Dogs are much more loved by society than cats

[Avocad1sh]

I was just watching For Dogs Sake with Pete Wicks and Dogs Trust and realised there isn’t anything like this for cats. This is the second season and there’s also been For the Love of Dogs, plus that channel 4 programme The Doghouse and probably loads more that I haven’t seen.

I never see anything like this for cats… I think Jo Brand did one years ago but other than that, where are all of the heartwarming shows about cats needing homes?

I also notice that when I tell people I have 2 cats, a lot of them say “ugh I hate cats” yet when I say I have a dog no one ever tells me they hate dogs. I feel like there’s this almost over the top love of dogs sometimes where people treat them like babies, whereas cats seem to be hated on a lot or seen as the inferior pet. (In general of course! I know there’s many many cat lovers out there)

Honestly I consider dogs and cats much of a muchness - they both have strengths and faults; they both behave according to personality & age as much as breed characteristics. Some are lovely souls. Some are less so. My Labrador and I got chased half a street by a very nasty cat once - cats can be just as aggressive as dogs - but if my dog defended us we’d be the ones in trouble, go figure.

I do think as a population cat owners tend to be less invested and less responsible than dog owners, however: more likely to let thier pet loose (no other type of pet owner does this except for forest commoners which is rather different), they may not even know where their pet is, go for days without seeing it, they are less caring about the negative impact of their pet on nature or on others (in fact they are usually in denial or stuck on what aboutery). There are plenty of bad or lazy dog owners too, but cat owners are much less likely to contain their pet safely, dedicate daily time to stimulate/play/training their cat (as is recommended), clean up if their cat damages there neighbours property etc.

Also cat feces carries toxoplasmosis which is genuinely dangerous to children and pregnant women - causing blindness & miscarriages - the NHS even advises pregnant women not to risk emptying cat trays in order to avoid it. So having a cat poo in a playground or garden or vegetable patch and infect the soil for the next 2 years minimum (the parasite’s lifespan) is far more dangerous than any parasites dogs carry (in the UK). This is my main frustration with cats - or maybe it’s more cat owners - they don’t just cause inconvenience, they can cause real harm, and I’m yet to meet a cat owner who respects this and manages their cat accordingly.

As someone who doesn't have pets, I've been told by friends and family who have cats that you don't own them, they own you. I'm inclined to believe them from my experience of living in a cul-de-sac where the cats rule the roost.😊 The look of contempt from the over indulged cats on our street when we (the mortgage paying residents) drive or walk into our street. Even the residents who own dogs know the real pecking order. ☺️

I agree OP. And I really don’t get it.
Proud cat lover and owner here. Currently own one very good, loving, obedient boy who has never so much has scratched any of us in his decade of life.
And this will probably wind up 99% of the population, but honestly speaking, I cannot abide dogs. Smelly, drooling, needy, shitting machines who ruin furniture, chew and generally are annoying as hell.
And now cue the “omg I don’t trust people who don’t like dogs…..” like I give a fuck!

Well @Avocad1sh I don’t hate cats but I dislike them and so, leaving aside the word “hate”…
I’d be interested to know (in a genuine way, not sarcastic) if the people who are saying they hate cats because they kill wildlife also hate humans because we do the same? The destruction of nature is largely down to humans. Yes I I dislike the human race and hope it disappears before it takes down many more species

Do you eat fish? Even though there’s an over-fishing problem which is wiping out entire species of fish(amongst other things)? No I do not - leave fish in the sea. But the way you put your question is odd. I wouldn’t eat fish whatever the method of catching it

Do you go and watch or participate in fireworks even though it’s known to be terrifying and detrimental to wildlife? No

Do you hate humans for building roads through the animals natural habitats, causing hedgehogs, deer, badgers, squirrels etc to be killed by cars every day? yes of course. I despair about all this

I'm not sure that overall dogs are more loved by society. We've always lived with both dogs and cats but from what I see, dogs are hated far more vehemently than cats are.
If you look at dog hate threads on here for example, they are vicious and nasty. It's not only the dogs that are denigrated but dog owners in general are ripped to shreds, ridiculed, insulted and accused of being sociopathic.
Cat hate is different. People will openly say they dislike cats on the grounds of them killing birds or pooing in the garden, but they stop short of deriding the owners or casting aspersions about their inability to form or maintain human relationships.
So while it may be true that dogs are loved more widely, in my experience as a lifelong owner of both, they are also loathed far more intensely than cats are.

Us cat lovers are secure in our love for cats and don’t need TV programmes about them.

Agree 🥰
and goes without saying our cats wouldn’t waste their precious time performing for cameras

I’ve had both. Cats are boring. Dogs are a lot of fun and joyous.

Dogs are much more loved by society than cats
64% of the vote agrees with this.

Just shows how warped UK society has become to be this wrong. 😺

I posted before I volunteer at a well known cat rescue. Part of the training we have is that cats are the most misunderstood of animals, people often don’t understand or can misinterpret their behaviour. Probably why there are haters.

Dogs are generally pathetically happy to be owned, and are far more needy than cats and need to be trained so they know their place.

I’m not a dog person, wouldn’t have one of my own, I have always had cats, but god I love DS’s working Labrador as I love my own children 😂 he’s the best walking buddy in the world, and I get to give him back, don’t have to walk him if I don’t want or have to find someone to look after him in the holidays or shower him when he’s covered in mud, or stop him digging holes in the garden.

Im generally happier with a furry snuggle monster on my lap or chest purring. The live frogs brought in are a minor inconvenience.

The other thing about cats is that they really can see and sense the otherworld.

Dogs look after you in this place but cats look after you in the spiritual world.

They are as valuable as each other for this reason.

We should be grateful to share our lives with each of them.

Cats don't care. They find their people.

I like dogs and cats, I’ve had both over the years. I think I’m probably a bit more of a dog person because I find dogs more interactive and you can take them out on adventures with you in a way you can’t with cats. I also find cats a little harder to handle, in the sense of getting them into a carrier to the vet or similar. My current cat really scratched up my arm trying to get her into the carrier. Dogs seem to understand humans more in a different way to cats. However I have found cats very loving and interactive in their own way. I just find dogs easier.

Yeah, and scooping up dog shit that some inconsiderate and lazy dog owner has left on your front garden or trying to avoid it while walking on the pavement is a barrel of laughs…..

Which one are you talking about here? Cos where I live both cats and dogs are guilty of this…..

This 200%

Look the people who claim dogs are innocent and cats are villains when it comes to shitting and destroying wildlife are deluded. Dogs would do the exact same and worse if they were allowed to roam free. It’s not some personality flaw of the cat, it’s their natural behaviour. So let’s take that out of the equation cos it’s unfair to the animal and 100% about the owners sense of responsibility.
I’m a cat person and not a huge fan of dogs. That neediness and wearing your heart on your doggy sleeve is not appealing to me. Nor is jumping up, salivating whenever you eat, smelliness, anal glands and general messiness and chaos that comes from having a dog. Cats are lower maintenance, incredibly beautiful, can be sweet and loving without being over the top about it and are a calming influence.
Pretty sure a cat has never killed or severely maimed anyone either.

@Emmz1510
Well you'd be wrong about that, because several people in the UK have died in recent years from cat scratches becoming infected. Which has also been the case in some of the deaths attributed to dogs. Infection sets in. I realise as a dog hater you'll say that's different though.
You've perfectly illustrated the point that I made earlier about cat haters compared to dog haters, with your insults about dogs.
I have both dogs and cats, the cats are far more work, smellier and more destructive around the house. Not all dogs are "needy", or jump up, salivate or smell. And this is what I mean when I say that dogs are actually more hated. And I say this as an avowed cat person who also happens to live with dogs.

Have you had a really bad experience with a cat? just interested. Have you ever met/known a gorgeous lapcat that jumps on your knee purring and has a nap for 2 hours? Sometimes people have never known a really lovely cat & that can make such a huge difference in their perception of them.

I foster cats and kittens (yes, I know, I'm hugely biased 🤭) but I'd say from meeting 60 cats and kittens over the last 2.5 years it's been a real eye opener on how amazing cats are (not all). Kittens that have been living on the streets covered in fleas or with ringworm and they become the friendliest most loving creatures usually within a day of being in my house. Truly heart-warming. I'm sure dogs are similar. I love dogs too but realised what a huge tie and responsibility they can be so we went down the cat route instead. Otherwise I would have adopted a rescue greyhound. Some of my friends and neighbours got puppies from breeders on a whim and they don't exercise their dogs enough, haven't trained them properly and don't provide any/much enrichment. Considering dogs are pack animals this seems a shame to me. Owning/fostering cats has been so good for my well-being and mental health I'd say. But I can see the benefits of walking a dog twice a day too and chatting to people and getting fresh air/exercise. When I tell people I foster kittens some people will use say 'urgh I hate cats' which I find quite rude as I volunteer and pour my heart and soul (& most of my free time) into caring for these sick, abandoned animals. If someone said to me 'I'm a pediatric nurse/childminder /nanny/teacher' I wouldn't respond with 'god I bloody hate babies/children' so yes I'm sick of cat-bashing too. I've put a huge amount of work into my own cats too. one is a blind, semi feral Cyprus street cat and now he's velcroed to my knee and so so friendly. I've enclosed our back garden so he can still go outside safely and I've built platforms and ramps outside for them both to sunbathe on. I think some dog owners are lazy. one quick walk then ignore the dog all day. My cats are loved and cherished but they aren't my babies, I don't dress them up or take them to cafés with me or thrust them in people's faces lol.

@DangerousAlchemy
You say you're sick of cat bashing but then you have a sly little dig at "friends and neighbours who got puppies from breeders on a whim". Very nice.

I don't think that's a sly dig; she's very open about it!
And I totally agree, too many people just get a dog because they think a puppy would be cute/fun, they buy one because they CBA with the work of a rescue, and then they proceed not to bother training or socialising it or learning anything about taking care of it.
My neighbourhood is crawling with people who got one of those designer crossbreeds in lockdown. They've bought their dogs all sorts of expensive coats and accessories that they don't need, but clearly haven't bothered spending any money or time on research/training. They let their dogs run up to people and try to grab their food/lick their face. Their dogs have been taught zero recall and they have to resort to running in and grabbing the dog's collar to drag it away.

I like dogs, but I hate irresponsible owners.

I've seen threads on here that talk hatefully about cats and use the old tropes of women with cats being 'mad cat ladies', lonely, etc etc.

There's a reason there's not a similar show for cats.

The producers approached cats and said, "How about we do a show where you do stuff that shows how clever and lovable you are, and the humans like, really love you, and you really love the humans and we generally make a big deal of how great it is to be a cat and to hang out with cats?!

And the cats said, "....Fuck off, mate. Just open the back door."

I hate cats. I hate the fact that neighbours can decide to get a predator and release it basically until your garden. If I had my way then cats would be banned as pets.