What Do Cats Think About Us? You May Be Surprised

National Geograhic ^ | 1/28/14 | Christine Dell'Amore

[DallasBiff]

Since cats first got their adorable claws into us about 9,500 years ago, humans have had a love affair with felines.

Today more than 80 million cats reside in U.S. homes, with an estimated three cats for every dog on the planet. (Watch a video about the secret lives of cats.) Yet there's still a lot we don't know about our feline friends—including what they think of their owners.

[Carriage Hill]

Dogs have masters,
Cats have staff.

[ETCM]

Dogs are needy, desperate to please, and will love you no matter what. They are obedient, easily trained, and recognize their owner as the alpha. Smack them and they will cower and grovel for forgiveness.

Cats only needs are that you feed them and clean their litter box. If your lap looks like the most comfortable place to lay, they’ll lay on you and allow you to pet them. They can’t be trained, only bribed. They are disobedient, think they are the alpha, and if you raise a hand to them they will draw blood.

[Dr. Sivana]

My fellow cat lovers always remark that I treat my cats as if they are dogs and they respond well. Not only do they obey but they are loving and affectionate

I agree sort of. Cats need a little more finesse, but they can be EXTREMELY affectionate. Like dogs, food isn't teh only motivation, but the more they like food, the more agreeable they tend to be. (Jean-Marie would not only come from three yards away, but would loudly meow before running when I called out "Food for kitty!" to make sure I didn't go anywhere.)

I would say that your best bet is to be affectionate with them as young kittens. Next best is to get a cat that belonged to a cat lover. One difference between cats and dogs is cats get more attached to places, so they don't take to moves very well.

[mewzilla]

Cravendale – Cats With Thumbs

Both ads and the story behind that terrific ad campaign.

I for one welcome our feline overlords!

[MayflowerMadam]

My favorite cat ever was a tuxedo. Died in 2020, and I still can’t look at her pics or I’ll cry. Fiona.

[dfwgator]

“Feed me, Slave!”

[telescope115]

We had a Calico. She was a sweetie. Sadly, feline leukemia took her.

[Don W]

The entire article was circular blather, with no information.

[rexthecat]

Cats do not think, they are concerned only about their next meal.

Aren't we all?

[alloysteel]

“If I were ten times bigger, you’d be lunch.”

[Joe 6-pack]

Cats look at people merely as prey too large to go after. If cats hunted as packs or were the size of german shepherds, they would have killed off the human species several millennia ago.

[dfwgator]

[rexthecat]

[AUTiger83]

cats do not think, they are concerned only about their next meal.

It's amusing how panicked they get when their dry food bowl gets low. Not empty, just low.

As for a cat's feeling toward me, the first word that comes to mind is, "disdain."

[MikelTackNailer]

My rescue cat was attacked by my dog, a miniature pinscher still a puppy himself obeying instinct. I got on him so bad he understood exactly what I was relating and forever loved and protected the cat after that. Cat (Roscoe by name) went on to be the revered rock star of all the other cats the crazy cat lady who married my room-mate allowed in.

Insanely affectionate, I usually woke up with Roscoe or Dobby the dog licking me. I am absolutely certain animals do have souls because their pure capacity to love often surpasses humans - some of whom needing put down themselves.

[spaced]

I had a cat with 1 full thumb, one not quite full thumb. He would pick up mini tennis balls just like a human.

[Olog-hai]

Lions are much larger than German shepherds, and hunt in prides. They have not succeded in killing off humans though.

[dfwgator]

Lions are much larger than German shepherds, and hunt in prides. They have not succeded in killing off humans though.

Heck, they haven't even made it to a Super Bowl yet.

[heavy metal]

the world revolves around pussy...

[Olog-hai]

The German Shepherds? What city are they based in, what conference, and it’s so cool to have more expansion teams . . . 😎