cats attach to humans, and particularly women, as social partners

[bcbm]

http://news.discovery.com/animals/2011/02/24/cat-278x225.jpg
The Gist:


Relationships between cats and their owners mirror human bonds, especially when the owner is a woman.
Cats hold some control over when they are fed and handled, functioning very similar to human children in some households.
While the age, sex and personality of owners affect these relationships, the sex of the cat doesn't seem to matter.

The bond between cats and their owners turns out to be far more intense than imagined, especially for cat aficionado women and their affection reciprocating felines, suggests a new study.

Cats attach to humans, and particularly women, as social partners, and it's not just for the sake of obtaining food, according to the new research, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Behavioural Processes.

The study is the first to show in detail that the dynamics underlying cat-human relationships are nearly identical to human-only bonds, with cats sometimes even becoming a furry "child" in nurturing homes.

continued:
http://news.discovery.com/animals/cats-humans-pets-relationships-110224.html

[ChrisK]

This does not surprise me at all. I've grown up and lived with cats my whole life. Any person with a cat will tell you that the relationship is extremely complex and that nurturing them is very much like having a self-sufficient child.

[Diello]

My cat behaves like the cat equivalent of a hyperactive thirteen-year-old.

Also, he learns by osmosis:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/Emperor_Diello/album3/photo-1-1.jpg

[PhoenixAsh]

when I or my ex were out of the house the cats would sit by the door for hours waiting till the other returned and only if it took to long would they return to the living room...but keeping an eye, and ear, on the door and hallway beyond. Running towards the door every time they heard the elevator.

They did not attach as strongly to my ex as to me though...basically because she didn't give a fuck about them. (but refused to give them to me when we split up...instead moved them to her new boyfriend who hates cats....I miss them :-( )

[bcbm]

growing up i lived in a house where there were equal numbers cats and humans and it seemed that these would end up in "pairs" with each cat favoring a specific human and vice versa.

[ChrisK]

Its true. In my house there is a cat for each person and our personalities matched up perfectly. It almost seems like the cats mimic the person they "like" the most. Either that or we like cats that act in a way that we can say is like us.

[Black Sheep]

*crying with joy*

Thank you, science!

[Diello]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/Emperor_Diello/album3/photo-6.jpg

Hee hee.

[Exakt]

omg, who would've guessed that instead of babying ugly newborns some women have substituted them for cats, after all, a cat doesn't require you to drop your job or to devote your life to meaningless domestic work. of course, women like cats, men like dogs, women like cooking, men like working with heavy machinery and all of this is obviously biologically determined.

[Queercommie Girl]

of course, women like cats, men like dogs, women like cooking, men like working with heavy machinery and all of this is obviously biologically determined.


Reactionary biological determinist rubbish.

[Exakt]

Reactionary biological determinist rubbish.Inability to comprehend sarcasm.

[bricolage]

Cats>>>Dogs.

[Queercommie Girl]

Inability to comprehend sarcasm.

English isn't my first language. Stop your Anglo-centric assumptions about ethnic minorities!

[Exakt]

English isn't my first language. Stop your Anglo-centric assumptions about ethnic minorities!1) Who said English was my first language? From reading everything on here, your English at least seems better than mine.

2) I didn't make any Anglo-centric assumptions about any ethnic minorities; in fact the only one who has made an assumption about any person's ethnicity on here is yourself.

[Queercommie Girl]

2) I didn't make any Anglo-centric assumptions about any ethnic minorities; in fact the only one who has made an assumption about any person's ethnicity on here is yourself.


I didn't say anything about your ethnicity. So what assumptions about anyone's ethnicity have I made?

My point is that you cannot condemn me for not picking out the sarcasm, it's simply not my fault at all, given that English is not my first language. You are assuming that I'm absolutely fluent in English can any native speaker.

I may be very fluent in English generally, but my understanding of slang terms and sarcasm, as well as my accent, are still significantly behind that of a native speaker.

[Exakt]

@ Iseul.


So what assumptions about anyone's ethnicity have I made? You said "Anglo-Centric" assumptions, which implied I was "Anglo" or come from an "Anglo" culture from which I (apparently) hold such assumptions.

You also stated that I have Anglo-centric assumptions about ethnic minorities. I would like you to substantiate that statement or you should withdraw it as the basic slander it is.

What exact assumptions do I have about ethnic minorities - and which ethnic minorities?


My point is that you cannot condemn me for not picking out the sarcasm I didn't condemn you at all, just pointed out I was joking. Relax, you didn't get the joke. Not the end of the world.


it's simply not my fault at all, given that English is not my first language Didn't say it was your fault or that you deserve blame. You take yourself way too seriously.


You are assuming that I'm absolutely fluent in English can any native speaker. Perhaps the only thing that I assumed was that everyone here would see the absurdity of a leftist talking about how "cooking" for women and "operating heavy machinery" for men was hardwired into our brains. Its not really an unwarrented assumption to assume that most people here can speak English... it is an English forum after all.


I may be very fluent in English generally, but my understanding of slang terms and sarcasm, as well as my accent, are still significantly behind that of a native speakerAs interesting as you may seem to yourself - I'll confess that I'm totally disinterested in providing you with an opportunity to bore myself even further.

[kahimikarie]

how sweet

[Queercommie Girl]

You said "Anglo-Centric" assumptions, which implied I was "Anglo" or come from an "Anglo" culture from which I (apparently) hold such assumptions.

You also stated that I have Anglo-centric assumptions about ethnic minorities. I would like you to substantiate that statement or you should withdraw it as the basic slander it is.

What exact assumptions do I have about ethnic minorities - and which ethnic minorities?


Eh, one does not have to be ethnically English to make Anglo-centric assumptions. Potentially I could make Anglo-centric assumptions even though I'm an ethnic Chinese person who has an UK citizenship.

To assume that everyone on this forum must necessarily be fluent in English is an Anglo-centric assumption.

As for ethnic minorities, in this case it doesn't matter at all which ethnic minority it is, as long as it's a non-English speaking ethnic minority.



I didn't condemn you at all, just pointed out I was joking. Relax, you didn't get the joke. Not the end of the world.

Didn't say it was your fault or that you deserve blame. You take yourself way too seriously.


I think you are the one who is taking the matter too seriously if you could actually label my critique of your assumptions as "slander".



Perhaps the only thing that I assumed was that everyone here would see the absurdity of a leftist talking about how "cooking" for women and "operating heavy machinery" for men was hardwired into our brains.


There are many economically left-leaning people who are nevertheless socially and culturally conservative. This is especially the case in many parts of the non-Western world. Every heard of the term "conservative socialist"? Social liberalism and economic socialism don't always go together.



Its not really an unwarrented assumption to assume that most people here can speak English... it is an English forum after all.


Everyone can speak English...yes.

Everyone can speak English absolutely fluently and can pick out all kinds of slang terms and intricate sarcasms...no.



As interesting as you may seem to yourself - I'll confess that I'm totally disinterested in providing you with an opportunity to bore myself even further.


If you want to be so unfriendly and hostile, then that's fine by me.

[TC]

Isuel, why do you try to pick fights constantly, over nothing, in an extremely accusatory way? People are really not out to get you here.

[Queercommie Girl]

Iseul, why do you try to pick fights constantly, over nothing, in an extremely accusatory way? People are really not out to get you here.


Who started the "fight"? I just stated that no-one should accuse me in any way for not able to pick out the sarcasm.

[Delirium]

I hate cats.

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

Cats are better than dogs.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Mutts are lovely if they're friendly, but they can be too clingy and eager to please for my liking. I also prefer cats.

[Stand Your Ground]

This is sooo true, all my cat does is sleep until my girlfriend gets home from work and then follows her around wherever she goes, bathroom, kitchen, sits on the back of her chair when she's at the computer, sleeps on her chest at night, really kinda creepy.

[NGNM85]

My cat behaves like the cat equivalent of a hyperactive thirteen-year-old.

Also, he learns by osmosis:



....And it appears he has excellent taste! :D

[Omi]

My cat behaves like the cat equivalent of a hyperactive thirteen-year-old.

Also, he learns by osmosis:


Damn your cat looks exactly like mine. A young street tom we picked up from the asylum. All he does is sleep on the heaters and eat.

[Diello]

Damn your cat looks exactly like mine. A young street tom we picked up from the asylum. All he does is sleep on the heaters and eat.

My cat pictured showed up at our door in the wee hours one night. He had a battered collar on, so we advertised him as found for a few months. Nobody responded; I think it's likely that he was dumped where he was (directly adjacent to a prison) because the inmates feed cats.

I was going to name him "Ulrike" (after Ulrike Meinhof) until it transpired that he was male.

He alternates between sleeping and engaging in needlessly showy ninja stalking and attacks on random household objects.

P.S.- Dogs are reactionary.

[ChrisK]

I hate cats.

REVISIONIST!!!!!!!!!










(an obvious example of sarcasm)

[Blackscare]

You all are nuts, birds are the way to go. I don't have pics of my old birds in digital form, but these were the types:

Sun Conure:

http://www.perhapsaparrot.com/sites/malletto/_files/Image/sun%20conure.jpg
Quaker parrot:
http://img.webring.com/r/q/qpbreedersandres/logo

I loved the shit out of both of them, but I wouldn't get those types again. Very, very noisy. One died of old age and another flew away when I left my ex-gf in charge of her care when I moved. :(


This is what I would get next, apparently they're very quiet (by bird standards):

http://wawoobird.com/bbs_image/200811/lindberg_-_our_green-cheek_conure_parrot.jpg

They are so much smarter than dogs or cats, cooler, they can usually talk, there's no end to the reasons why they totally pwn the shit out of cats and dogs.

[Delirium]

Dogs are useful though, they keep me warm at night, let me know when there are creepers in the dark, deter people from breaking into my truck, retrieve things when i shoot them. Defend me when people are trying to hurt me, and are a great friend.

my dog tries to eat birds

[PhoenixAsh]

Isuel, why do you try to pick fights constantly, over nothing, in an extremely accusatory way? People are really not out to get you here.


Yes we are....

Feed the paranoia
/sarcasm

No...but seriously...Iseul...just kidding. ;)


*****



@Blackscare....wanna pitch your bird against my cat? :cool:


Birds are also cool...dogs...mwah...not so cool. They keep on drooling. I have two stationed at my parents house who love dogs....btw.

Love animals though...

I grew up in a house with seven aquaria, two snakes, three rats, 37 dessert rats, a cat, three dogs, 20 something carausius morosis (I think), a crow, a parrot and several unplanned mice ;)

[Delirium]

A crow would be cool! teach it to bring you shiny things, and kola buds lol.

[piet11111]

I like dogs more but cats don't need to be taken for a walk rain or shine.
Either way i like not having pets as the money saved goes into my beer budget.

[Os Cangaceiros]

In an enclosed urban environment (like, say, an apartment) cats are the way to go. But in a rural area I'd much prefer to have a dog, particularly a larger dog, like a German Sheperd or Rottweiler. Dogs really are great as long as they have a lot of room to run around in.

[Omsk]

Dogs really are great as long as they have a lot of room to run around in.
Yes,they like to play,and if they are big,you cant play too gentle :) Or at least,your furniture wont like it.
Dogs are for active people,people who are willing to play with the dog,take it for a walk,etc etc.
Cats are for people who like comfort,siting by the fireplace or reading,cats relax me.
But i have a dog,because of my cat hair allergy.

[Rss]

In an enclosed urban environment (like, say, an apartment) cats are the way to go. But in a rural area I'd much prefer to have a dog, particularly a larger dog, like a German Sheperd or Rottweiler. Dogs really are great as long as they have a lot of room to run around in.

This so much. But when the bombs fall and there are mutants to be killed, dawg is the way to go.

[syndicat]

well, i believe the bit about bonding. one of my cats is terrified of humans. she hides when anyone comes to visit me. but she is very strongly bonded to me. she follows me around, brings me cat toys to play with her, curls up on my chest, she comes when i call her.

[Magón]

Cats are cool, but mine can be a pain in the ass sometimes. It takes my cat a long time to warm up to strangers, and usually she'll avoid them by hiding somewhere in my room or elsewhere in the house.

She's also easily pissed off if one of the people she's not familiar with try's to pet or pick her up.

[Blackscare]

@Blackscare....wanna pitch your bird against my cat?

Actually my quaker parrot totally owned the shit out of a ferret that I was.... ferret sitting at one point. Got him on the ground, stood on top of him, and pecked the fuck out of him. Then he slowly backed away, strutting, only to turn suddenly a few yards away and flap at me in a hurry. I guess he was expecting a counter-offensive.

[Reznov]

I fucking hate cats. We have so many feral cats in my neighborhood.

Although, this reminds me a story about Egypt that my history teacher told me, and the children having cats as pets was very common.

Why do I even remember that?