Last week the San Francisco Chronicle ran an article entitled Rebranding the Crazy Cat Lady. Apparently, the folks over at Tidy Cats are trying to improve the image of cat owners. Seems that the predominant public perception is that people who have more than one cat are Crazy Cat Ladies. And for some strange reason, people are not happy with that designation. Go figure!"...heading up multiple cat households is a way of life for millions of Americans who aren't happy about the negative stereotyping."
They went on to say:
"The majority of non-cat owners who responded described people with more than one cat as being a homebody (75%), lonely (69%) or, that old zinger, a "crazy cat lady" (58%). They also described multiple cat owners' homes as smelly (75%), having furniture and bedding covered in cat hair (85%) and being cluttered (66%)."
(Take away the cats and you have me.
Note pajamas & comfortable chair.
The books on the shelves are way too tidy, though.)
The books on the shelves are way too tidy, though.)
But what about this sweet Russian lady:
Her neighbors don't complain about her at all... at least not very much. And she has 130 cats.
Anyway, they're having a contest to find people with multiple cats who don't fit the stereotype. They want people to write in and tell them how perfectly normal they are and list all the fun
activities they do with their cats. They want to "redefine what it means to be a (well-adjusted) "cat lady" (or lad)."
That's all fine and good, but what about those of us who don't have cats? Why can't we enter the contest? Don't we have an image to maintain as well? Can't we be well-adjusted, too?
Not everyone was born to have a pristine house and lots of social events to attend on a regular basis. Some of us were meant to be reclusive and untidy, regardless of pet ownership. All I'm asking for is a little patience, understanding and equality here! Because I look like a Crazy Cat Lady doesn't mean I want any actual cats... I'm a dog person. So why can't I enter the contest? It's just not fair!
Or, maybe it's just time to Rebrand the Cat Lady? Stay posted!
17 comments:
Can you not dress the dogs up with long whiskers and pointy ears for the day??!!
E.D.: Great idea! Do you think they'd notice? He does weigh in at 110 pounds. Guess I'll have to call him a coon cat... a very large coon cat.
Well... our local Grammie has a usual census of 3 cats & she's not reclusive or untidy (there is rather a lot of cat hair around, though. Her major problem is the cats putting her in the hospital intermittently (bites, scratches)- go fig. I don't think that does much for the cat lady image, though... sorry.
Good lord, don't disguise dogs as cats, they'll get confused and lose all self respect. Unless there's food in it for them. In which case, bring on the flea collars and hairballs. "Mister Snookums? Yes, that's me. Now, where are the meatballs?"
I have 2 cats. My house is sparse for having 2 kids and tidy. There are usually a couple of cat tumbleweeds of hair that need vacuumed up about once a week. I don't worry care that folks think that we are a little crazy. I think most people are kinda lacking intelligence. You just have to keep the cat boxed cleaned at least every other day. No smells in my house. No one knows we have cats until they pop out to say hello. And...
they do not try to smell your privates like dogs!!!
Lisa/Jedi and Brendan!: I'm happy to report that Hickory the Wonder Dog has never put me in the hospital.
Indigo: HIckory the Wonder Dog has never liked playing dress up, so I guess that's out of the question after all.
Hit 40: You must have mysterious cats. Do they have awesome Ninja skills?
I've got two "cats" that were "given" to me and I'm wondering; I ignore them on a daily basis except when it's feeding time or I am helping my puppy ambush them does that make me a "Crazy Cat Lady" or an "Animal Abuser"?
Trodo: Ambushing sounds like fun! If Hickory and I had known there was so much fun to be had, we would have considered procuring a cat to abuse much sooner!
My dog would wig out if I even tried to put a doggie sweater on her...let alone kitty disguise! LOL.
Hey, JennyMac: Thanks for stopping by... I'll be over for cocktails soon!
We ditched the house cat a few years ago. Actually he darted out in front of a truck and saved us the effort. We missed him for about a week then I started to enjoy not having to clean up cat hair off of everything or deal with that stinky litterbox.
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day!
I played with my arm with a bent elbow for a while to see the butt crack!! LOL. I will be taking pictures of it next time we are waiting for our food :-)
120 cats?! That is far too many...
A friend of mine had three that shed like nothing else. Once in a while she'd ask that I stop by to work on her computer -- each time her keyboard would look like it had a sweater covering it.
Aliceson: My condolences on the loss of your beloved pet... that kinda sucks... and my congratulations on finally having a clean house.
Hit 40: Isn't that the coolest thing since chocolate milk? I bet your son will be so impressed!
Canadian Blend: Golden Retriever hair on black fleece is a "fail" as well.
I have got to get one of those cat lady action figures!!!!
Ok, I demand equal play time here... we are dog people, ok cat people too, but dogs rule here. Two australian shepherds in the house, which will outdo pet hair on the furniture any day compared to cat owners, and a part-time chocolate Lab ranch dog in the house (his primary job is outside, but I can't help myself, I keep letting him IN the house, to hubby's dismay).... So. What about those cwazeee dog owners, hmmmmmmm?
Hey, thanks for coming by my blog. Just a by-the-way kinda comment. :)
Wait a minute... cocktails? Did I hear cocktails? And what, no invite? That's ok, I'll hep meself. There. I just fixed a vodka and cranberry. Yum.
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