Why is everyone so obsessed with cats?

[BachAndByte]

Just musing on this, as I’ve read a lot of posts on here saying about cats.

I’m not an animal fan, really, but if forced to choose I’d go for dogs.

But it is so, so common for the people I know with ASD to be obsessed with cats. And that’s coming through on here too.

I just find them scary because they’re so unpredictable and apparently you can’t train them to stay away from things, which I would hate.

Am I doing autism wrong (again!)? What is it about cats that fascinates rather than scares people?

@ofwarren

Rabbits and guinea pigs do have a smell, sort of wood chippings and wee kind of aroma. I don't get defensive if others don't like cats or other animals. As long as you aren't hurting them it's a perfectly normal point of view.

They do — a lot of people find herbivore smells more bearable than omni or carnivore ones, though not everybody.

To me, guinea pigs smell pleasant unless their cage really really needs cleaning, rats have a smell that can be quite unpleasant if you don't keep things clean, dogs more so, and cats the worst of all. But it depends on your personal perception.

@BachAndByte

Can I just say how nice it is to be able to have a civilised and non-defensive discussion!

I don’t think I can read body language with many animals. Dogs a bit, at least to tell if they’re friendly or not, but not otherwise.

I would like to have a guinea pig or rabbit but for some reason they both smell really bad to me. But they are very cute.

Yes - on any other board this discussion would have descended rapidly into a bun-fight.

I think we have all experienced others simply not 'getting' that there are certain things we can't tolerate at all, so while I might love cats, I can understand how they must seem to someone who can't tolerate them, by referencing how I feel about things I can't tolerate.

Neva diss da kittiez 😎

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Neva diss da kittiez 😎

Gorgeous puss! 😍

Gorgeous puss! 😍

She's my wee rescue kitty.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Neva diss da kittiez 😎

Fabulous photo @BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I LOVE CATS 😻

I have two gorgeous cats. I love how independent and intelligent they are. I find it so calming to stroke cats, with the added bonus of the calming vibration of purring. I love their smell too.

🐈🐈

anomalien.com/home-doctors-cat-purring-heals-humans-too/

Cats can help you heal.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

anomalien.com/home-doctors-cat-purring-heals-humans-too/

Cats can help you heal.

They certainly can!

I had major surgery a few months back. I found it so therapeutic to have a cat lying either side of me while I was in bed for a couple of days post op. The cats were so peaceful, as though they knew they couldn't climb all over me as they usually do.

@Clarice99 Do you shove your face in cats like I do? I take a big sniff

I like to put my ear against my sleeping cats and listen to their heartbeat.

Do you shove your face in cats like I do? I take a big sniff

Just don't do it on their bellies 😆

Their paws smell like digestive biscuits though 😄

My middle child tried to sniff on a belly. It was like he was wearing a cat hat as said cat clung on with claws and teeth!

My dog is a horrible hairy smelly dog and covers the house in mud - he can't go too far as he was born with awful dysplasia - he's a border/bearded collie cross. Before him we had a border collie who I miss immensely

my cats all smelt lovely with lovely biscuity paws!

Gorgeous dog. So strokeable

For the cat people, these are the two cats I cat-sat for a few months. And yes, these photos reflect their personalities.

Oh goodness, that white fluffy one looks like she's plotting murder 😄

@ofwarren

Gorgeous dog. So strokeable

yet so smelly! Mud and boy dog - phew what a stink. I give him a shower and he's straight off to the garden after to find more smells to rub himself on!

Cats lack of eye contact; simple needs belly rubs, food and a cuddle; lack of facial expression; our ASD household loves them we have two but they are a handful and quite demanding but they are a breed that is described as vey dog like and loyal. They are a bit needier than other cats and crave attention but we’ve adapted as they are very cuddly and basically if you sit down you end up with a cat purring loudly on your lap. Just got one now

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Oh goodness, that white fluffy one looks like she's plotting murder 😄

I suspect she would consider such sordid matters beneath her notice. Some minion will intuit her wishes and make sure things happen.

I love all animals , cats, digs, lizards, spiders, rats... They're all gorgeous.

I would never have a dog because they're basically toddlers for 15 years and I don't want to have to deal with that. They're needy, need constant training and managing. I want to coo over them and walk away.

I like cats because they're independent and not slobbery barky buggers you have to take for a walk 3 times a day in all weathers.

Digs=dogs.
FFS autocorrect. I type dogs and it changes it to digs without me noticing
I type digs for this post and it changes it to dogs.

I'm starting to think my phone has become sentient and is taking the piss.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Oh goodness, that white fluffy one looks like she's plotting murder 😄

Haha yes. I'd lock myself in my room at night if I had that cat 😁

@IncompleteSenten

I love all animals , cats, digs, lizards, spiders, rats... They're all gorgeous.

I would never have a dog because they're basically toddlers for 15 years and I don't want to have to deal with that. They're needy, need constant training and managing. I want to coo over them and walk away.

I like cats because they're independent and not slobbery barky buggers you have to take for a walk 3 times a day in all weathers.

This is so me. I love dogs but cannot commit to one. Cats are so easy and basically look after themselves.

I never liked cats until I met mine! He's a curmudgeonly old fellow (17 now) and I love him for his brutal honesty! If he doesn't like you, he huffs and puffs then walks off ha, what a snub! He just doesn't care. But if he likes you, he will slow blink and nuzzle. We've had him for 12 years and he still won't sit on laps etc but he shows his affection in his own way (like me!). He is fully himself, which is refreshing. But yes, he is a grumpy guts! I have heard that cats prefer people who don't coo over them, so ironically you often find people who try to avoid cats often find that the cat likes them the most! If we have people round, the ones cooing over mine are always ignored in favour of the people trying to avoid him! Perhaps he's just trying to wind them up ha!

I love cats, but I also love clumpingbamboo's list of why they don't like cats. It's all kinds of autistic brilliantness ❤