This article on CNET drew my attention to a recently released book by anthrozoologist John Bradshaw. In Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, Bradshaw looks back through the history of cat-human relations, examines our biology, and digs deeply into the feline mind in order to bust some longstanding myths about us kitties. But in doing so, he comes up with a myth or two of his own. The most glaring one? That we cats believe humans are big, rather inept cats!
My thoughts on this? Bradshaw, you wish! This guy must think we are as dumb as humans to believe humans bear any resemblance to cats whatsoever! Here are some of the obvious ways humans and cats are different, things that a cat would have to be crazy to overlook:
- Humans smell completely different from cats. I sniff Binga, I smell cat. I sniff my human… ewww, it can only be that stinky human smell!
- All that weird, bare skin. The texture is completely different from bare cat skin.
- The sad inability of humans to walk properly on all four limbs.
- Their even sadder lack of feline grace and athleticism. In spite of their much longer legs, very few humans are able to leap onto kitchen counters.
- Humans speak a completely different language from cats, and they have a lot of difficulty understanding us.
- Humans need metal, wood or plastic utensils to get food into their mouths. Or their hands. The only utensils we cats need are our teeth and our barbed tongues.
- Humans look really, really different from cats. In case anyone didn’t notice.
So what we do think humans are? Our servants, duh! We ask for food and we are served. We use the litter box, they scoop. They come home with cool things for us, almost as if they read our minds. And since we cats are not completely authoritarian, we are often pleased to treat our servants as family. But yeah, it is pretty obvious humans are not cool enough to be cats. So don’t believe everything you read.
Imagine that… Thinkin’ we think they’re cats. MOUSES!
Purrs,
Nissy
Haha! I still like to think of myself as “mama cat” but I’m obviously kidding myself 😉
Sparkle, yous absolutely RIGHT!!
The peoples that writes this kind of stuff must not be owned by cats or they would knows better.
Kisses
Nellie
Sparkle you are uber-intelligent and we love how you just tell it like it is!
Oh My Cat!
We were discussing that over our dinner just yesterday. Buddy was laughing that we would NEVER think our Dad was a cat. We may treat him like furmaly but…
We need to keep these self styled experts honest
Purrs
So true Sparkle – even about goats. The publicist claims SHE is head goat. As if she could EVER be a goat. She is NOTHING like a goat. She only has ONE stomach. Sheesh!
TBT here: I am not a cat. I don’t pretend to be, and could never be one. My cats cou;d not be humans. I enjoy the company of cats because we complement each other. I am not them and they are not me. And vive la’ diference!!!
We think hoomins want so badly to BE cats, they think this way automatically. Can we really blame them for that ? I mean, we are pretty pawsome.
ha ha you told him!
MOL, we thought the same. But we bet he got tonnes of kitty email, telling him he was better than the people who mistake our top-loftiness for stupidity!
Only a Human could have written something as appallingly stupid as that. thank you for putting him in his place.
Where do silly humans get these weird ideas? We all know Mom is not a big cat. Just look at Julius. He loves all of us mancats and did from the first day he came out of the safe room, but he’s still scared of Mom. That proves he (and we) don’t think of her as a cat.
Seriously? Our mom is just so OBVIOUSLY adopted. Completely different species. HRMPF.
It reminds us of what Mark Twain said, “If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” Enough said!
😀 Yow Sparkle ya just busted dat Hu’man purrty guud!!
Me will say me Mum CAN speek Birman n Siamese bery well….she iz a speshell one. She also nose her place purrfectlee n she wearz furry sweaterz so me will find her more appeelin!!
She also nose when to bring home food or nip wifout me tellin her!
Amazin Mum <3 (it'z all in da trainin; phankz Aunti Mingflower fer makin Mum da kitteh sirvent she iz today) 😉
Lub ya Sparkle frum Nylablue xx
It would be interesting to find out if Bradshaw has, or has ever had, a cat.
We agree with you totally, Sparkle! We heard that notion about big, dumb cats and we said “no no no!” We agree with the island cats – humans WISH they were cats!
I thinks you knows best Miss Sparkle.. 😉
Yet again Sparkle, you have shown another author and “expertâ€
XOXO
I agree with you, Sparkle! I saw that giant cat thing too and just couldn’t believe it.
No matter how long humans sleep, they’ll never be as beautiful as we are so phooey on the term beauty sleep!
Sparkle you are so smart.
Maybe what he meant to say is that humans are wannabe cats…
Purrs,
The Chans
I agree – never for a moment did I ever believe that my cats thought I was one of them. Even dogs don’t think humans are dogs – at least I don’t think so – you never know with dogs.
Our Mommy is trying to fit in, but she knows better how far off she is from our excellency!
I really don’t know where some of these humans get there silly ideas from!
Oh Sparkle, of course you are right on every level! Pfft! Who would EVEN think WE think humans are large cats. NOT!
Humans…can’t live with them…oh, wait. And the only Bradshaw I would listen to is Carrie…and she’s a fictional character. (-:
I have never confused a human for a cat. I mean really!
Would you believe one of The Cats That Came Before Me thought he was a big furry human? He tried to imitate humans! TW says I think she’s a cat cos I play with her, stalk her and bite her like I would a playmate. As if! I certainly don’t WASH her. Yuck!
Very well stated Sparkle! It is getting easier to identify the idiots these days!
nope….we love our mom but she is NOT a cat (or even a reasonable facsimile thereof)
MOL Sparkle and humans are jealous of Cats. I know this because Mom is always saying madi I wish I could sleep like you.
Hugs madi your bffff
I don’t buy it either. I accept my fate as a tall hairless servant, but I prefer to consider myself a guardian as I make sure everyone is healthy and safe.
Well Sparkle, we have to totally agree with you. We sure don’t think the humans are any where near to cats in any way. You nailed it.
Take care and have a great day.
Purrhaps these things should be brought to the attention of said “expert” ? What was this guy thinking?
Humans aren’t cats! They wish they were, though. 🙂
Humans aren’t even flexible enough to lick their own faces.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Is that author kidding? Sheesh….humans are in no way like cats!!!!
The Florida Furkids
Yes ! absolutely true and have you ever seen a human washing himself with his tongue from top to bottom and even behind ??
Of course you’re right, Sparkle. Humans are awkward and strange. We are graceful and perfect. Obviously, that article was written by the awkward and strange ones who have jealousy issues.
You are SO right, as usual!
Once again Sparkle, you have shown another author and “expert”
that they know nothing. We know what humans are and they are NOT cats!
These poor humans. They keep trying…
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure,JJ
and Angels Tiger and Tillie