Why do some people hate cats?

[eyoungren]

Just curious, how does a cat catch a bird? I’ve had cats all my 67 years, some indoor and some in and out. Not one of them ever caught a bird. They caught mice (good thing) and other rodents but not birds. Birds are in the air or perched on a wire or tree limb. And if they did happen to fall out, cats would probably hunt them by instinct not for fun.

I grew up rural when my dad decided to rent a house in 1981. That house came with an outdoor cat that was prolific and by the time we left there, twenty cats had been born (all outside cats). As outside cats in a rural area, hunting was their instinct. We had one that we took with us when we moved and that instinct was still in her.

One morning we woke up to a mess on the doormat. During the night, the cat had managed to catch a bat. She left us the head and a pinion joint for the wing.

Even Larry the cat at 10 Downing Street almost caught a pigeon.

 

[reeneebob]

I don’t trust people who say they hate cats.

Cats are a GREAT judge of character. If a cat has hissed at you upon meeting you, and isn’t a feral stray, as far as I’m concerned there’s a reason. Source: my two cats are three and have never hissed - except at my douchebag next door neighbour. Who got arrested a couple of days ago for two charges of sexual assault of a minor.

 

[reeneebob]

Because they destroy millions of birds each year? For fun?

If you let yours out of the house at night, consider putting something like this round its neck, ideally with bells on.

Cats are going to cat. Cats hunt birds. It’s not fun, it’s instinct.

Also, as a responsible cat owner, my cats go outside only on a leash. They are not outdoor cats and I have a REAL problem with cat owners who let them roam.

 

[reeneebob]

Cat behavior.

Cats do cat things.

I hate the fact that cats makes a mess and destroy property.

It gets worse when the cat malfunctions and starts outputing things that should only be outputted in the kitty litter.

I'd love any pet outdoors and not indoors.

You should not have a pet.

 

[Rafterman]

Dogs consider you part of the family. Cats consider you "the help."

 

[MisterSavage]

It reminded me of when I was younger how some teenagers would kill cats for entertainment.

That happened in my area when I was a teenager and it was terrifying. I had a nightly ritual where I would make sure each of our cats was indoors before I went to bed.

 

[eyoungren]

That happened in my area when I was a teenager and it was terrifying. I had a nightly ritual where I would make sure each of our cats was indoors before I went to bed.

There was a point some time in the 1980s in Southern California where cats were being used as part of some pagan/Satanic ritual. You'd hear about cat owners whose cats disappeared. It was sporadic news, but enough of it happened that this was eventually figured out.

Black cats in particular were targeted and Halloween seemed to be a particular time where this occurred. We had black cats and they didn't like it because they were generally outside cats but we kept them inside every Halloween.

The stuff that happens in rural areas.

 

[sorgo †]

I love cats, just don’t care for the whole toxoplasmosis/litter box thing. Though I’ve heard the number-one source of toxoplasmosis in most people is unwashed produce, perhaps followed by undercooked meat.

 

[reeneebob]

That happened in my area when I was a teenager and it was terrifying. I had a nightly ritual where I would make sure each of our cats was indoors before I went to bed.

One of the triad for warning signs of a psychopath/serial killer is stuff like that.

 

[sam_dean]

You should not have a pet.

I so so agree.

Other people in the house just impose their pets on us.

Wish they decided to move out with their pets

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I hated them until I got one myself and I love mine. I can’t say I’d be keen on other peoples cats though. Ours doesn’t leave our house so doesn’t get to kill birds and poo in other peoples lawns etc.

Don’t get me wrong, this cat is a bit of a moron at times, but I’m surprised how affectionate cats can be.

 

[maflynn]

I know people who by and large enjoy animals are not psychopaths, have dogs, but cannot stand cats. I think there are people who just don't like a given animal.

Conversely, cats simply do not like people, I have cats and a dog in my family, and one of our cats absolutely hates one of my daughters. It goes out of its way to show that hatred - she's done nothing to deserve that ire, she's always been loving to all of our animals, its just that one cat doesn't like her.

 

[eyoungren]

I hated them until I got one myself and I love mine. I can’t say I’d be keen on other peoples cats though. Ours doesn’t leave our house so doesn’t get to kill birds and poo in other peoples lawns etc.

Don’t get me wrong, this cat is a bit of a moron at times, but I’m surprised how affectionate cats can be.

We got a rescue cat in 1999 as a kitten. My sister in law found him abandoned by his mother in some hole in the wall at her apartment complex and gave him to my wife and I.

It was touch and go for a while because he looked like he wouldn't make it, but we managed to get enough KMR in to him that he did survive. Was always an inside cat though.

My son was born in 2003 and my wife would give him baths as he got older. The cat would become frantic and worried and meow at my wife because my son was in the bathtub. The cat couldn't understand why anyone would be in or even around water (he hated it). That was a really good cat because both my kids sometimes used him as a toy and he didn't harm them at all.

 

[reeneebob]

My boys, Schrödinger and Isaac Mewton, are two of the most loving pets I’ve ever owned. Both were rescues as kittens, one was abandoned in a ditch in a box, the other taken to a kill shelter because he was the shy runt.

 

[sam_dean]

When having any pet the pet owner should build up a home around pet behavior.

Also ask other people in the home if they're OK with having a pet indoors.

Like say I'd have a home that has stone & tile surfaces. No woods or other porous materials.

Furniture cannot be wood or fibers.

It has to be a home that allows a cat to be a cat and a dog to be a dog.

 

[Lioness~]

I think those who don’t love cats are pretty much control freaks. And you can’t control cats.
If you have a cat, you live in their home, you are their servant - period.

If that is not acceptable they should probably have dogs instead.

I love all cats 🐱

 

[eyoungren]

My boys, Schrödinger and Isaac Mewton, are two of the most loving pets I’ve ever owned. Both were rescues as kittens, one was abandoned in a ditch in a box, the other taken to a kill shelter because he was the shy runt.

Mr. Newman and Daria, brother and sister.



We got them some time in 1998 as lost kittens covered in fleas. Found at my uncle's house in Torrance.

Daria died first, around 2009-2010 I'd say and Mr. Newman around 2011-2012.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

We bought a British Short Hair after doing our research and they appear one of the best to have around small children. They are sociable and pretty chilled out. I would never have bought a moggy or anything where I hadn’t seen how it had been brought up as a kitten.

 

[russell_314]

Yes, they do. I am certain I could dig up a tweet where someone says "I hate dogs".

Maybe but I bought the number of people who feel that way about dogs is significantly smaller. I've never met anyone personally who hates dogs to the point where they would treat them as vermin but I've met multiple people in my life that would kill a cat without any thought just like they would kill a roach.

You can't control a cat. You can teach it, you can discipline it, you can put obstacles in its path. But, ultimately, cats will do whatever it is they feel like doing. Dogs, on the other hand follow their training because that's what the pack leader (you) expects.

And there are lots of people who hate anything they cannot control.

I've never thought about it this way but looking back it makes sense. A lot of the people I knew who hated cats were "tough guys" who were a bit aggressive.

I know people who by and large enjoy animals are not psychopaths, have dogs, but cannot stand cats. I think there are people who just don't like a given animal.

I think the difference between hate and dislike is if you dislike something you might avoid it but if you absolutely hate something you might kill it. I suspect you're feelings are more dislike than hate.

Conversely, cats simply do not like people, I have cats and a dog in my family, and one of our cats absolutely hates one of my daughters. It goes out of its way to show that hatred - she's done nothing to deserve that ire, she's always been loving to all of our animals, its just that one cat doesn't like her.

Oh no not all cats are like this. Most cats yes but not all. My current cat is way too friendly for my preference. She acts like a dog and never can get enough attention. As a cat person who prefers a more independent pet, it's challenging 🤣

I've seen cats and dogs who really hated certain people but I don't know why. It's not common but it does happen. I can only guess it's due to them associating that person with someone else that did them harm.

When having any pet the pet owner should build up a home around pet behavior.

Also ask other people in the home if they're OK with having a pet indoors.

Like say I'd have a home that has stone & tile surfaces. No woods or other porous materials.

Furniture cannot be wood or fibers.

It has to be a home that allows a cat to be a cat and a dog to be a dog.

I've never had a difficult pet that was destructive. I had roommates that had a dog that was a bit crazy. It chewed a leg off one of my chairs and chewed a hole in a Sheetrock wall. I'm not sure if there's any way to prevent that other than live in a concrete house.

 

[russell_314]

I would consider getting rid of this cat.

Yeah the tweet I posted was a reply to that tweet. I would not be happy if my cat did that! Lucilly everything survived that cat-astrophe!

 

[eyoungren]

Oh no not all cats are like this. Most cats yes but not all. My current cat is way too friendly for my preference. She acts like a dog and never can get enough attention. As a cat person who prefers a more independent pet, it's challenging 🤣

I had a kitten in my early 20s that was very friendly. Very outgoing, would lie down on you all the time, etc. Great kitten.

Across the street were neighbors that had large dogs. Behind a fence during the day, for whatever reason these jerks let the dogs out to roam the streets at night. This is rural, so you let your cat out to do it's business.

I'm pretty sure this kitten probably ran up to those dogs and tried to be friends. MY friend, found her in our driveway dead when he dropped by (I wasn't home). Went and buried her before I got home.

I didn't have another cat for a few years after that and AFAIK those neighbors are still jerks.

 

[russell_314]

I had a kitten in my early 20s that was very friendly. Very outgoing, would lie down on you all the time, etc. Great kitten.

Across the street were neighbors that had large dogs. Behind a fence during the day, for whatever reason these jerks let the dogs out to roam the streets at night. This is rural, so you let your cat out to do it's business.

I'm pretty sure this kitten probably ran up to those dogs and tried to be friends. MY friend, found her in our driveway dead when he dropped by (I wasn't home). Went and buried her before I got home.

I didn't have another cat for a few years after that and AFAIK those neighbors are still jerks.

Rotten people exist and there's nothing you can do about it. Sorry to hear about your cat!

For some reason not all cats are smart enough to realize dogs will eat them. That crazy dog my roommates had went after my cat. It chewing the legs off of my furniture was just annoying but once it went after my cat that was the last straw. I very strongly suggested in ways I can't say here that they remove the dog from my house for it's safety. Luckily my roommates were smart enough to noticed I was serious and they found a home for it. Even then I still didn't hate the dog because it's just instinct but if it came down to it or my cat well it wasn't going to win that battle.

 

[sam_dean]

I like cats... just want them outdoors where they belong

Same with dogs and other animals for that matter

 

[eyoungren]

I like cats... just want them outdoors where they belong

Same with dogs and other animals for that matter

I lived rural from 1981 to 1997 so many of our cats were outside cats that frequently came inside. It's one thing rural, its another in an urban or suburban environment. Plus, I live in Phoenix so having your cat be an 'outside cat' during the average Phoenix temps of ~112º during August is just asking for a visit from the sheriff.

Arizona takes its animal cruelty laws seriously out here. Abuse an animal and you will get caught and put away, especially if the animal is a dog. Kill, rob or beat a human out here and it will go unprosecuted.

 

[chrono1081]

I personally think it's because they were never a cat's "person" so to speak. Yes, cats can be anti-social at first until they get to know you but once you become friends with a cat they're super sweet and lovey. Once you're friends with one cat other cats usually end up liking you as well.

When I come home my cat comes running to greet me, she wants me to pick her up and hold her and cuddle her. Anytime I'm laying down or napping she wants to be right there to join. She's my baby girl and I feel bad for people who never experienced cats in their friendly lovey mode.