What a Dog-Centred Society Reveals About Misogyny

Just to clarify I’m a cat person through and through, very proud and protective mum of two boys, Slinky and Snoopy, both gorgeous rescues from Sheffield Street Cats (a truly wonderful and determined feline rescue charity). I do like dogs very much also but due to my eyes swelling like golf balls after so long in their presence, with certain breeds, but I am a privileged auntie of quite a few beautiful K9’s. However, my thoughts on this topic are from my experience and observation of society, not entirely because I’m a cat lady. 

Of course, cats and dogs have separate natures and levels of independence, cats don’t need a human by them every hour of the day and are happy to be diligent members of the neighbourhood watch, without training or persuasion and come to their owners for a fuss on their terms. Whereas dogs need to be walked one or more times a day and ideally need more attention and dependency from their humans. Both are tremendously heart-warming additions to any household and human life; there’s no doubt about it. 

I would also like to note none of this opinion relates to any working animal; guide dogs, therapy pets etc. Keep up the brilliant work, beautiful ones! 

According to historical sources, it was known that cats were frequently burned alongside women who were accused of witchcraft, in the 15^th century, which was a policy that Pope Innocent VIII encouraged. In middle age Europe (I feel like ratus ratus now) it was a common festival tradition to horrifically burn cats alive as a way of ridding the town of evil, ironic right? It was a shared belief that cats were part of a deeper evil due to their reflective eyes and mysterious behaviours (smart), to me it just shouts jealousy. 

The Bubonic plague also drove down the number of felines in Europe as they were persecuted for their connection to rats, which carried the fleas that spread the illness. It seems, even hundreds of years on, there’s still a similar societal view of felines, and their historical connection to women has only pushed this further. 100% ACCURATE!

In modern society cats are much more accepted as beloved pets, but the opinions of them and their treatment still reflects the horrid past. 

I do firmly believe, like we have a growing child centred society, compared to the past. We now have a dog centred society. Before you all start barking at me, let me explain why I’m not on board with it. 

WARNING: KAREN ALERT! Many dine in pubs, shops and cafés now allow dogs to dine in too, which my unpopular opinion is that anywhere serving food indoors, shouldn’t allow this. Unfortunately, I had a grim experience, going out for a meal and two large labradors were spread over the floor, seemingly after a muddy walk as their owners were dirt trodden too. It was the only table left in the venue, and we didn’t see the dogs until we sat down and ordered. The first thing I could smell was the wet dogs and poo, and the poor staff had to literally step over or go a long way around to serve surrounding tables because the dogs weren’t even laid under their table, they were to the side, blocking off an entire footpath for staff and customers. Once their owner’s meal came, the barking started, and it was loud. The reason I don’t own one is because of this very reason, loud noises shake me to my core – unless it's Beyonce on the highest volume. 

The smell did put me off my meal and I spent £50 in total on a meal I only half stomached because of the stench. Other customers were complaining also. I have no issues with keeping any animal and pet safe, warm and fed – but at 6pm on a summer evening, was there a need for the large dogs to be indoors? Especially when outdoor tables were available. I don’t think it would’ve been such an issue if the dogs were moved under their table or to the corner tables, so they weren’t blocking any walkway, and they hadn’t just stepped off a muddy walk, which added to the rancid smell. Also, when I’m eating do I want to be staring at piles of mud on the floor next to me? 

Honestly, no, that’s what camping is for (which I don’t do). I also understand a lot of this can come down to owners, not just venue rules, as my friends who own dogs wouldn’t have done the same as those owners. I left sharply due to the frustrating lack of thought. 

What’s annoying is if I brought my cat into a dining establishment, I think we’d be burnt on the stake for shouts of concerns for cleanliness. Personally, fill the restaurants with cats. I know their cleaner and very polite, and routinely flea’d and wormed. Trust me, my cats are more upkeeping of their appearance than Kim K. 

When shopping in stores that offer pet gifts, toys, food exec, it is vastly predominately dog products. Maybe one plain cat bowel tucked underneath the floorboards, if you’re lucky. I know cats are much classier and see toys as a childish thing, that is until they get their ‘VILD hour of the day, where anything in a stick or or mouse form becomes prey. Including feet. According to UK Pet Food, it’s estimated that 15.5 million dogs and 13 million cats are living in UK homes. Not a large difference at all, yet shops cling onto their rows of dog products only. I mean they’re missing out on the bank, because cat owners, like me, will buy ANYTHING, probably because we're so used to only finding rare, near extinct products in stores for our babies. 

Now we’ve all come across the saying ‘cat lady, or ‘crazy cat lady’. The ‘president’ of the USA, Mr Tickle, famously attempted to shame Taylor Swift (yes Miss Swift the global phenomenon, self made billionaire) ‘childless cat lady’. Mr Tickles lil side act remarked ‘a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives’, when talking about women in the Democratic party. Once again, ironic, right?! 

Dogs have always been classed as a ‘man's best friend’, due to their companionship and loyalty. Which cats do have too, but of course its mainly females whom their companion is, so aren’t reflected in the same light. 

However, it is a famous example of how cats and women are viewed, less important, sad, lonely and unlovable. Wider societies in history, and still across many counties to this day view cats as only good for one thing, catching mice or rats. This heavily resonates with the view that women are only good for one thing, bearing children. Therefore, they are accepted as second class to men and dogs.

 Generally speaking, many people get pets to make the house a home and enrich one’s life, and it’s true that you're never lonely when you have one. The reasoning for getting a cat or a dog is the very same but are stereotyped oppositely. 

The media also reinserts this idea that women who get cats are ‘crazy', ‘sad’ and ‘lonely’ too, and are usually filling the position of a child in the woman’s life. A great example is The Simpsons character Dr. Eleanor Abernathy, who is a hermit with dozens of cats who hurl at onlookers. She is also portrayed as childless, older, angry and unkept = unlovable. Many romance films over the decades have used the term ‘crazy cat lady’ to describe their future after heartbreak. It’s a long-standing societal perspective.

People often dislike cats because they are very intelligent and I think many, predominantly men have a problem with that. How can they ring power over intelligence? Hence why they prefer blind loyalty and followers. If everyone was intelligent, like cats, I bet there'd be no straight male leaders, and the mess the world is in today would vanish. Additionally, people often dislike cats because they can bite or scratch, aka when they’re not happy or you’re overstepping a boundary, they let you know. Now is it clicking why dogs are predominantly a man's best friend, and why they are dominating society?  I say, give cats the vote. I’ve given up on the British public anyway. 

It does explain how the treatment of cats is dire compared to dogs. Cats Protection estimates there to be 250,000 stay cats in the UK, who are abandoned, lost or unowned. Compared to much fewer homeless dogs. Tik Tok trends and horrid bets that harm cats, such as misplacing them, is immensely concerning. I believe this is largely because of how they are viewed as feminine, their safety and happiness aren’t as important, just like women’s. People still view cats as evil, cunning and dangerous- so much so that many cats are hit or run over every day, mainly due to the lack of patience and care by humans. I think we all know someone whose pet cat was run over. Yes, cats do venture, sometimes near roads, but usually if you keep within the speed limit of residential areas, where pets will be roaming, causing such damage is unlikely. If it’s a dog, the whole city comes to a standstill. Rightly so, but the same should go for cats too.

 Babes you’re not racing at the Monaco Grand Prix in your Vauxhall Astra, even if you did put a pathetically loud engine in it, gior with it. 

Overall, every animal and pet should be in a safe, caring and happy home, who treats them like royalty – society should equally do so too, as the alarming number of animal shelters is horrific. But without those amazing shelters and rescues, who do phenomenal work day and night, the situation would be much out of control. I hope to see a day where animal shelters are well funded and rare because there’s a lack of need for them, because society and owners treat them correctly, and those who work in rescue and re-homing centres are praised and well acknowledged too. 

I’m proud to be a crazy cat lady, let’s turn attention back onto the dangers that men cause in society and what they like to use as distractions. Don’t be fooled by cats or women, Karma is a queen and we have magical powers! 

If a cat isn’t playfully trying to bite or scratch you, it's because you’re annoying them. Women should do the same. Politely, take the god damn hint.

PS, rescue a cat (and a dog) <3

Till next time chicks, Jessie x