Cats as Pets and Predators
Jake Page explores the evolution and enigmatic ways of the most popular pet in America -- the house cat
- By Abigail Tucker
- Smithsonian.com, January 30, 2009, Subscribe
Becoming a “cat person” means renouncing your sanity, or so a quick skim of the Internet suggests. At the wildly popular Icanhascheezburger.com, besotted humans script nonsense captions for cat photographs, and Stuffonmycat.com is exactly that: pictures of stuff (running shoes, cocktail umbrellas) on top of cats. There are also countless cat blogs, many of them supposedly penned by felines themselves, as opposed to “food ladies,” as their owners are sometimes dubbed. The madness of cat fanciers dates back at least to the days of the ancient Egyptians, who painstakingly mummified their deceased kitties, interred them in cat necropolises, and shaved off their own eyebrows in mourning.
Jake Page, author of Do Cats Hear With Their Feet?: Where Cats Come From, What We Know About Them, And What They Think About Us (published by HarperCollins and Smithsonian Books), is not a cat lover in the deepest sense. “I like cats,” he protests. He may well, but no one whose personal menagerie includes bearded dragons and button quails but not a single kitty qualifies as a real aurophile. Sure, in the past he’s owned cats; one died, one was catnapped by an Episcopalian priest (ok, Page gave it to him), and one of his favorites, a three-legged Chinchilla Persian named Fig Newton – well, Figgy was passed along to a friend, too, after he developed a taste for Page’s expensive tropical finches. These days Page’s relationship with the cat family, never passionate, is tinged with fear. He currently resides in Lyons, Colorado, where – as the name hints -- mountain lions patrol backyards and terrorize neighbors’ guinea fowl. “It’s creepy to think about,” he says. “Typically around here people don’t go out all by themselves for a walk, though its rare that (the lions) take an adult.” The most recent addition to Page’s pack of a half dozen dogs is, perhaps not coincidentally, a Rhodesian ridgeback, originally bred to hunt lions in Africa.
Page’s memories of pet felines past and his keen awareness of local predators inform his natural history of the house cat, Felis catus, an extraordinary machine even by his clear-eyed standards. A cat can hear way up into the ultrasound range; the ridged roof of its mouth helps accommodate some 67,000 smell receptors (humans have a measly 20,000). A cat needs only one sixth of the light we need to see and in utter darkness it can still navigate by way of its whiskers. Cats can even fly – kind of. Dropped from heights seven stories or more, they spread their legs and glide, Page writes, “somewhat in the manner of a flying squirrel.”
Obligate carnivores (“no veggies or fruits,” Page explains), they spend up to a third of their waking hours placidly licking themselves, but – as any food lady knows – they’ll sever a smaller creature’s spinal cord in a heartbeat. At five weeks old they’re full-fledged killers, dispatching mice on their own. Cats have hunted whole islands of birds into extinction, but they don’t have to spill a drop of blood to be a threat, Page notes. British scientists have theorized that a cat’s mere presence is frightening enough to stop birds from breeding, thereby driving down population size.
I’ve often wondered if other cat owners sometimes gaze into the glowing pair of eyes at the foot of the bed and wonder why on earth this small, murderous being gets free room and board. Page informed me that my long-held suspicion is correct: in form and spirit, a house cat really is like a shrunken leopard. But it’s comforting to know that the big cats share some of the house cats’ cuddlier characteristics. Even mountain lions purr (though only house cats meow.) And jaguars like catnip.
Page, a science writer and editor who specializes in natural history, has also explored the evolution of dogs and, inevitably, his book contrasts our relationships with the two species. Dogs, he says, often die in the wild, while feral cats “thrive in a seedy sort of way.” Likewise, we don’t really need cats. They don’t drag our sleds or catch our Frisbees, Page points out, and though they originally guarded our granaries against vermin, the average American doesn’t harvest much of anything these days. Cats were the last major species to be domesticated (we managed to tame turkeys first) and they are pretty much the only “loner,” or non-herd, animals whose companionship we’ve secured. But even now they are not truly broken to our ways. They are neither true domesticates, like dogs, nor “exploited captives,” like reindeer or yaks, who are relatively tame but whose breeding patterns aren’t typically influenced by human selection. One London zoologist prefers to call cats “exploiting captives” – not exactly a term of endearment.
Why, then, are domestic cats the most popular pets in America, numbering some 80 million (and around 400 million worldwide)?
“Cats are nothing like people, and people are nothing like cats,” Page says. “We don’t interfere with each other. We don’t compete.” We simply let cats be cats -- a rather breathtaking undertaking all on its own. Indeed, Page sometimes considers acquiring another one himself.
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Comments (81)
Thanks for your article. I read your article because I am trying to see if I have done what is right. I didn't get along well with my kitten which stayed with me for only 2 weeks. I discovered that its nature is not as tame as I thought it should be. That I had a hard time with my kitten in that very short period. However needing and lovely my kitten looks, it is a predator miniturized version. It scratches me when it thinks it is just playing. I didn't bother training it because it seems not to hear me when I call. It doesn't follow. I always felt its cats nature too strong to change. It seems to think that I should follow his orders when I am the owner. I finally decided to give it away to a pet store where it can be sold to owners who might be willing to be more understanding to it. Your article was a big help. It did also help that I have also read that cats do easily transfer their affection to the next owner who will be willing to give it a better life. Very unlike dogs which I was used to all my life.
Posted by Lalaine on February 20,2013 | 01:18 AM
Tell the Smithsonian: Stop spreading junk science that will kill cats! http://getinvolved.alleycat.org/site/PageServer?pagename=em20130202_Smithsonian_petition
Posted by Lily Scott on February 2,2013 | 09:53 PM
I was wondering if when getting a cat you need to have more than one. Or can you just have one house cat. The reason I ask is because I want my cat to be happy and not lonely. I was trying to find this answer on internet, but have not.
Posted by Bonnie Kressman on March 26,2012 | 11:25 AM
love my cats, all six of them! i kept them all from a recent relationship where he chose to have four and foster 2 others. no luck finding new owners, but not a problem. my lab tolerates them and actually likes a couple of em. they are all very different, and so rewarding in their own way. funny but true, I had a drinking problem and have resolved it mostly because they need me at fit to take care of them.
Posted by mario perez on September 27,2011 | 11:30 PM
I have two cats one is a brown and black tabby he is nuetered,is soon to be nineteen yrs.old The other is a large grey hidden tabby he also is nuetered,soon to be seventeen yrs.old.Sam has been shot the bullet went clean through without no damage to any vital organs,I am thankful for that.I love them both very much they are very adgile for there age.They are very good hunters,cn be very funny when they want to be.I just wish I could get my hands on another lynx cub or even a bobcat cub and if I couldn't I would like to have a pare of manx cats again.Please feel free to email me if anyone knows where I could get either of these kittens I sure would appreciate it. Sincerely Katie
Posted by Katie Richards on February 1,2010 | 01:54 AM
I thought fish were the most popular pet in America, at something like 200 million. Oops, I meant USA.
Posted by Nathaniel Dawson on November 17,2009 | 03:09 AM
It's not 80 million cats in America. It's 80 million cats in the USA. America is the continent. There are other countries in America, you know. Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Bolivia, Cuba and so on.
Posted by Patola on September 15,2009 | 05:51 AM
My son often tells me that I love my old cat more than I do him. I smile when I tell him that Lilly has never eaten the last cookie or left the kitchen looking like a bomb went off, never asked to borrow the car, and, almost always, listens to me when I have something to say. Lilly has been a part of our lives for 16 years and we treasure her dearly. At one time we had four dogs and three cats; Lilly is the last one left and although it will be extremely hard when it's time to say goodbye, we feel honored to have had her share our lives.
Posted by Lee on March 6,2009 | 12:52 PM
cats are nasty creatures, you all make me sick that u actually like them. Whoever owns and loves cats deserve to be scratched by them.
Posted by sandy on March 2,2009 | 02:28 AM
Having grown up in a cat-loving family, I can concur with and echo the other cat lovers who've written above about how their cats are more than just pets, they are family and friends.
My mom's cat, an all-white short-haired beauty named Cokey, was a mere 10 years old when we discovered that he had a heart condition that would cost thousands of dollars to treat and would confine him to a bed for the remainder of his life. As we agonized over what was best for him (which turned out to be the inevitable), we recalled all of the hilarious and truly human things he did and was. Waking us up to keep him company in the AM while he ate his breakfast at 5 am, and, if we didn't want to get up and be his breakfasting companions, he'd first tap our noses or cheeks (no claws) and if we turned over, he'd kindly reach over and turn our faces back to him, just in case we thought he'd forgotten us; licking the condensation off of a frosty glass of anything, dipping his paw into a glass of milk (that we held for him, of course) and then shaking all but a drop or two off, licking his paws and then taking an full bath; enjoying the tastes of raw apples, watermelon and potatoes and drinking from a water glass on the coffee table put there just for him. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.
Currently, I can't have a pet in my building, and I miss having one so much, that I'm looking for a new place to hang my hat and catnip.
Oh, and if you are looking for a really cute (and addicting) website, try www.catsinsinks.com. It's a site devoted to pictures of cats and kittens in sinks and basins.
Enjoy!
Posted by Carolyn on February 25,2009 | 10:06 AM
The term, 'obligate carnivores' does not mean a cat can not eat fruits and vegetables. Surly they can. What it means is that they MUST have meat. Cats have 3 essential fatty acids, acids that can not be made by the body but must be gotten from food: Omega 3 and Omega 6 like people and Arachidonic Acid that can only be gotten from meat. Your cat can not be a vegetarian. There is some pretty good evidence that they are much better off without grains, such as wheat and corn. These grains are suspected in the growing rise in diabetes in cats (in people too). Of course most commercial foods are heavy in wheat and corn. I have my 8 (rescued, all neutered and spayed) cats on a raw food diet of ground turkey and a supplement powder supplied by a wonderful company "Feline Future". The younger cats eat it exclusively and have the best fur and hardly shed. I use a dry food that is free of wheat and corn, "Chicken Soup for the Cat's Soul" They are worth every penny I spend of them for their companionship, humor, mouse killing skills, and watch kitty skills. I would not choose to live without a cat. Next time put pictures with the article
Posted by Rhoda Brubaker on February 24,2009 | 11:39 PM
Among six cats we have two female kittens, born July 2008, same litter. One, a beautiful orange/white, fetches one-inch fuzzballs tossed by my wife. This cat will repeat the process up to ten times before wandering off to find something else to do. Her sister, a slender black longhair with tiny wisps of white at throat and belly, is as strange a cat as I have ever encountered. She follows my wife and I around the house, usually in such close proximity that we have to slide our feet to avoid stepping on her. Unlike her sister, she cannot be picked up -- just doesn't like it. At times, I wonder if she is really a cat. The other cats are two outoor toms who, I think, live at more than one address, the mother cat, a pleasant, intelligent young lady, and a fraidy cat, a yellow tom raised in our woodpile who tolerates my wife and will not let me touch him.
Posted by Jim Haight on February 24,2009 | 07:00 PM
Loved this article. I currently am owned by two cats. 25 pound Tadpole, rescued from a railroad car when he was about two weeks old. At 11 PM he starts loudly demanding that we turn in for the night. He even reaches up and slaps me. (No claws.) Was a barn cat but now a house mouse since something scared him about going out. So he usually makes it to the gazebo for a while and back in. Tilly Ann his slim bud is nothing but a killer on paws. She wants out all the time, weather permitting, and is in the fields killing mice half the night. Leaving the half eaten remains on the back porch. Also she haunts the 10 foot high rafters in the barn working on bird nest extraction. Well the birds do make a mess. So... And while Tad is a lap boy, Tilly is a give me a pat only when I say. Otherwise...touch-me-not unless she is laying in front of me on this desk....like she is now.
Posted by Noreen Donat on February 23,2009 | 05:41 PM
I enjoyed this article, as the exploited captive of a loving master, Leo a Maine Coon, it offered some interesting points I hadn't known about my owner. He could feed us both if he wasn't so enamored of the canned tuna I buy. He's quite the hunter, and I do appreciate not having mice in my house any more. He loves to sleep with me and give me kitty massages. He's my first cat, I have always had dogs, but a new job would not allow me to keep a dog due to long hours. Leo graciously is able to get along for long periods of time without problems and greets me with great care when I arrive, follows me through the house, he has my schedule memorized, like the good pet owner that he is. Several times a week he puts on a show just for my entertainment. How could it be better? We're almost equals,or at least he lets me think so.
Posted by Tere Rohret on February 21,2009 | 11:57 PM
I, too, prefer cats, although I love dogs and other animals too. Both my parents loved animals, but preferred cats over all others. The cat ruled the house and all things in it. a If the cat was in your lap, you could not be called on to run errands because you could not make the cat move. I was in my 40's before I could comfortably displace a cat from my lap. My favorite kitty was "Miss Priss", who was really an altered male. Her sex was discovered after the name was given. The name stayed. An unbelievably beautiful white Persian, and we loved each other totally.If anyone she didn't know got too close to me, she would bite their legs. So funny to see, but it would hurt the person! Yes, I would love to have a dog and a cat, but I don't want to have to start walking an animal again in every kind of weather,and cats, too, have their drawbacks. Nobody spoke about their furniture being destroyed and little mention was made of hairballs and cat hair everywhere. Ugh! We'll see. Phyllis W.
Posted by Phyllis Woodard on February 21,2009 | 10:48 AM
Found this quote somewhere, "Cats have staff. Dogs have family." Have three dogs (all rescues) and two cats (one a rescue). The dogs hate each other but they all get along with the cats. Dogs are pitbulls and cats are one, Persian and other a tan and white DSH. Mom loves all of them.
Posted by Doris V. on February 20,2009 | 05:57 PM
Dogs have owners, cats have staff!
Posted by Jack Dorneden on February 20,2009 | 11:47 AM
It sounds to me like Jack Page doesn't really know enough about cats, probably from lack of personal attachment. For example, it's true that physiologically speaking, cats are "Obligate carnivores" in that they need protein to survive, but I have had lots of cats that love to eat supplemental vegetables, such as asparagus, green beans, corn, and salad greens (I'm not talking about iceberg lettuce, I mean radicchio, mesclun, arugula, etc, lol!) Maybe it's a good source of fiber, who knows, but it can't hurt. I also agree that it is a stereotype that men don't love cats as much as woman do, and I really wish we could please stop perpetuating that idiotic notion. My fiance loves cats, and so does my father, nephews, and male friends. My vet is a man who had developed a deep affection for my female egyptian shorthair, who was very smart and sassy but lovable. She lived to be about 21 years old with his help. He was very sad when it was her time to go, and he dedicated a research grant in her memory. One last thing I want to mention is regarding the cat overpopulation. It is a very sad situation, but there are organizations that are attempting to combat this problem by neutering feral cats. As concerned cat-lovers, we should support these organizations whenever possible, and remember to pass along the message to new cat owners to spay/neuter their cats as well!
Posted by Nan on February 20,2009 | 10:30 AM
Most of what has been posted, is quite true about cats. It is my firm belief that cats take on the personality of their owners. I have been a cat owner, most of my life and I am 73 years old. Over the years I have had many kinds from the regular alley to the pure breeds. I have now decided of all of the wonderful creatures there is only one that I would recommend to anyone and that is the Abyssinian. I could fill this whole page with all of their wonderful traits. My husband who was not a cat lover, has fallen head over heels for the the ones that we have had. We named our first one Max, second one Ruby, third one Puma, and last but not least Puma too. Ruby is our last one and she is 16 years old and healthy and still so loving. If anyone is considering a kitten this is the one for you.
Posted by Sara on February 20,2009 | 10:29 AM
I have helped rescue and raise cats for years, and now have fourteen fuzzies. I do not recommend this density, as it leads to disagreements in the group. However, we now have shelters in our area that will enable us to care for and adopt a much higher percentage. I love all of my babies, but I also realize that the attention they get and possibly the quality of their life is less than it would be in a less crowded environment. My husband both tolerates and loves them, and refers to this as my "hobby". My veterinarian gives me discounts on all services, and is part of the group that has rescued so many, as well as participating in the "capture, spay/neuter, release and feed" program that we do for ferals. My house has rolling balls of fur on our now tiled floors, and our bed holds at least five or six each night. An interesting fact--cats are "racially predjudiced", in that color is a great influence on relationships within the group. We also have a female mostly Labrador who sleeps with and loves our cats.
Posted by Lorri Smith on February 19,2009 | 06:43 PM
Dogs have owners, cats have attendants...the perfect statement for the perfect creature. Absolute Zen Masters, I can watch my 3 for hours; provided I can find them. Where do they find so many places to hide and sleep. It's a misnomer to say that cats are not affectionate. They are, very; but on their own terms. Several times daily each one of mine will find me so I can attend them, scratching their heads, rubbing their chins, or simply providing a warm lap for a nap. They are simply amazing and I am definitely a cat guy...
Posted by Edward on February 19,2009 | 05:24 PM
I buy wheat grass at the grocery store for my cats. My older cat actually looks excited when I bring in a fresh supply.
Posted by Penny Hammack on February 19,2009 | 04:22 PM
You have to admire a cat's independence. There is a saying that you can beat a dog and the dog will crawl back and lick the hand that beats him, but you can speak crossly to a cat and the cat will pack his bags and head for the door. I understand this so I am very careful indeed when speaking to the two animals I am owned by...er...share my home with. I know all too well that as soon as they learn to use the can opener, I am out on my ear. When I talk to them they seem to understand and even evaluate my suggestions(one never gives orders to a cat). Then, of course, they discard them as being unworthy of their consideration. They do as they please and we let them (not that we could stop them) because we understand that a room without a cat in it is empty.
Posted by E. Houston on February 12,2009 | 04:06 PM
I was immediately drawn to this article when I saw the link. I was raised to dislike cats by a father who, as a child, lost a pet chicken to a feline predator. I had every other sort of animal growing up, from dogs and birds and rats to a snake and frogs. However, when I encountered, I mean REALLY encountered, my first cat as an adult -- it was a cancer-ridden stray with more love than I had ever seen in an animal before -- I was converted. My husband and I are, at present, cat-only people and have a special fondness for rescued animals. Our cats are loyal, affectionate, beautiful creatures that have completely stolen our hearts.
Posted by Nikki on February 12,2009 | 03:12 PM
i can easily see why cats were the last to be domesticated! all of mine have been independent to a point. both our present cats have been by the computer while i read the article. i cannot figure how anyone "defines" cats as loners or otherwise. i've surely seen both. my daughter's manx might as well be a dog, minus the walking. our older orange mix was very sweet as a kitten, becoming more skittish and remote after being diagnosed with kidney disease. his predecessor, named spot, really was a dog in cat's fur. waiting for me to come home at the appointed time, even when my husband was sick in bed. they are individuals, same as people. i enjoy some people far more than others
Posted by suzanne on February 10,2009 | 01:14 PM
One thing I didn't notice being mentioned directly in the articles or comments: being preferentially owned by the cat. A beautiful grey tabby adopted me a few years ago -- to the virtual exclusion of others. We can be in the same house all day by ourselves without direct contact, but let my wife or anyone else enter, and "YaYa" is immediately between us vieing for my attention. She has taken to standing on her hind legs with paws on my legs to be petted very roughly (against the grain of her fur) and pawing me to continue if I stop. Once the "intruder" is gone, she is gone, too -- until I get to moving around, whereupon she follows me everywhere underfoot. Never liked cats before, but this one has a stranglehold on me, ha.
Posted by David Stephens on February 10,2009 | 10:57 AM
It is a truth not universally acknowledged (but still true) that a house without a cat is not a home! Purring, kneading, giving warmth, licking ice cream from your dish--Yay, cats!
Posted by Cathy on February 9,2009 | 11:32 PM
It's refreshing to know that i'm not the only one whose baby (my cat)rules. When she feels like it she will lay sideways on my bed so that I find myself curled up by the headboard and when she decides to purr she will let me know whether or not I can pet her, usually its no, she will bite me I sometimes wonder if she knows shes a cat. She bites, does not like to cuddle or be carried and when she misses me she will just attack me when I either get up from bed or home from work, she'll jump up and bite my behind or snip at my pajama bottoms, I know its how she shows affection and we all love her for it, she's a calico. We found her in the bushes. she was the tiniest little thing and hardly had any hair we tried to bottle feed her but she was not having it she does not care for milk. She likes her hard food and has to have her water from a running source. She's my baby and we love her she rules the household. hmmmm smiles
Posted by Regina on February 9,2009 | 05:30 PM
A totally healthy 18 year old six toed (one each paw) calico dominates the kitchen. I don't like other cats who walk on our counter tops to steal food. An orange intact male protects my barn from intruders and offers my big dog a chance to chase and then be scratched. Mice catching is the one useful contribution from these perps, and I have to protect baby chicks from them. It is really a love-hate relationship. Clarence, a tuxedo counter climber will pee on our pillows if allowed upstairs, so the door is always closed to him (what a pest). If it weren't for mice catching they would hardly be worth the trouble.
Posted by Lars Helgeson on February 9,2009 | 04:16 PM
While I'm very fond of indoor cats and have helped rescue feral kittens, speaking as a wildlife rehabber, the damage that these non-native species inflict on wildlife is staggering. If you really love your kitties, safeguard Fluffy by not exposing her to cars, parasites, dogs and unkind people by keeping her home with you. And protect indigenous species from Fluffy by keeping her inside.
Posted by Jamie on February 9,2009 | 04:02 PM
Cats are so individual. Since my husband and I got married, we have had many cats live with us. My mother in law gave us a Maine Coon who had 6 of the most adorable kittens. We kept one and coddled it from day one. She turned out to be the sweetest most loving, and smart cat. She died this past November and it pretty much broke our hearts. My husband wailed and lamented over our cat's death. So it is not just females who love cats. My two son's would never own dogs either.
Posted by Maine coon lover on February 9,2009 | 10:30 AM
The difference between cats and dogs can be summed up this way: Dogs have owners; cats have staff. Excuse me now...Hopkins is waiting for his dinner.
Posted by Paul Williams on February 8,2009 | 05:17 PM
I was a foster parent for the Humane Society but ended up adopting all of my foster kitties. Now I have four so no more fostering. I think four is a good number because they not only entertain me but each other. They also get lots of exercise from playing chase. I have known "only" cats to pull out all of their hair from boredom.
Posted by Skye on February 8,2009 | 04:00 PM
I can not imagine coming home and not having my cats to greet me, Simba my 12 year old and Sassy 4yrs have such different personalities, independent and also very loving Simba shares my yogurt,cucumber,shrimp and any chair I may be sitting in. Sassy ia a beauty and loving when she decides to be. All in all they are wonderful company and do show their love with no strings attached. Your article is most entertaining.
Posted by Rosemary Rozen on February 8,2009 | 01:40 PM
A dog lover for 90 years with disdain for cats until recently being acquired by a cat from a cat rescue lady. I named him Kirby, same as the bichon recently "put down". Friends in my retirement community urged a cat. When I first opened his carrier in the apartment,he regally strolled on an inspection tour of all six rooms then looked up at me "It's OK, I'll stay but you are on probation" I quickly realized I could forget my dog knowledge and I turned myself over to Kirby for indoctrination. In one month, I love him dearly and am learning to respect his dignity. Joe Gormally
Posted by jgormally on February 8,2009 | 12:50 PM
I HAVE 5 WONDERFUL BEST FRIENDS THAT SLEEP WITH ME EVERY NITE. I THOUGHT I COULD NEVER LOVE A CAT AGAIN AFTER LOSING MY MAINE COON AT AGE 16 AND ALSO MY BEAUTIFUL DILUTE CALICO tHOMASINA AT AGE 16 BUT MY bERT AND eRNIE ORANGE GUYS CAME ALONG AND THEN i ACQUIRED zOE, rOSITA, AND gROVER TO ROUND OUT MY SESAME ST FIVE.
Posted by LINDA KRAMER on February 8,2009 | 12:23 PM
I have 5 cats and one dog. The dog, half husky, lives right along with them. One of them, Speedway, plays tag with the dog. Yea it's a sight. Speedway even likes to put his front feet out on ice and goes body sledding. I disagree about preferring being alone. Someone stole my Mocha and her best cat friend was so depressed I acquired another cat for him. They are best of friends. I had a neighbor who had an all orange cat. My all orange cat were the best of friends. Those two would always be seen curled up together. Not with any other cat would these two orange cats cuddle. Cats have personality the way people have personality.
Posted by Barbara on February 8,2009 | 12:17 PM
I love cats, and share my life with several, but I also love wild birds. As the article indicated, cats do a lot of damage to bird populations. Please, Betty O'Leary and other cat lovers, please keep your cats indoors. They'll also be safer themselves, less likely to be hit by cars or captured by other predators.
Posted by Fran Raleigh on February 8,2009 | 12:08 PM
Maxpal has hit my only irritation with the article on the head. While I cannot expound on "dog people" vs. "cat people", it is my belief that people who prefer cats prefer their independance in lieu of the face-licking, over-exuberant dog who must be walked. Cat people certainly can be male as well as female. I think someone should do a study on cat people marrying other cat people, vs. dog people marrying dog people. But of course, they would need to consider those aberrant beings who enjoy both cats AND dogs (and birds and fish and lizards and snakes, and so forth). Thanks for writing about MY favorite.
Posted by Charlotte Geier on February 8,2009 | 12:07 PM
I think cats are popular because it's the purring. It is restful and sedating. Also cats seems to choose who their "owners" are from members of the same household. It's nice to be selected.
Posted by Lorraine Johnson on February 8,2009 | 11:20 AM
I am a total cat freak--what is NOT to like? They are independent but VERY affectionate!! And SMART!! Seeing those sweet faces are what makes coming home at night too fun!
Posted by Deb D. on February 8,2009 | 11:04 AM
I never got the idea from the article that only women like cats. I am female, but my two teenage sons are more in tune with our three cats than our dog, and my boyfriend recently adopted a stray neighborhood cat. I think its mainly a type of person that isn't intersted in competing and molding an animal to a job or into an image that makes a person enjoy cats as pets. As the article says, "letting cats be cats" is one of the joys of "owning" a cat.
Posted by Katrin on February 8,2009 | 06:32 AM
Wadda you mean, 'obligate carnivors'?! My house plants, and the grassy barf stains I get to remove from the carpet, suggest a more broad diet, including nibbles on me when the main course is a triffle late in coming. Mine even have me open the kitty door for them. Curiously, considering another article in this issue is about wolves, I have a couple of hybrids here, and they understand and get along with my cats better than mundane domestic canines. I assume this is predatory respect.
Posted by Kit (the real Kaptive) on February 7,2009 | 11:36 PM
My past cats used to care for me too. one night I got sick and need to puke on the toilet, and the door was not closed. the female and male cats come around fast, and investigate what is with me. I remembered my f. cat's face, her whole face muscle cringed up with concerned eyes to show/ask me,.."Are you alright ?,... Are you alright ??" Unfortunately, they lived their years, and passed on 2001, and 2002. Yes, enjoyed most cats article.
Posted by su lui on February 7,2009 | 11:35 PM
Great Article. Author is not correct in describing cats as "obligate carnivores".Ths is a fallacy that has been perpetuated by many who do not have factual and actual knowledge and further investigation into the element of dietary excellence will reveal to the author that cats not only like a mix of veggies and fruits that are also so beneficial to their well being. Jan Sharkey Thomas, well known Canadian naturalist and cat lover forever, rescued several Ocelots from Canadian Zoos and pointed out to them that if they had included veggies and fruits in their diets they would have been more healthy and longer lived. She has always had domesticated cats,also, and their diets are always supplemented with these necesities. It is true that Ocelots are not domesticated but her knowledge of cat diets - from keeping dometicated felines proved essential. After being advised of this dietary requirement the Zoos commenced fesding all their cats this dietary addition.She successfully kept her Ocelots for over twenty years and her current domesitcated cats are well into their teens. Cat owners not aware of this should try adding these essential elements to their kitties diets.
Posted by Clifford Kelly on February 7,2009 | 10:08 PM
I am owned by a pair of brothers, rescued from a box on the sidewalk. One is a wise eyed tabby and the other a fat black cat. They have learned words "treat' and "no" and "nighty night." I am aure that they understand others as we have daily conversations of "meow" and constant purring. If they were allowed to sleep with me they surely would, but my invalid husband objets, and when we say 'nighty night" they go into the room where they sleep. When I garden they both "help" by assisting in the digging and lie close by. They are my joy and company.
Posted by eunice s. escoffery on February 7,2009 | 09:08 PM
More than "why do we keep cats?" the question should be "why do we spend thousands of dollars trying to keep them alive?" I don't know about stimulating the economy, but I'm definately stimulating the Vet's pocketbook. Gotta love those kitties!
Posted by Betsy on February 7,2009 | 08:52 PM
Only a small exception to the writers veiw. I've a cat that has on problem with fruits and vegetables. He picks his own tomatoes from the garden and eats (most of) them. He drinks orange juice, and a bit of white wine now and again. Loves broccoli and corn. Of course, my other cats don't. Same is true of my dogs, one likes veggies, one doesn't. Also, real men like all animals ;) T
Posted by Pignose on February 7,2009 | 08:33 PM
I had to laugh about Betty O'Leary's mentioning cats bringing in their kills - at least they're eating the kill themselves instead of leaving it for her to find (because they want to feed the family) or, as I've read, letting a wounded but still alive mouse loose in the house - to teach the "younger" members of the family how to hunt for themselves. After reading this, I've always been grateful that my cats apparently considered me too stupid to learn this skill (probably demonstrated by my stubborn insistence on making noise just as they're about to pounce on a bird), and always left me the least desirable parts of whatever they did catch, as proof of my junior status in the pride.
Posted by Carol on February 7,2009 | 07:57 PM
Ocelots eat fruit and vegetables. I had one that lived for twenty-five years, daily enjoying cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, celery, cucumbers, avocado, grapes, and cherries. A roly-poly grapefruit was like catnip for her. Interesting article, but I don't really think the author is a cat person.
Posted by catfyre on February 7,2009 | 07:27 PM
Our aging orange tabby male has our whole neighborhood bamboozled. He has two families under his spell where he eats and sleeps wherever and whenever he likes. He is quick to roll over and accept strokes from other neighbors who may pass by. There's nothing loyal about this one but we love him dearly.
Posted by Morris;s Dad on February 7,2009 | 07:24 PM
Please remember that while cats appear to be independent, they are really quite dependent on people in order to live a healthy, long life. Ones that are on their own suffer greatly before dying at an early age. Among many things that happen to them, their teeth go, their kidneys go, and they are eaten up inside and out by a variety of things.
Posted by Sara on February 7,2009 | 07:09 PM
Enjoyed the article -- one correction, "aurophile" should be "ailurophile," one who likes cats. "Small murderous creature" is a great phrase, I think I'll tease my three devoted cats with it! They follow me all over the house; when I get up from my desk, I hear "thump-thump-thump" as all three jump down to go wherever I'm going. None of my cats has ever been "aloof" like the stereotype for cats, and I am convinced that cats return whatever attention you do - or don't -- give them. I cannot pass by a cat without petting and speaking to it, and they can't let me pass, either! Plenty of cats are failures at hunting, though; the idea that all cats are good hunters leads too many people to abandon a cat in the wilderness, thinking it will take care of itself. This is cruelty; unless it's already accustomed to finding its own live food, such a cat will in all likelihood die rather quickly, a miserable death of starvation, disease, injury, or a combination thereof. All cats take an interest in small moving animals, but not all have the skills to hunt for them.
Posted by Anne Wiebe on February 7,2009 | 05:50 PM
As one might guess, I am a cat-lover. Right now we have four; but my most special is Me Tu, who named himself when my husband chose his sister and he cried from the carrier, "Me, too? Me, Too?" Ti is my special nurse-cat. I have had numerous surgeries and problem in the last 1o years and his self-appointed duty is to comfort me and make sure I get enough rest. He herds me to nap daily by 4 p.m. He sticks by my side in bed when I am not able to move easily. He has cared for me through 6 surgeries (one including cancer) and all he asks is a little love and a pewter cup of fresh ice water on my night stand. When I have nightmares he pats my face and murmurs, "Mom, mom, mom." When I can't sleep he lays on my shoulder with his arm around me and purrs. Now that's LOVE. Cats are very special animals and a lot more copacetic than most people! PS I first started to learn to teach when I was five and would line up my cats for "school." They were good students. Better than many of the teens I taught for the past 40 years!
Posted by Kitty Drew on February 7,2009 | 05:46 PM
A fun & interesting article. Who knew cats were the last to be domesticated? My two are usually love sponges, rolling at my feet & curling up in my lap. But, they have that hunter instinct & ground feeding birds, mice, & moles must beware! I think they beat out dogs for pets - no walking, no going to a groomer's, no separation anxiety, etc. No need for a cat whisperer!
Posted by Jody on February 7,2009 | 05:22 PM
My wife and I own three cats and we adore them. They tell my wife, time and place where to read the newspaper so they can curl-up beside her. They fight to be next to in bed at night. One greets us at the door when we come home. BUT they never go outside. I say to any person who lets these ferorious hunters out at anytime is cruel to the wild life around them. I live in Florida I love the hawks we have and the hawks love a little cat meat. Outdoor cats bring home diseases and fleas so keep those lovable little juguars in the house. What great article.
Posted by Charles M. Adams on February 7,2009 | 05:10 PM
I enjoyed the writers comments. But I would venture that the writer never met a Himalayan. They have a totally unique nature that seperates them from the standard house cat. Mine thinks he is my shadow and care taker and must be involved in everything I do. He plays fetch, comes when called and even knows when im not feeling well. He will stroke my face as if comforting me and offers a kiss upon request. He is here talking to me as I write this. He is very dependant in nature and loyal as any dog could be.
Posted by Maestros Mom on February 7,2009 | 04:57 PM
Two of my daughters purchased Lily for me from the Humane Society as a Mother's Day gift, which I have come to realize was my best gift ever. When I opened Lily's cage and took her out, she just settled into my arms, as if to say "here I am take me home, Mom". Since then my husband and I have been the slaves of our cat Lily. She is a beautiful calico who rules the house. Right now she is sitting on the desk as I work on the computer. When the printer starts she has to sit on it and wait for the paper to appear. Lily tolerates the grandchildren who always want to hug and pet her when they come to visit. She joins Bill & I as we have our morning coffee sitting on the end table and watches for birds and squirels, hopeful even in winter! And this is why we love Lily.
Posted by Dolores Hayden on February 7,2009 | 03:56 PM
I am luke warm when it comes to cats. In the past I have been owned by cats. I once was owned by a seal-point Siamese that was great company but died of a blood disease that apparently was present when I purchased her as a kitten. As a child I owned both dogs and cats and they seemed for the most part to abide one another without too many squabbles. However, now I own a Jack Russell Terrier by the name of Cricket who does not like, nor think cats are needful, and only loves to chew upon them. As a 1-year old she chased a large old smart Tom who ran under a shed got her cornered and did a large amount of damage which required a visit to the Vet. This does not cause fear or detract her from her mission of depleting the world of felines. I have attempted to get her to be friendly with cats but this seems to be a lost cause.
Posted by Eugene Maynard on February 7,2009 | 03:55 PM
I love my cat's habbit of walking into a room, tail high, consumately confident, and announcing himself with a soft sound, not unlike a door hing greatly in need of oiling. He does this so I will know he is there. If I did not know I was in his presence, there would be no point in ignoring me. Which is in fact, the whole point.
Posted by Carolyn on February 7,2009 | 03:49 PM
Gee, and here I was hoping that this article would catalog the considerable environmental damage wrecked by a longstanding feline overpopulation problem. Nope. Same problem as with dogs and humans, I suppose - the proverbial elephant in a room. You try living next to a large cat colony, with local being treated as one big kitty litter box. Think about the health issues for hundreds of strays produced by this one colony - no vaccines, rough living out of a shed where they breed like flies. The industrious cats learned to climb onto our roofs, where the males spray air intakes (!) and the entire perimeter of the house at groundlevel as well. We no longer have children's sandboxes in our neighborhood - guess why? We used to enjoy the trill of songbirds. No any more! My take on this article was that cats are the ultimate social parasite. Irresponsible cat owners who allow them free-range around the neighborhood aren't much better.
Posted by Passerby on February 7,2009 | 03:44 PM
I thought this article was mildly uncomplimentary (insulting) to cats. It focused quite a bit on what the writer dislikes about cats. I, on the other hand, am besotted with felis catus. I feel great responsibility for my pets; after all, they are completely dependent on me. I take my current cat to the vet at the slightest sign something might be less than optimal. I feed her quite regularly (she often tries to convince me she needs another meal) and if I'm not sure whether I have fed her, she gets an extra meal. We're working (well, me) on losing that last six ounces. It's clear she loves me very much, I love her too, she sleeps with me and when she gets the kitty crazies, my ribs serve as a road and springboard on her way back and forth across the apartment. I even love cat shows and go to every one I can get to (purebreds only make up about 2% of all domestic felines). Please remember to spay and neuter your pets. The over-population problem is horrendous!
Posted by Cernigliaro on February 7,2009 | 03:22 PM
Cats are both wonderful to live with - though they don't always want to live with cats they've just met - and photograph. Wouldn't trade my two feline family members for all the fur-free clothes on 5th Avenue.
Posted by ParryPix on February 7,2009 | 03:15 PM
this is a fascinating article, I have decided that cats are introverts in that they are quiet, seek one out when needed, do not wish to be bothered unless it is their idea, do not entertain well. But I love them beyond reason. always. I must be part cat.
Posted by peggy york on February 7,2009 | 02:51 PM
I am an ardent cat lover from birth. I think things go a little heavy with the idea that cats are aloof and self-absorbed. I have it on excellent authority, that cats make wonderful therapy pets and can even sense when someone is very ill and comfort them at that time. I really enjoyed this article and give a big hurrah for all the feline lovers out there. Gayle
Posted by Gayle Kohlenberg on February 7,2009 | 02:49 PM
I quite disagree with a couple of points in your article. At least one cat (mine) eats fruit. He is very fond of apples and peach yogurt. Also, he is NEEDED. I am a single woman and he is a great comfort when cuddling with me on the sofa and spooning with me while we sleep. Have you ever watched a cat at play? Why does one need a tv or other form of entertainment when one has a cat?
Posted by Jeanie on February 7,2009 | 02:47 PM
> "Why, then, are domestic cats the most popular pets in America," ?? Because they are born knowing what a cat litter box is for. I did not want to clean up after a puppy and have to walk him every day. This is a major reason I got my first cat and now I'm hooked. My current 2 I got 'used' from a Craigslist ad of someone that had to give up a mother/daughter pair. I'm a guy too, and I love my cats.
Posted by Russ on February 7,2009 | 02:31 PM
We do need cats. Remember the plague in Europe? It was brought by fleas hosted by the explosive rat population caused by the mass slaughter of cats during the middle ages (for superstitious reasons.)
Posted by Jo Hammond on February 7,2009 | 02:27 PM
I know my competition - my husband calls our cat "girrrlfriend" & she is. Another interesting book to read on domestication is "Shrinking the Cat" by Sue Hubble. Humans have been into manipulating genes for a VERY long time. JE Martin in Jamestown, NY
Posted by Joan Martin on February 7,2009 | 02:17 PM
I am sorry to see this article perpetuating the stereotype of housecats as the "loner" animal. There is a fair amount of research and anecdotal observation that suggests that cats (while they can exist comfortably in a one-cat household), in groups can have very complex social structures, interactions, and interdependent 'herd-like' behavior. Understanding those aspects of feline behavior add a whole new, and very interesting, dimension to understanding human-cat relationships, and in a multi-cat household, their interactions with each other.
Posted by Claudia on February 7,2009 | 02:11 PM
After this morning I too am wondering why I'd have a cat or two share my space rather than a pooch (which I've also had several of). While watching a good show about anomalous dolphin behavior in which persons swimming with them were attacked and while providing a presumably comfortable lap for my 16 pound neutered female cat who has come to enjoy being petted in her advancing years, my scritching happened to wander too far down her tummy and in a flash she shed her domesticated persona in favor of a pretty good approximation of a big cat attacking a meal - in this case, my hand. I had to be gently forceful in getting her to curb her instincts. No blood was shed but that wasn't her fault. We enjoy each other dearly and have done for eleven years. Sometimes one wonders, though, just as Christina does.
Posted by Jimmy on February 7,2009 | 01:43 PM
I have a great big Siberian (18 lbs.)(or rather, he has me) and he is absolutely great, but I know what you mean by "not being completely domesticated"! Tiger can become very fierce sometimes, and I think he recalls his ancestors' times in the frozen forests of Siberia. He can also be completely loveable and adorable (most of the time!), and sleeps with me every night. This was a very informative article, and I do think the author should find another cat to be owned by!
Posted by Marissa Granger on February 7,2009 | 01:36 PM
Jake Page's designation of a lover of cats as a aurophile is in error. The proper term is ailurophile. Ailouros = cat and phile = lover or love of. Both are from the Greek language. Submitted by Neal Welsh, 38 year etymologist hobbyist
Posted by Neal W. Welsh on February 7,2009 | 01:32 PM
I understand all of this completely. I am a servant to an 18 lb lady maine coon cat. I keep her neatly shaved since she does not groom herself anymore and bites me if I comb her very much. She is pretty much in charge, getting regular meals and petting. She does greet me with howls when I get home from work and yells at me if I do not leave the shower door open when I am done. She loves the wet shower area. She sits with me while watching TV or reading and purrs non stop. She also sleeps with me and takes up more room than I do. I am her servant.
Posted by Kitty's servant on February 7,2009 | 01:24 PM
I too am a male cat lover and I write this as my two beloved tabby rescues are taking their afternoon naps. I think that one reason for the dog-man, cat-woman stereotype is that many men are into control and are drawn to dogs because they can be controlled. Cats cannot be controlled. They have to be loved and respected for who they are. Once this is understood, cats are a joy to live with.
Posted by Scott Ogilby on February 7,2009 | 01:24 PM
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A NORMAL CAT!
Posted by k j martin on February 7,2009 | 01:10 PM
We have 3 cats. The most recent edition seems to think he is a dog- he plays fetch for hours and will stretch out his neck growl like a dog over his food. Our cats are real companion animals. They are so intelligent. The easily learned their names and multiple verbal commands. They come when they are called and respond immediately if we tell them to get down or stop that. They also wait for the kids to come home and come running when they hear our car drive up. We have had dogs in the past and we love them, but cats are also wonderful companions. And no one in our home is afraid of them, not even a little.
Posted by lenjoleb on February 7,2009 | 12:52 PM
I have had cats all my life and have 2 15# orange male Krack Kitties who thunder through my house from one end to the other chasing each other and sounding like a herd of elephants. My niece found them in a box on the roadside in a rural area,their mother killed by a car. I lost my favorite cat, Priss, last year after spending 25 years with her. Her ashes will be buried with mine.
Posted by Ginny Shelton on February 7,2009 | 12:16 PM
Why do these articles always make it sound like it's predominantly women who love cats? I'm a guy, and I love cats, and I know plenty of men who share my sentiments on this matter. The Men/dog-Women/cat paradigm is SO misleading. Both men and women like both cats and dogs, so please stop perpetuating this stereotype ! Other than this irritation, the article was well-written and informative.
Posted by Maxpal on February 4,2009 | 03:55 PM
Your article described both kitty and and kitty-owner purr-fectly. I have two orange beauties, both of whom shed rugs daily all over my house. They eat almost as much as I do. They both sleep with me --and take up most of the bed. Their kitty door permits them to bring in their kills, which they eat in front of me, so I can hear every crunch of the victims' skeletel systems. -Sigh. But, they are such good company. They listen patiently while I speak nonsense to them. They welcome me enthusiastically when I return home. They clean my plate after I've finished my food. They keep me cozy when I go to sleep.Who could ask for anything more?
Posted by betty o'leary on February 3,2009 | 05:09 PM
WHY NOT? I AM OWNED BY A BEAUTIFUL BROWN TABBY & WHITE MAINE COON CAT (18 LBS OF TOTAL LOVE). WHY, I LOVE THIS GUY SOOOO MUCH I EVEN WROTE A CHILDRENS' BOOK ABOUT HIM WITH PICTURES THAT I AM ATTEMPTING TO GET PUBLISHED. THE THING I LIKE BEST ABOUT CATS IN GENERAL IS THEIR INDE- PENDENCE. CHIPPURR DOES HIS THING AND I DO MINE. (WE DO SLEEP TOGETHER, HOWEVER.) IN SHORT, CATS ARE WONDERFUL CREATURES-AND UNLIKE DOGS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE WALKED IN RAGING SNOWSTORMS AND COLD WINDS. I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE. THANKS.
Posted by CHIPPURR'S DADDY on February 2,2009 | 03:47 PM
Interesting mix, these cats, aren't they?
After reading this article, a person does wonder, why DO I love my feline?!! I have to admit, I have a li'l bit of fear at times, and a healthy respect, for mine! But I think by letting her be the cat that she is, accepting her ways, she's come to trust me. She knows that she's loved, and I think that has settled her alot.
Christina
Posted by Christina on February 2,2009 | 10:46 AM
Thanks for this wonderful piece on one of my favorite writers.
Who is fairly feline himself.
Posted by Anonymous on February 2,2009 | 10:03 AM