Introduction

The fact that you’re reading this means you know someone who loves cats, and you don’t. Maybe they’re your sibling, or your best friend. Or maybe it’s just a coworker who keeps posting photos of their cat on Facebook. Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of dog people out there who can’t understand why some people prefer cats over dogs (or vice versa). And as we all know, not everyone is going to like every animal equally—which is why I’m here to help you figure out if you’re actually a cat person in disguise!

You recoil with disgust at the very idea of a cat.

If you don’t like cats, you’re probably someone who thinks they’re gross. And you’re right! Cats are gross! They’re lazy, selfish and smelly—and if we were to be honest with ourselves, many of us will admit that we find them a little annoying as well.

But what if I told you that there’s a chance your opinion on cats might change? What if I told you that maybe the reason why some people hate cats is because they haven’t had enough exposure to them? If so many of our friends and family love their furry friends so much, why not give it another shot?

You immediately feel uncomfortable in any room with a cat present.

The first sign that you may not be a cat person is that you immediately feel uncomfortable in any room with a cat present. If this is the case for you, don’t worry. It’s okay to say so! Cats are not for everyone and if you’ve tried your best to get along with them but are still unable to warm up to them, then it’s time to be honest with yourself about your feelings. The only thing worse than getting stuck with a cat is forcing yourself into an awkward situation because of social expectations.

When someone talks about cats and you don’t, you look at them like they have four heads.

You don’t understand why people get so excited about cats. You’ve never seen anything particularly funny or cute about them and you definitely don’t think they are cuddly. They’re just a waste of time and an unnecessary expense, in your opinion.

Whenever you hear meowing, your body goes stiff and your heart starts racing.

Cats are vocal animals, so it’s no surprise that this is a problem for some people. If someone’s body goes stiff and their heart starts racing whenever they hear a meow, that person might just not be a cat person. Cats are very different from dogs in terms of temperament, energy level and overall demeanor. If you’re not a cat person and you don’t want to be around cats all the time—and let’s face it: most of us aren’t—it would be great if there were other options besides forcing yourself through years of therapy until you can finally stop reacting this way every time your friend brings home one more kitten (yes, even though she said she wouldn’t).

You think that cats are boring, overrated, and probably quite stupid to boot.

So, you’re pretty sure that cats are boring, overrated and probably quite stupid to boot.

You probably don’t have any other pets in your life. You’ve never considered getting a dog or a cat because you know that they’re all so overrated. Dogs can be too needy, but cats are just boring — they sleep all day and then come out at night to hunt for food and have sex with each other! Why would anyone want to spend time with this? Seems like a waste of time at best (and an annoyance at worst).

Dogs are good; cats are bad; that is all.

I’m not saying cats are bad, or boring, or stupid. I’m just saying that they’re different. If you want to be a cat person then go ahead! You can’t help who you love and who you don’t love—it’s just science.

Some people just aren’t made to love cats

So, you may be wondering how to tell if you’re not a cat person. The first step is to ask yourself: “Do I want a pet that will love me unconditionally, even when my schedule gets hectic and I can’t spend as much time with them?” If this sounds like something that would make your heart swell up with joy, then congratulations! You’re probably already a cat person by nature.

• If not, then relax—your feelings aren’t wrong or unnatural; they’re simply indicative of an inherent difference between people who love cats and people who don’t (aka “dog people”). There’s nothing wrong with being a dog person! The important thing is figuring out which type of animal companion you’re going to get along better with so that both of your needs are met accordingly (and hopefully without sacrificing any friendships).

Conclusion

So there you have it: six signs that you are not a cat person. If you find yourself nodding in agreement to these statements, then we’re sorry to tell you, but this may not be an article for you. But if your mind is still open and willing to explore new things—like maybe the idea of what it would mean if cats were actually good and dogs bad?—then we encourage you to keep reading. We know there are many people out there who feel like they were born into their family’s dog breed loyalty—and while they might be committed now, they might also consider trying out the other side of the fence someday!