I admire them from afar. Their looks, their attitudes. Lovely. But I haven’t the time for a pet.
Here in PA, they are everywhere outdoors, crossing the street...you never see a dead one, btw. Hanging out, making a spectacle of their love lives. Feral ones meet me at my gate, meow their demands, and keep a safe distance even if I’ve regularly fed them for years. Fine with me, I don’t need their affection plus fleas, T. gondii, etc.
My friends have associate cats who live with them and find me appealing, and I’ll watch a cat video as readily as anyone.
Kin who own a farm keep barn cats outdoors, to deal with vermin that leave filth in the horses’ meals. Even the horses are fond of the cats, provided nobody makes any sudden moves.
There’s a place for cats in this world, and it’s not in the wild.
And they are sweet (or good at faking it). They are beautiful, which is not nothing.
That said, if I ever do get a pet, it’ll be a big dog. Not so gorgeous, but loyal and loving and ready to kill for me.
:)
Someone once posted that having a cat in the house is like owning a work of art that pukes on the carpet.