Single Men and Cats

There’s an existing stereotype in our culture of the lonely old maid with her cats. I believe, at least in Portland, that cats are not just for single women anymore. Every guy I’ve dated in the last two years either has a cat or wants a cat. Some of them have two cats. As a dog person who is allergic to cats, I find myself keeping a ready stash of Claritin in my medicine cabinet so I can hang out with these guys. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I have a dog and you have two cats. How can we possibly ever live together?” It hardly seems rational to shunt someone into the FWB category just because we have different taste in pets!

I brought this topic up with some friends of mine today and one them offered the following analysis of men with cats. Cats are low maintenance creatures whose entire purpose is to love you. Cats offer men the opportunity for unconditional affection without a lot of hassle. The men get to be affectionate and silly without fear of rejection. But, I think that’s why single women have cats too. Anyway, I don’t begrudge my men their cats but I can’t help but groan inside every time I meet someone and it turns out they have a cat. It’d be nice to find a guy with a dog, preferably one who wouldn’t eat my dog, just for the variety.

On the other hand, maybe lots of single men don’t have cats, and it’s simply that I’m attracted to the type of man who likes cats. You’d think they would like me for the same reason they like their cat. I’m cute and fuzzy, I like to be petted and rubbed, I don’t like to be smothered or dominated, I like to do my own thing but don’t mind having him around while I do it, I enjoy silliness and affection, and sometimes I purr.