Why You Shouldn't Trust Your Cat

TheAtlantic ^ | 13 Nov 2014 | GWYNN GUILFORD

[shove_it]

Unlike dogs, cats are at best semi-domesticated—and we love them for that.

Dog lovers will find it baffling that cats are the world’s most popular pet. After all, they’re passive-aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and known for their chilly independence—traits that at most qualify felines for the role of “man’s best frenemy.”

It turns out, though, there’s an evolutionary reason for this tense relationship. That is, cats are in many ways still wild.

“Cats, unlike dogs, are really only semi-domesticated,” says Wes Warren, professor of genetics Washington University and co-author of the first complete mapping (paywall) of the house cat genome—specifically, that of an Abyssinian named Cinnamon.

~snip~

They came for the mice, stayed for the food scraps, and whenever it suited, kept cuddly with the cats from the other side of the granary. In other words, not only are cats still mostly wild, but they also pretty much tamed themselves. Maybe that means humans are “cats’ best friend.”

[shove_it]

This article pretty much sums up what we cat lovers know to be true.

[DuncanWaring]

Furry, four-legged parasites.

Spawn of the devil.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Well he mapped the genonme of an Abyssinian. Those cats are 99% wild.

[a fool in paradise]

[thackney]

[NautiNurse]

[Slings and Arrows]

[dfwgator]

[fatnotlazy]

Emotionally unavailable? I beg to differ. My current cat and his predecessors were/are the most loving creatures I’ve ever known. I had boyfriends who were far less caring.

[PROCON]

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

[A_perfect_lady]

Yep. Mine follow me from room to room and cuddle up to me. Even when they aren’t hungry!

[kevkrom]

After all, they’re passive-aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and known for their chilly independence

Wait... are we talking about cats or women?

[b4its2late]

[fatnotlazy]

Dogs come when called.

Cats take a message.

[Veto!]

LOL. We ALL had boyfriends who were a lot less caring. That’s why they are all named “Ex.”

[Red Badger]

Dogs have been domesticated for millenia.
Cats, just relatively recently..................

[discostu]

I’ve never understood the myth of the “aloof cat”. Every cat I’ve ever owned was basically a lap dog that purred; highly friendly, constantly around, generally in the way. I’m sure there are unfriendly cats out there, but not around me.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

[lonevoice]

[Hot Tabasco]

Furry, four-legged parasites.

You sound like a dog lover who only has a dog because of the dog's propensity for sticking its nose in your crotch.....