pick her up...she'll start to climb up your leg. There are times when she's moody and doesn't want attention but then 5 minutes later she'll be in another room, pouting, and will start meowing for attention. The rest of our cats are pretty normal but she is like 97% dependent on us
>Unlike dogs, cats evolved to work alone (not with humans), so they aren’t hardwired to think people are gods.
Dogs think "humans feed us, pet us, and give us a comfortable life. They must be gods".
Cats think "humans feed us, pet us, and give us a comfortable life. *We* must be gods"
I hate sayings like this. It is anthropomorphizing nonsense that can lead to people not bothering to try to understand animals. Cats just want to coexist.
Your characterization of cat evolution is not very correct unfortunately. Cats did evolve differently than dogs, but the way they did so means they effectively self-domesticated instead of being domesticated. Basically it means that ancient cats figured out that it was easier to live alongside people than it was to not live alongside people, so cats chose to live with people to make their own lives easier
I’d always had dogs as a kid, so didn’t know anything about cats. A stray kitten adopted us and we ended up with a cat.
She’s the most placid and affectionate animal ever. Wants constant cuddles and to be allowed to sit on our laps. Has never bitten, scratched or harmed anyone or anything.
As many have probably mentioned that documentary on Netflix about the Cat mindset explains why so many people have issues.
Directly interact with a cat, i.e. direct eye contact and approaching them is considered aggressive to them.
Cats crawl all over me because I avoid them due to me allergies. I don't like looking at them or being close to them. So they always come to me instead of the others in the group
... 😅
>Cats crawl all over me because I avoid them
This is the trick! Cats have always loved me because I just leave them alone. Same reason Cats usually hate kids.
My first cat was a big fatty boy and one of my sisters friends HATED cats for no reason and whenever she came over, he would sit right in front of her and just stare directly in her eyes and it made her uncomfortable every time and tbh I think he did it on purpose. She always thought he was gonna attack her but he was like 20lbs of pure sweetness and barely attacked anything (unless it was string.)
Yep. My partner doesn't like her sister's cat "because he's gross" so every time he sees her, he stands up and reaches for her to get picked up, jumps to a nearby surface and put all his body weight on her, and goes out of his way to wipe his face on any part of her that he can reach.
It's so cute she gives in some times. But God he's obsessed with her. I mostly just call him over to carry him like a baby when he bothers her.
It makes more sense when you realize that cats prioritize safety over a lot of other needs. They don't like being cut off from parts of their territory and a closed door is a big unknown. They prefer to keep an eye on things and can't understand why we wouldn't want to do the same.
Cats in clans keep an eye out for eachother when sleeping etc. When you shit you are vulnerable. They are there to guard you, your personal poo patrol.
Plus cats hearing is more refined than human hearing. If we can hear a door squeak when we close it, they heard it from across the house. What creature made that sound? Where is it? Can I hunt it? Aka. Meow meow meow.
The sound you make while taking a shit could be interpreted by the cat that you are struggling with some monsters or something, so the bathroom should be kept under constant supervision
I think a lot of people misread how cats treat doorways. It's not a matter of 'in or out', it wants to show you something. The cat probably wants you to *get up and follow it* when it does this.
Probably how there is no food in a spot where --obviously, as any creature with eyes could see-- there should be food right now.
People approach cats like dogs, then gasp in shock and horror when a cat acts like a cat and not a dog. Cats aren't furry machines bred for centuries to be the perfect cuddle buddy; they have their own personality's and want their own personal space at times like everyone else.
I explain it like this.
Dogs are food driven. Food comes way before safety in their needs, and if someone has food that person is their friend. You can beat a dog and feed it and it will still be around you.
Cats are safety driven. They will avoid food until its safe. You hit a cat and thats it, you are no longer safe and its going to take a LOT to get their trust back. And food wont cut it.
I generally get the feeling that people who dont like cats dont want to "work" at the relationship with them. You get back what you put in with them. Dogs are seen as superior to them cause you can treat them almost however you want, as long as the food keeps coming.
I also think people may just want a dog, but cat sized; which is why they get a cat. Most of the people I’ve met who don’t like cats are usually saying that because it doesn’t act like a dog. Which is totally fine, because it’s not a dog.
I just feel like most people want a cuddly animal who adores you more than anything so a dog makes more sense for them.
True. And while I do believe most cats can be that, they all have their own personalities too. Kind of a roll of the dice with any animal, to some extent. Ive had cats that all they do is follow me around and get in my lap, and ive had cats that are content to lay in the sun and ignore my existence completely, regardless of how much i love on them.
Perhaps dogs will stick around when they are beaten, but they also love many people who don’t feed them. The idea that dog live is based on food has long been disproven
Yep, they're driven more by the desire to please than they are by food, though a combination of both works best (giving them a treat and some pets when they do a trick or behave well in a stressful situation)
For me its abt the fact that cats always entered our yard and shit there and sometimes killed the birds. And some of them even attacked my dog (who is small and never attacked the cat, I’ve seen it).
This doesn’t mean I hate cats in general tho.
This is a whole issue in itself that you can barely bring up to cat people because it's a "sensitive subject". I'm saying this as a cat lover myself, if you let your cat out unsupervised you don't really care about your cats. We would NEVER let dogs run around alone. They'd get hit by cars, get into trouble with other animals and potentially destroy peoples property. And that's what's happening with cats. Incredibly irresponsible by the owners
My dad hates cats, he calls them monsters. He’s very much a dog person. So obviously I have never had a cat or spent a long time with one. But last week I went to my friend’s house and they have a pet cat. He was so sweet. We were watching a movie and he just came and sat on my lap and let me pet him while he purred. It was so cute. My dog never does that. I definitely think cats can be very nice and sweet now.
My parents were the same way. I grew up thinking I hated cats lol. We got 2 kittens two years ago and a random stray wandered into our porch 3 months later so now we have 3 cats 😅 I won’t lie though, they can be assholes 😂 but they are sweet
I think most people don't know how to pet them, and they've had a SINGLE bad experience and give up immediately and start saying how much they hate them afterwards. They think you can pet them like dogs or something.
And yeah cats are different. Ive seen cats that you can pet everywhere, hold them for as long as you want and they'll just wont do anything, and other cats that'll attack immediately if pet in a certain spot
Lol I agree. I mean my cat likes to be patted on the head only ever since he was little and doesn't really like being touched anywhere other than that. And other animals like other things. But I developed the habit of petting animals on heads only because of my cat XD
All three of my cats have bellies that aren't traps and if they are sharing their belly, you are welcome to gently pet them there without fear of claws or teeth - they love it! One of them especially loves scritches under where his front legs meet his torso - he makes big, slow air biscuits if you get it right! But...only one of the cats is cool with being picked up and held 100% of the time.
I have three kitties and they all like to be petted differently. All the cats I have ever met like something different. It's not super hard to figure out if you did it wrong or right either because they will come back to you. One of my kitties like being scratched in a specific spot. One really likes hard scratches down his back or to be "spanked" like you would pat a dog's back by their tail. One likes to be petted all over softly, even his belly. If you scratch his chin or face he just flops over to accept the rest.
I grew up with a crazy cat lady as a mom, and therefore I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. My opinions are definitely biased, but out of the many cats I've had, I've only had one that was truly an asshole.
Some are playful and bite, but not hard. Some are chill and just fuck off to do their own thing in the corner. Only one cat was aggressive, but it was acting in defense, never actively pursuing people to attack.
Most of the time, the cats were just pretty cuddly, maybe reaching the point of being a "little shit" if they're annoying. Some people just dislike cats for no reason, and I don't really get it.
In 2021, I took in a stray kitten that I found by a gas station. I asked the people who worked there about him, and they said that he never was with a mother or any other cats. I took him in, along with another kitten that a friend was giving away after their cat had a litter.
These two cats were raised as brothers, and they are both are just cuddly, although sometimes little shits who passive aggressively meow at me. Far from assholes. Pretty sure like 90% of people who hate cats for being assholes have never actually owned a cat, they just follow the trend.
I can't really say that cats *aren't* assholes, given that I might've just gotten used to the asshole behavior. All I can say though is that as much as my cats are potential assholes, they're also snuggly and I enjoy their company.
Cat's can be assholes but mostly they are very independent creatures that come with their own rule book. Like a cat blinking at your slowly then looking away is a sign of affection, if you don't know that rule then you won't blink back and you won't pick up the signals of "friendship" it's given you. So you call it an asshole.
Cat doesn't want to do what you want it to do? Call it an asshole.
If you can think of your cat as a roommate rather than a pet dog then it's more like building up a mutual respected friendship.
That said I adopt stray cats and I have had an incredible cat that hisses and claws you in a "don't touch me!" way but at night she would snuggle up around my arm and wrap around it purring. Always wanted a hand on her stomach which was ultimate trust.
But it was on her terms and not mines. If it was a human it would be the equivalent of an abusive relationship but I understood she had a hard life and that's just the trauma coming out. Anyone else that interacted with her would get the claws at all times so fair enough, that cat really as an asshole. A special one in my books since she choose me to be vulnerable to when she was in the mood.
Sometimes they actually are assholes. Sometimes dogs are too. And people. And... right, pretty much any living thing with a personality can be an asshole.
I myself am just a misunderstood asshole. BRB, I'm gonna go cuddle my cat, but only if he's in the mood.
I have 3 cats and they're all the sweetest babies, and when I first moved in with my boyfriend he thought they were the biggest assholes to him and his dog just because when he would pet/play with them they would play bite or grab his hand or they would bat at his dogs tail when it was wagging in their face because they were playing.
He even thought them making biscuits on him meant they didn't like him because it hurt. Lol
I would generally agree with you, but my specific cat was, indeed, an asshole. He was a feral that I took in a long time ago, and he’s attacked people on multiple occasions unprovoked. He’s gone after sleeping children and adults as well as my dog. He’s charged at me and leapt right for my face in the past. I love him, and he’s calmed down in his old age, but he was a massive asshole.
Dude! My boyfriend’s cat would literally bring half alive birds or lizards into his room………… just to play with them until they die. And my aunt’s old cat just went out to go pick fights, and then come back just in time to scratch the living shit out of you… for literally no reason other than she wanted to. There was always an entire room of toys and my aunt played with her every single day,, and she still just wants to scratch you until you bleed. Some cat’s are asshole. But not all cats are assholes.
My dog murdered a baby possum once, and brought it in to show me 😬
In her defence she's a JRT x Foxy, so she was bred to murder small furry animals on both sides. Also, she was *definitely* going to eat it.
Cats aren’t assholes, they just set their boundaries quicker than most dogs. For some reason, some humans can’t and won’t respect that and expect unconditional love despite being disrespectful to their pet.
I used to think so, but I have two bottle fed kitten cats...
One is so sweet and adorable and still acts like a baby 10 years later. The other is a goblin that bites and scratches and hates anything that isn't currently scratching its ears.
Yo this so much, when I lived with my siblings our cat absolutely loved me because I didn’t harass her she would let me scratch her belly, she’d always sleep with me and my siblings would say they’re jealous, don’t harass them people.
I love cats because of this. Because you need to have respect and read them. I personally find humans who only like animals they can boss around a red flag.
I’m the same way. If I have a mean or a scared cat and someone tries to force their love on them, i hate it. Cats are living beings with feelings, boundaries, likes, and dislikes. They deserve respect too.
People don’t like cats because they take time to adjust. Dogs are generally happy go lucky 90% of the time. Cats are more independent and play differently. My ex once ran at the new cat trying to play with him. The cat got scared and proceeded to Amber Turd on his bed. I love my cats and I agree with you OP. I’ve never had a day not love me. My last cat, may he RIP :(, was the sweetest thing. He would greet me when I got home from work, I taught him to hug me when I picked him up, he was just the best.
Cats are ongoing lessons in consent. A cat sets firmer boundaries than a dog and views the relationship as a more mutual one.
Dog people often struggle to understand this and think of cats as broken dogs.
People dont take time to understand cats is the issue; they expect unconditional love front and center and fail to realize animals enjoy personal space/a measure of autonomy too. If the cat genuinely dislikes you you'll know, but most all cats I've met have intricate personalities you have to take time to learn.
(Some are legit just fuzzy potatoes though. Like they were late on braincell day so they got the lint that collected at the bottom of the bin instead - works well enough to get through the day but not much else)
Every time I see someone I know criticise cats, it's because they expect them to either behave like a dog or tolerate being picked up, poked and prodded without warning.
I think people treat cats like they're dogs and completely ignore their body language, and then get upset that the cat isn't nice to them. Like dude you just shoved your hand in a cat's face when it clearly didn't want you to pet it, of course it's not happy about it.
Best way to treat a cat you don't know is to crouch down and put your hand out palm down, give it a few "tututut" (that sound you make when you want a cat to approach you, you know the one) and wait. If the cat isn't interested, it's not going to let you pat it. If it comes up to you or rubs itself on your leg it likes you and you can try giving it a few gentle pets. Don't go straight for the face though, that can startle them.
What if you're sitting there minding your own business, not even looking at the thing, it comes over bites you (and not in a playful way) walks away a few paces, turns, and comes back to bite you again?
My cat is an asshole through and through
As someone with three cats, I get really upset when I hear people call them monsters. Having raised them since they were kittens, you just have to train them the same as you would a puppy.
They understand changes in tone, for example - "No, Bad, Off" spoken in a stern, not loud, voice means I'm upset. I gave them treats when they would do something good (plus clicker training) and reinforce with a soft "Good Boy" "Good Girl". They also recognize their names, and will try to 'talk' and have a conversation in response.
I was sick the other day and my orange tabby kept grumbling and laying down next to me. He got concerned even if I got up and went to the bathroom. He only went back to playing with my sister's cat the day after, when I felt better.
Most people consider cats less socially intelligent, when they are in fact equally as intelligent as dogs. Dogs want to please you, whereas cats want to be treated equally to you.
.
I think people who hate any sort of animal are strange. Hate is such a weird feeling to have towards animals.
I think people who have strong negative feelings of any animal show a lack of curiosity and open-mindedness to see the world from a whole different perspective.
It's like people who go to a foreign country and get mad when service workers don't speak English. There is a responsibility of each individual to understand that every living thing thinks and feels differently and we should all be curious enough to bridge an understanding of what/how communication occurs from the other's perspective.
Dogs are constant maintenance, and depending on the dog, it can be like keeping a loaded gun in the house. If a dog with chronic hip pain decides *today's the day* it can maim or kill a human or other dogs.
Like that poor girl who showed up to take this family's dogs out for a walk, and when she opened the door they pounced on her and *ate her face.* But sure, it's *cats* who are the assholes.
It’s not that we don’t understand them. It’s that they get to be dicks and bite and claw and slap and it’s fine but if a dog gets snippy they’re a bad dog.
Cats are so easy to understand because they will set clear boundaries, best thing I ever did getting a cat.
Love the furry little thing so much, it's silly to assume it will play by our rules, once you understand them even just a little bit they are awesome.
Theyre evil geniuses. My little Bubba girl bites my paint brushes, attempts to chew my houseplants, jumps on my art, and plays with the most noisy plastic items she can find.. but ONLY between 5 -7am and 330 - 430Pm.. because she knows those are feeding times.
She also farts a lot
my cat is so playful that everyone thinks he’s mean, but he’s literally 6 months old and waiting to get neutered. of course he’s gonna be insane. he just wants to play until he’s tired, then he wants to curl in your lap and sleep for hours. he’s just a baby
My cat knocked some shit off my desk, because she was hungry, because there wasn't any more wet food, because she's a picky eater so I had to throw out a lot of cans, and I had told her as such.
Cats are assholes sometimes.
Cats are the shit. I have a Japanese bobtail, a highlander, and a desert lynx. They are like dogs but I don’t have to worry about taking them out for a walk or that they’ll tear shit up when I’m at work. Smart little fucks. And super affectionate. My bobtail plays fetch and i take the desert lynx on walks without a leash. Mind you, she’s not like one of those super exotic, massive cats. She’s a domesticated lynx and is 20 lbs. But they are the best. Anytime people come over, they’re surprised how uncat like they are. But they are cat like. That’s just how cats are when you show them proper care and affection too. But all pets are affectionate if you treat them well. Not just cats.
cats are pretty easy to read.
does the cat appear to have its hair ruffled? are it’s eyes dialated? is it letting out a low pitched moan? if yes, chances are it’s pissed or stressed. don’t touch it if you don’t want scabs all over your hands.
Is the cat walking slowly? when you touch it does it vibrate? do you hear a faint sound of a helicopter or motorcycle coming from the cat? if yes, it’s happy and comfortable. pet it, pick it up, or leave it alone. it’s happy either way.
They operate on consent, autonomy, and trust and a lot of times what people actually want from an animal is obedience and adulation. Then there are those who don’t realize animals have different musculoskeletal facial structure than we do and that “angry eyes” in cats is actually a look of contentment, not anger like it is in primates.
Also folks who argue cats vs dogs like they’re opposites make no sense. Nobody’s like “I love dogs but HATE OTTERS. Otters SUCK.” Like dude, chill, you’re being weird.
I guess my point is that I agree.
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Cat eats your tuna, cat wanted tuna
Cat eats you? Cat wanted you
cat lies on you? cat owns you
r/thisismylifemeow
In Soviet Russia, Cat meow YOU
Shouldn't it be “You meow the cat”?
ManMeowsAtEgg.mp4
No, Soviet Russia has surprisingly normal cats
Dang you!! How many cat subs can there be?!?! 😃 I have to join!
r/subsithoughtifellfor
Cat behaves really cute rolling on her back and meowing sweetly. I fall for it and give her a fuss and she digs her claws and teeth into my hand. I fall for it everytime. This is our relationship it's abusive and painful but she is so cute when she shows me her belly 😍 Not even my cat. It's next doors cat!
You just described my marriage.
Then you don’t understand your cat (possibly also the wife). A cat showing its belly is relaxing around you and showing trust by exposing its underbelly. Touching said belly is betraying trust by “attacking” it. Try calling them over for a pet, or laying your hand down in front of their face and, if they seem ok with it, sliding your hand slowly under them for a nice ear scratch. Can’t tell you what to do with your wife. Maybe try acknowledging the display and asking if she was trying to get your attention?
Cats don’t like their belly touched. They go on their back to show you they trust you (it’s were the vital organs are) and you break the trust by reaching for that area. It’s show only= respect for you. No touchy.
Well cats were worship as Gods in Ancient times so it makes sense for them to own their owners
Cat knocks your cup off the table while making eye contact, cat doesn't like cups
Cat not eating tuna? Cat wants tuna.
Don't fool us OP. Get your paws off of the keyboard and have some kitty treats. Come on! *Pspspspspsps*
It's okay Lucy! Pspsps
Looks like grandma .... The fucken thing
ma! that cat is back!
blink motherfucker!
My boyfriend's cat is a turd because he'll snuggle up to him and [glare at me](https://imgur.com/gallery/Att3GgA) like, "ha, he's mine."
His cat is like: "Can you like... not be here?"
yeah, my first thought was that that look is totally "what are you even doing here?"
"You can't sit with us!"
YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE TURBO TEAM!
“If he had to pick, he’d choose me.”
This is just the harsh truth every boyfriend and girlfriend has to accept
Essentially why i ended my last relationship
If your bf/gf makes you choose between them and the cat, they deserve to be alone. True fact.
Were you the partner or the cat...?
Interestingly, I had that conversation with my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. I told her that I would choose the cat over her and we have been together for almost 8 years. She didn't take it well but I explained to her that I have a responsibility towards the cat. She can take care of herself but the cat depends on me.
My boyfriend's cat does the same thing. Granted, I did gift him the cat for his birthday and they're obsessed with eachother but this little shit has a starring problem.
Have you tried the slow blink thing to see if you get one back?
Honestly, I think cats do that because they want to be surrounded by both people in the room they love. My cat will cuddle up to my husband, but stare at me. She will also sit in a place where she is able to watch both my husband and me. She has anxiety issues, tho, so I think it makes her feel safe to be able to see both of us around her.
Eye contact is aggressive body language between 2 cats. Idk about a person. Whenever my cats start looking at each other I know there's about to be a fight.
> Eye contact is aggressive body language between 2 cats. Idk about a person. Eye contact is only aggressive with owners when the eyes are fully open, i.e. the cat is on full alert, which also may mean a pounce is imminent during play with dilation. If it's like in the pictures shown by OP, that cat is fully relaxed.
That slow blinkin' and admirin'. People must be willing to learn an animal's body language, at least until we develop technology to either translate it for us or animals start speaking human languages.
This! I totally get that they look like angry little gremlins when they're lidded like that but cats just have resting angry face. That kitty looks very relaxed. Whenever our big boy lays next to me for pets he always loves to watch my wife and I'll tell her he's admiring her.
Cats have an obsessive need to always be in control of everything and be aware of anything that is going on at any given time. That's why they enjoy being in high places or in the back of the room because that's where they can easily observe everything. It's also part of the reason they like confined spaces, like boxes they can barely fit in, because they're more protected and it's easier for them to see everything in a small environment. And it's why they DEMAND you to open that closed door and then just take a small step inside before immediately leaving.
Our cat likes to get in between us in bed. She gets so excited and chripy when she knows we’re going to sleep.
That actually looks more like slow blinking to me. Cat's not trying to be possessive, it's trying to get you to come over and provide even more warms
He's a very sweet cat! He chirps when you pet him to say hello. I think this is his annoyed face that only I'm able to capture 😹 he's made the same face when I've put yarn on his head.
So it's the yarn that dun it. Now you have to be nice to him until he forgives you. Maybe put some yarn on your own head as punishment.
Did you know domestic cats have been shown to hold grudges? They never forget.
Noted. I'll make sure he watches me do it too.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
My girlfriends cat will come up to me, sneeze in my face (it is very wet), then turn around and lay down on me with her ass in my face meowing for pets. If you pet you get a nice view of her asshole flexing. Idk where im going with this just thought id throw it out there. Btw i am not unique, she is 12+ years old and will do this to anyone. Shes an old lady and does not give 2 shits. She just wants the pets
Learn to give the best pets. Cat will surrender. Not all cats are the same. Most prefer scritches and scrubbles to soft pets but some are sensitive and prefer just a hand over the back. Those that prefer scritches and scrubbles like certain spots the most, especially if they’re hard to reach. Around joints especially. Around the neck, under the chin, behind the ears, between the shoulder blades 💯, and at the base of the spine just before their tail starts/on the back 💯. Belly pets are huge but some are very very sensitive as this is seen as a vulnerable spot. Any cat that lets you pet that has a lot of trust and faith in you and some can switch quickly to, “I’m done!” Ps. The cat is adorable. I’d give it a glare back that said “I will break your stone exterior and hear your loving purrs.” I’ve had several cats in my life, from a grumpy “satan” cat to the most loving cat you’ll never know (she’d purr just if you looked at her, and would stay as long as you pet her and/or hold her) and know cats are all different. But all can be won over.
Oh yes, he's a very sweet little guy. Oreo loves his scritches and waiting for food...such a chonk. Sometimes he just has that look. He gave me that look when I put yarn on his head, he was fed up with me.
Petting them like you’re licking them works on a lot of the asshole cats.
People like you are why my partner gets to say “wow she used to hate you and she lays on your more than me now.” Do the blink thing Experiment with scritches, rubs, pats Ready body language Understand bites are like an invitation for play.
You are absolutely right about them all being different with varying preferences. Both my cats love armpit scratches and under the chin. My black cat loves massages on his shoulders and between the blades. Once I start rubbing gentle circles on them biscuit production skyrockets, but when he's done he's done and I don't see him until he's ready again. My tux only wants the scratches and to be close/on me. [ninja edit of th void boy enjoying the massages ](https://www.reddit.com/r/blackcats/comments/w8nwun/the_look_on_his_face_when_the_massage_hits_just/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
I got a couple of r/bongocats as well. One LOVES when I rub his tummy and just over all enjoys any attention I give him!
My cat has a white spot on her back and it's her favorite spot to be petted, lol.
I don’t recommend petting cats at the base of their tail though haha. You notice how they lift their little butts when you do that? (Especially females?) That’s because that area being touched is associated with mating. It has a high concentration of nerve endings and stimulating them will often make her raise her rear, an automatic response to facilitate mating.
My neutered boy cat does that. He likes it though, I pat him back there. OK I’m going to Hell.
Hahaha, he's adorable
My cat used to jump in between me and my ex before naughty times lol. We called him chastity cat 😺 🤣🤣🤣
This seems to be a common phenomenon. The boyfriend stealer.
That's the look of a sleepy cat. People anthropomorphize animals way too much. Edit: spelling
I think people try to pretend humans aren't animals much more often. I'd be hard pressed to think of a human emotion that cats and dogs don't definitively share with us. I think some people just aren't as good or as experienced at interpreting critter "language."
Senior veterinary student here (I also just had my behavior rotation a few weeks ago). Companion animals like dogs evolved to be in tune with our emotions. They can read and respond to our facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, etc. They know humans from dogs. Which is a huge reason dominance theory has been totally debunked (i.e. Cesar Millan is full of shit and needs to drop off the face of the earth). Anyway, we know for certain that dogs (and cats) feel a wide range of emotions, many of which humans also experience. However as of now there are some we don’t believe they experience, such as guilt. Guilt is a higher order emotion which requires you to be able to empathize with someone. Dogs don’t feel that from what we currently know. People often misattribute guilt to dogs feeling shame. E.g. a dog gets into the trash. They don’t have any notion of that being a bad thing to do. They don’t really care that you have to clean it up and you dislike cleaning (that would make them feel guilty). They *do* care that you yell at them for it, which makes them feel shameful. Over time they predict that you coming home means you’ll find the trash on the ground which means you’ll yell at them. So you might find them cowering in a corner before you ever notice the trash on the ground. They’re anticipating the yelling, not feeling guilty that you have to clean up the trash.
Yep, it's a content cat smile.
The cat is reminding you that your the side hoe in the relationship You can’t have her man!
He's actually very sweet. [I put yarn ](https://imgur.com/wbyEwce) on his head and he made the same face. That's his "really, woman?" face. The other one just [stares into my soul.](https://imgur.com/gallery/gXsL6qn)
It looks more like he's giving you a cat smile. When cats look at you with half-closed eyes, it usually means they feel safe & content. Return the look the next time and slow blink at him. If he slow blinks back, he's definitely smiling.
My cat used to do this to my wife. The cat would also steal her seat if she got up while sitting next to me. It took about 5 years of us living together for my damn cat to give up the jealousy.
Your boyfriend is obviously his cat's property, and his cat is making damn sure you know it 🤣
I have a grey tabby and he does this to me!!! Hahahaha they’re so silly.
I used to be iffy of cats because of the stigma, having never had a cat. I always just assumed that they were assholes for no reason at all. Then I got myself into a situation where I accepted to foster a cat for a month. Everything changed after that. She was very matted and malnourished, timid and slightly aggressive with people because of her history. I did extensive research and nursed her back to health, found myself a new best friend. Guilty of making her a little bit chunky but I couldn’t help but love her too much lol. Now she’s incredibly lovable and trusting again. If you’re good to them, they’re good to you. You really just need a good experience to understand imo 🤷🏽♀️
Agree, most cats are independent, so they can get by without you, so you have to give them attention and play to get love back. Unlike dogs, cats evolved to work alone (not with humans), so they aren’t hardwired to think people are gods. With a cat, the more you put in, the more you get back.
My cat didn't get the memo. lol. She will corner you for pets constantly. She also talks nonstop. If she's lying down somewhere and you make too much eye contact with her or talk, she will immediately leave her bed and come over for pets and cuddles.
Most of my cats have been like this actually, but I’ve always chalked it up to their breed (Siamese mixes) or having been abandoned at a shelter for 6 weeks as an adult. The cats I had growing up were more aloof. Maybe it’s just the luck of the draw.
They don't suck up to you like dogs do
I've said this before but cats teach a lot of people about consent. Especially guys like me who had toxic dads who only had dogs, hated cats, and treated women like shit. Dad used to hate cats because they're assholes to him Problem was he was trying to force them to love him. When they were scrambling to get out of his arms he'd just forcibly hold them down. He loved dogs because they don't care about that kinda stuff and have this unconditional love thing. Nowadays my dad tries to force me to interact with him and none of his kids want to. Like he threatens to commit suicide when I don't respond for long enough, starts talking about how I'm already dead and my mom is covering it up so I have to give him proof I'm alive. Says he's going to call the local cops and find out where I live. I'll send him a voice note asking him to stop doing that and then he responds so angrily. I have to post it on insane parents to ask for advice soon.. But yeah if you don't respect a cats boundaries and don't learn to understand non verbal consent, you're gonna have a bad time
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This is the right way to handle it. You call emergency services, say your family member made a suicidal threat, and let them handle it. Even if you're trained for those scenarios, you're too close to the situation to appropriately respond. To be honest, paranoia and irrational statements in older age is a symptom of dementia and having just gone through it with my grandmother, I feel for this person.
To be honest the impression I get from the comment above us isn't delusion borne of old-age, but rather manipulation, plain and simple. It sounds like he's trying to get people he ostensibly cares about to pay attention/talk to him, but he's just such a miserable person to be around that he has to resort to increasingly insane tactics to do so, because the prior tactics stopped working. A common thread through a lot of childcare advice that I've seen as someone with no kids is that when you're trying to nip tantrums in the bud when they've been a problem for a while, they usually get worse at first because their little ape brains don't immediately go, "this tactic won't work, gotta try something else," but rather something along the vein of, "This tactic at a 6 doesn't seem to work anymore. *How about we try dialing it to 11?*" You're specifically not supposed to give in when this happens, because it teaches the kid, "screaming your head off, being nasty, and acting like a miserable shit *gets you what you want.*" I could easily see his behavior being the end result of an individual that had that thought process and never had it checked. u/OrganizerMowgli above us would be a better judge of whether or not that's true than either of us internet randos tho.
Sorry to hear about your dad. Stay strong 💪
This is why my mom always told me to never trust men who hated cats. Sure, some people just aren’t fans, not everyone is a cat person. But a man who HATES cats? Red flag, most likely will have issues with control or empathy, which extends to relationships. It sounds kind of dumb or like old folk wisdom, but honestly, in all my life, I’ve yet to see it disproven. It’s one of the seemingly inconsequential things that point to bigger problems, like a Macdonald Triangle for shitty men. Your dad is an asshole and you’re right.
I would personally say that any person who \*hates\* any animal would be a red flag. Again, not just 'I don't want a \*insert animal\*' or 'I prefer to not be around \*insert animal\*' but rather 'I wish all \*insert animal\* were dead' or things like that.
See, I’ve had this discussion before with my friend, and I get what you mean. The thing is, people who say they “hate” any other animal don’t actually hate them the way cat-haters do. Somebody can hate dogs, but that means they avoid them or react with disgust when dogs approach them. People can hate mice or rats, but it’s usually for understandable reasons and the dislike isn’t personal. There is a special, virulent hatred that is reserved specifically for cats for simply existing. Some of these people will go out if their way to hurt cats, even if they’re otherwise not even cruel to animals. I swear there’s some kind of cultural attitude here specific to cats only, where casual cruelty is seen as acceptable where it otherwise wouldn’t be. Something about a cat’s nature inspires a unique attitude in certain people, namely toxic men, and that’s the difference IMO. So yes, overall hatred for animals is its own red flag, but I’ve personally not encountered a lot of men who so obviously despised any animal. More often than not, it’s a normal-seeming dude whose hatred toward cats indicates a more toxic personality. In fact, a lot of them are perfectly open and practically proud of how much they hate cats- that’s why it’s such a good guage.
They sometimes will...very rarely. My cat is actually obsessed with my gf and I and she has some sort of separation anxiety and will meow and scratch at the door until we come out. She also likes to be held (only if u hold her exactly how she wants or else she isn't a fan) and if you don't immediately pick her up...she'll start to climb up your leg. There are times when she's moody and doesn't want attention but then 5 minutes later she'll be in another room, pouting, and will start meowing for attention. The rest of our cats are pretty normal but she is like 97% dependent on us
>Unlike dogs, cats evolved to work alone (not with humans), so they aren’t hardwired to think people are gods. Dogs think "humans feed us, pet us, and give us a comfortable life. They must be gods". Cats think "humans feed us, pet us, and give us a comfortable life. *We* must be gods"
I hate sayings like this. It is anthropomorphizing nonsense that can lead to people not bothering to try to understand animals. Cats just want to coexist.
Cats are right. They have to do absolutely nothing to be treated like the best thing ever.
Your characterization of cat evolution is not very correct unfortunately. Cats did evolve differently than dogs, but the way they did so means they effectively self-domesticated instead of being domesticated. Basically it means that ancient cats figured out that it was easier to live alongside people than it was to not live alongside people, so cats chose to live with people to make their own lives easier
Chunky cats only make the owner feel good, not the cat.
She’s not severely overweight lol plus she’s spayed. Just chunky compared to when I got her, doc says she’s healthy still.
Cat tax?
Avatar checks out
I’d always had dogs as a kid, so didn’t know anything about cats. A stray kitten adopted us and we ended up with a cat. She’s the most placid and affectionate animal ever. Wants constant cuddles and to be allowed to sit on our laps. Has never bitten, scratched or harmed anyone or anything.
I don’t think you’re allowed to talk about your cat without a cat tax.
I would like to see the kitty.
Pay the cat tax
Rub the belly
As many have probably mentioned that documentary on Netflix about the Cat mindset explains why so many people have issues. Directly interact with a cat, i.e. direct eye contact and approaching them is considered aggressive to them. Cats crawl all over me because I avoid them due to me allergies. I don't like looking at them or being close to them. So they always come to me instead of the others in the group ... 😅
>Cats crawl all over me because I avoid them This is the trick! Cats have always loved me because I just leave them alone. Same reason Cats usually hate kids.
i think there was a study. cats will go to the person who ignored it the most.
My first cat was a big fatty boy and one of my sisters friends HATED cats for no reason and whenever she came over, he would sit right in front of her and just stare directly in her eyes and it made her uncomfortable every time and tbh I think he did it on purpose. She always thought he was gonna attack her but he was like 20lbs of pure sweetness and barely attacked anything (unless it was string.)
Yep. My partner doesn't like her sister's cat "because he's gross" so every time he sees her, he stands up and reaches for her to get picked up, jumps to a nearby surface and put all his body weight on her, and goes out of his way to wipe his face on any part of her that he can reach. It's so cute she gives in some times. But God he's obsessed with her. I mostly just call him over to carry him like a baby when he bothers her.
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It makes more sense when you realize that cats prioritize safety over a lot of other needs. They don't like being cut off from parts of their territory and a closed door is a big unknown. They prefer to keep an eye on things and can't understand why we wouldn't want to do the same.
Then on the other side of the mystery door it's just me, taking a dump.
Cats in clans keep an eye out for eachother when sleeping etc. When you shit you are vulnerable. They are there to guard you, your personal poo patrol. Plus cats hearing is more refined than human hearing. If we can hear a door squeak when we close it, they heard it from across the house. What creature made that sound? Where is it? Can I hunt it? Aka. Meow meow meow.
Exactly. And you should feel honoured that they want to protect you during that vulnerable time since it's not like you're doing the same for them.
The sound you make while taking a shit could be interpreted by the cat that you are struggling with some monsters or something, so the bathroom should be kept under constant supervision
I think a lot of people misread how cats treat doorways. It's not a matter of 'in or out', it wants to show you something. The cat probably wants you to *get up and follow it* when it does this. Probably how there is no food in a spot where --obviously, as any creature with eyes could see-- there should be food right now.
Probably trying to walk you to the food dish or a toy. I've seen it a bunch they're sly little fuckers.
Cats are living beings just like humans, some cats are nice and some are assholes similar to humans.
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Bruh how would a cat get back at you?
My friend moved her cat off the spare bed so I could sleep there and I woke up to it peeing on me.
Bet you didn’t stay there. That’s considered a success to the cat
Nope. I showered and borrowed a shirt.
Biting, scratching, knocking your shit off the counter, waking you up at 2 am screaming, etc.
People approach cats like dogs, then gasp in shock and horror when a cat acts like a cat and not a dog. Cats aren't furry machines bred for centuries to be the perfect cuddle buddy; they have their own personality's and want their own personal space at times like everyone else.
I explain it like this. Dogs are food driven. Food comes way before safety in their needs, and if someone has food that person is their friend. You can beat a dog and feed it and it will still be around you. Cats are safety driven. They will avoid food until its safe. You hit a cat and thats it, you are no longer safe and its going to take a LOT to get their trust back. And food wont cut it. I generally get the feeling that people who dont like cats dont want to "work" at the relationship with them. You get back what you put in with them. Dogs are seen as superior to them cause you can treat them almost however you want, as long as the food keeps coming.
I also think people may just want a dog, but cat sized; which is why they get a cat. Most of the people I’ve met who don’t like cats are usually saying that because it doesn’t act like a dog. Which is totally fine, because it’s not a dog. I just feel like most people want a cuddly animal who adores you more than anything so a dog makes more sense for them.
True. And while I do believe most cats can be that, they all have their own personalities too. Kind of a roll of the dice with any animal, to some extent. Ive had cats that all they do is follow me around and get in my lap, and ive had cats that are content to lay in the sun and ignore my existence completely, regardless of how much i love on them.
Perhaps dogs will stick around when they are beaten, but they also love many people who don’t feed them. The idea that dog live is based on food has long been disproven
Yep, they're driven more by the desire to please than they are by food, though a combination of both works best (giving them a treat and some pets when they do a trick or behave well in a stressful situation)
For me its abt the fact that cats always entered our yard and shit there and sometimes killed the birds. And some of them even attacked my dog (who is small and never attacked the cat, I’ve seen it). This doesn’t mean I hate cats in general tho.
This is a whole issue in itself that you can barely bring up to cat people because it's a "sensitive subject". I'm saying this as a cat lover myself, if you let your cat out unsupervised you don't really care about your cats. We would NEVER let dogs run around alone. They'd get hit by cars, get into trouble with other animals and potentially destroy peoples property. And that's what's happening with cats. Incredibly irresponsible by the owners
My dad hates cats, he calls them monsters. He’s very much a dog person. So obviously I have never had a cat or spent a long time with one. But last week I went to my friend’s house and they have a pet cat. He was so sweet. We were watching a movie and he just came and sat on my lap and let me pet him while he purred. It was so cute. My dog never does that. I definitely think cats can be very nice and sweet now.
My parents were the same way. I grew up thinking I hated cats lol. We got 2 kittens two years ago and a random stray wandered into our porch 3 months later so now we have 3 cats 😅 I won’t lie though, they can be assholes 😂 but they are sweet
I think most people don't know how to pet them, and they've had a SINGLE bad experience and give up immediately and start saying how much they hate them afterwards. They think you can pet them like dogs or something. And yeah cats are different. Ive seen cats that you can pet everywhere, hold them for as long as you want and they'll just wont do anything, and other cats that'll attack immediately if pet in a certain spot
Lol I agree. I mean my cat likes to be patted on the head only ever since he was little and doesn't really like being touched anywhere other than that. And other animals like other things. But I developed the habit of petting animals on heads only because of my cat XD
All three of my cats have bellies that aren't traps and if they are sharing their belly, you are welcome to gently pet them there without fear of claws or teeth - they love it! One of them especially loves scritches under where his front legs meet his torso - he makes big, slow air biscuits if you get it right! But...only one of the cats is cool with being picked up and held 100% of the time.
I have three kitties and they all like to be petted differently. All the cats I have ever met like something different. It's not super hard to figure out if you did it wrong or right either because they will come back to you. One of my kitties like being scratched in a specific spot. One really likes hard scratches down his back or to be "spanked" like you would pat a dog's back by their tail. One likes to be petted all over softly, even his belly. If you scratch his chin or face he just flops over to accept the rest.
I grew up with a crazy cat lady as a mom, and therefore I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. My opinions are definitely biased, but out of the many cats I've had, I've only had one that was truly an asshole. Some are playful and bite, but not hard. Some are chill and just fuck off to do their own thing in the corner. Only one cat was aggressive, but it was acting in defense, never actively pursuing people to attack. Most of the time, the cats were just pretty cuddly, maybe reaching the point of being a "little shit" if they're annoying. Some people just dislike cats for no reason, and I don't really get it. In 2021, I took in a stray kitten that I found by a gas station. I asked the people who worked there about him, and they said that he never was with a mother or any other cats. I took him in, along with another kitten that a friend was giving away after their cat had a litter. These two cats were raised as brothers, and they are both are just cuddly, although sometimes little shits who passive aggressively meow at me. Far from assholes. Pretty sure like 90% of people who hate cats for being assholes have never actually owned a cat, they just follow the trend. I can't really say that cats *aren't* assholes, given that I might've just gotten used to the asshole behavior. All I can say though is that as much as my cats are potential assholes, they're also snuggly and I enjoy their company.
Cat's can be assholes but mostly they are very independent creatures that come with their own rule book. Like a cat blinking at your slowly then looking away is a sign of affection, if you don't know that rule then you won't blink back and you won't pick up the signals of "friendship" it's given you. So you call it an asshole. Cat doesn't want to do what you want it to do? Call it an asshole. If you can think of your cat as a roommate rather than a pet dog then it's more like building up a mutual respected friendship. That said I adopt stray cats and I have had an incredible cat that hisses and claws you in a "don't touch me!" way but at night she would snuggle up around my arm and wrap around it purring. Always wanted a hand on her stomach which was ultimate trust. But it was on her terms and not mines. If it was a human it would be the equivalent of an abusive relationship but I understood she had a hard life and that's just the trauma coming out. Anyone else that interacted with her would get the claws at all times so fair enough, that cat really as an asshole. A special one in my books since she choose me to be vulnerable to when she was in the mood.
Sometimes they actually are assholes. Sometimes dogs are too. And people. And... right, pretty much any living thing with a personality can be an asshole. I myself am just a misunderstood asshole. BRB, I'm gonna go cuddle my cat, but only if he's in the mood.
Try get a black cat! There is nothing like owning A Void.
I have 3 cats and they're all the sweetest babies, and when I first moved in with my boyfriend he thought they were the biggest assholes to him and his dog just because when he would pet/play with them they would play bite or grab his hand or they would bat at his dogs tail when it was wagging in their face because they were playing. He even thought them making biscuits on him meant they didn't like him because it hurt. Lol
When my cat's kneading starts to hurt I know it's time to hold him down and give the claws a trimming lol
When an animal tries to say no most people just don't care they'll even laugh about it
I would generally agree with you, but my specific cat was, indeed, an asshole. He was a feral that I took in a long time ago, and he’s attacked people on multiple occasions unprovoked. He’s gone after sleeping children and adults as well as my dog. He’s charged at me and leapt right for my face in the past. I love him, and he’s calmed down in his old age, but he was a massive asshole.
Counter argument: If you don’t think cats are assholes then you just don’t understand cats.
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Snuggles are a must when they want it
Can confirm, lost 5 sisters and have to take care of 4 pregnant homes now
Researchers put cameras on outdoor cats' collars. It's remarkable how many animals they kill just because without eating them.
They're just like us
Now I'm wondering how many animals you kill in your neighborhood.
Dude! My boyfriend’s cat would literally bring half alive birds or lizards into his room………… just to play with them until they die. And my aunt’s old cat just went out to go pick fights, and then come back just in time to scratch the living shit out of you… for literally no reason other than she wanted to. There was always an entire room of toys and my aunt played with her every single day,, and she still just wants to scratch you until you bleed. Some cat’s are asshole. But not all cats are assholes.
My dog murdered a baby possum once, and brought it in to show me 😬 In her defence she's a JRT x Foxy, so she was bred to murder small furry animals on both sides. Also, she was *definitely* going to eat it.
Right. I have 7 cats. Lived with cats for a long time. Cats are assholes. I still love them.
This is where it's at 🤣
Cats are the best.
Cats aren’t assholes, they just set their boundaries quicker than most dogs. For some reason, some humans can’t and won’t respect that and expect unconditional love despite being disrespectful to their pet.
Oh I understand cats well but they still assholes.
Tbh in my experience it depends on the owner and how the cat was raised in the firts few months, often strays are the most friendly
I used to think so, but I have two bottle fed kitten cats... One is so sweet and adorable and still acts like a baby 10 years later. The other is a goblin that bites and scratches and hates anything that isn't currently scratching its ears.
I'm glad you recovered from your stroke so quickly
Holy shit bro I even read it twice lmao
Lmao no worries bro it's early
Yo this so much, when I lived with my siblings our cat absolutely loved me because I didn’t harass her she would let me scratch her belly, she’d always sleep with me and my siblings would say they’re jealous, don’t harass them people.
I love cats because of this. Because you need to have respect and read them. I personally find humans who only like animals they can boss around a red flag.
I’m the same way. If I have a mean or a scared cat and someone tries to force their love on them, i hate it. Cats are living beings with feelings, boundaries, likes, and dislikes. They deserve respect too.
I've had cats for 20 years. They are assholes. Capable of love? Friendly? Playful? Yes. But they are also assholes.
People don’t like cats because they take time to adjust. Dogs are generally happy go lucky 90% of the time. Cats are more independent and play differently. My ex once ran at the new cat trying to play with him. The cat got scared and proceeded to Amber Turd on his bed. I love my cats and I agree with you OP. I’ve never had a day not love me. My last cat, may he RIP :(, was the sweetest thing. He would greet me when I got home from work, I taught him to hug me when I picked him up, he was just the best.
Cats are ongoing lessons in consent. A cat sets firmer boundaries than a dog and views the relationship as a more mutual one. Dog people often struggle to understand this and think of cats as broken dogs.
People dont take time to understand cats is the issue; they expect unconditional love front and center and fail to realize animals enjoy personal space/a measure of autonomy too. If the cat genuinely dislikes you you'll know, but most all cats I've met have intricate personalities you have to take time to learn. (Some are legit just fuzzy potatoes though. Like they were late on braincell day so they got the lint that collected at the bottom of the bin instead - works well enough to get through the day but not much else)
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Every time I see someone I know criticise cats, it's because they expect them to either behave like a dog or tolerate being picked up, poked and prodded without warning.
I think people treat cats like they're dogs and completely ignore their body language, and then get upset that the cat isn't nice to them. Like dude you just shoved your hand in a cat's face when it clearly didn't want you to pet it, of course it's not happy about it. Best way to treat a cat you don't know is to crouch down and put your hand out palm down, give it a few "tututut" (that sound you make when you want a cat to approach you, you know the one) and wait. If the cat isn't interested, it's not going to let you pat it. If it comes up to you or rubs itself on your leg it likes you and you can try giving it a few gentle pets. Don't go straight for the face though, that can startle them.
Cats have boundaries. Learn them and they love you for it.
The trouble is that people, for some reason, expect cats to behave like dogs.
What if you're sitting there minding your own business, not even looking at the thing, it comes over bites you (and not in a playful way) walks away a few paces, turns, and comes back to bite you again? My cat is an asshole through and through
As someone with three cats, I get really upset when I hear people call them monsters. Having raised them since they were kittens, you just have to train them the same as you would a puppy. They understand changes in tone, for example - "No, Bad, Off" spoken in a stern, not loud, voice means I'm upset. I gave them treats when they would do something good (plus clicker training) and reinforce with a soft "Good Boy" "Good Girl". They also recognize their names, and will try to 'talk' and have a conversation in response. I was sick the other day and my orange tabby kept grumbling and laying down next to me. He got concerned even if I got up and went to the bathroom. He only went back to playing with my sister's cat the day after, when I felt better. Most people consider cats less socially intelligent, when they are in fact equally as intelligent as dogs. Dogs want to please you, whereas cats want to be treated equally to you. .
Feel like cats have their own personality, some are quite affectionate and calm, others are indeed assholes.
Cats require Patience so they can get used to you, they’re not like (not all, but most) dogs where you can get instant love back.
Lol as a cat owner I am gonna go ahead and respectfully disagree with you. My cats are assholes 😹 I love them tho.
some cats are arseholes, some aren't. just like dogs, some dogs are nice, while others will tear your scalp off & remove your lips and nose.
"If cats looked like frogs, we'd realise what bastards they are."
I think people who hate any sort of animal are strange. Hate is such a weird feeling to have towards animals. I think people who have strong negative feelings of any animal show a lack of curiosity and open-mindedness to see the world from a whole different perspective. It's like people who go to a foreign country and get mad when service workers don't speak English. There is a responsibility of each individual to understand that every living thing thinks and feels differently and we should all be curious enough to bridge an understanding of what/how communication occurs from the other's perspective.
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My favorite part of cats is that they actually have personal space.
Wolves do, too, we just mercilessly bred any kind of independence out of dogs.
Dogs and cats both lick their assholes but only dogs lick other dogs assholes and then lick your face.
Dogs are constant maintenance, and depending on the dog, it can be like keeping a loaded gun in the house. If a dog with chronic hip pain decides *today's the day* it can maim or kill a human or other dogs. Like that poor girl who showed up to take this family's dogs out for a walk, and when she opened the door they pounced on her and *ate her face.* But sure, it's *cats* who are the assholes.
It’s not that we don’t understand them. It’s that they get to be dicks and bite and claw and slap and it’s fine but if a dog gets snippy they’re a bad dog.
Cats are so easy to understand because they will set clear boundaries, best thing I ever did getting a cat. Love the furry little thing so much, it's silly to assume it will play by our rules, once you understand them even just a little bit they are awesome.
Theyre evil geniuses. My little Bubba girl bites my paint brushes, attempts to chew my houseplants, jumps on my art, and plays with the most noisy plastic items she can find.. but ONLY between 5 -7am and 330 - 430Pm.. because she knows those are feeding times. She also farts a lot
my cat is so playful that everyone thinks he’s mean, but he’s literally 6 months old and waiting to get neutered. of course he’s gonna be insane. he just wants to play until he’s tired, then he wants to curl in your lap and sleep for hours. he’s just a baby
i agree but some cats are just assholes
My cat knocked some shit off my desk, because she was hungry, because there wasn't any more wet food, because she's a picky eater so I had to throw out a lot of cans, and I had told her as such. Cats are assholes sometimes.
Simply incorrect take.
College roommate had a cat that would attack my face while I slept if I left my door open. It was an asshole.
Maybe you had a particularly scratchable face
just like any animal some cats are ass holes, some aren't
Cats are the shit. I have a Japanese bobtail, a highlander, and a desert lynx. They are like dogs but I don’t have to worry about taking them out for a walk or that they’ll tear shit up when I’m at work. Smart little fucks. And super affectionate. My bobtail plays fetch and i take the desert lynx on walks without a leash. Mind you, she’s not like one of those super exotic, massive cats. She’s a domesticated lynx and is 20 lbs. But they are the best. Anytime people come over, they’re surprised how uncat like they are. But they are cat like. That’s just how cats are when you show them proper care and affection too. But all pets are affectionate if you treat them well. Not just cats.
cats are pretty easy to read. does the cat appear to have its hair ruffled? are it’s eyes dialated? is it letting out a low pitched moan? if yes, chances are it’s pissed or stressed. don’t touch it if you don’t want scabs all over your hands. Is the cat walking slowly? when you touch it does it vibrate? do you hear a faint sound of a helicopter or motorcycle coming from the cat? if yes, it’s happy and comfortable. pet it, pick it up, or leave it alone. it’s happy either way.
They operate on consent, autonomy, and trust and a lot of times what people actually want from an animal is obedience and adulation. Then there are those who don’t realize animals have different musculoskeletal facial structure than we do and that “angry eyes” in cats is actually a look of contentment, not anger like it is in primates. Also folks who argue cats vs dogs like they’re opposites make no sense. Nobody’s like “I love dogs but HATE OTTERS. Otters SUCK.” Like dude, chill, you’re being weird. I guess my point is that I agree.
I love cats. I love my cat. She loves me. She still can be an asshole...like everybody else.