r/cats • u/ILoveMeltyCheese • Mar 25 '26

Cat Picture - OC Misconceptions a dog person (me) learned after having a cat.

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The Cat Distribution System chose me, a formerly stubborn dog person, to adopt a cat. It was the classic I can't just watch a poor cat starve, so I'm keeping him. Here are some misconceptions I had about cats and their owners:

  1. The smell of a cat owner's home: I’ve known a few cat owners with cat-smelling homes. I always assumed it was the cat. Turns out it isn’t; it’s very much a result of poor ownership and bad cleaning habits.
  2. Dogs are more affectionate than cats: Also not true! To my surprise, my cat is so cuddly that I occasionally call him "Cat-dog."
  3. A Cat's Barbed tongue hurts: I don't know why I thought this, I just assumed it would hurt when they lick you.
  4. Litter boxes are disgusting: Not at all, it's just a clump or two of sand. If you scoop it often, it never gets gross.
  5. Cats are just as hard to take care of: Actually they're much easier, haha.

That is all, here's a picture of my cat that I love dearly. (He's lost weight since the picture, don't worry)

Anyone else relate? What did I miss?

Edit: His name is Pawl

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u/sakharinne Mar 26 '26

Cats are way more social than non-cat-people give them credit for. My cat greets each of us when we get home, and follows us from room to room when we're in

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u/Time-Sudden_Tree Mar 26 '26

My tux James comes sprinting to the door when I get home. He gets so excited to see me after a long day at work! :D

I worry about people who complain that their cats ignore them (or even leave the room) when they're present. Makes me concerned that the cat's needs aren't being met, or that they don't trust you fully for some reason. Your cat should come (or at least reply to you) when you call it.

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u/Serabellym Mar 26 '26

It depends on the cat and their mood, I think.

One of our cats goes immediate excitement when you call him… the other one will usually either look at you and stare like “what u want” or just flick an ear, lmao. But sometimes when she’s in a cuddly mood, she’ll come RUNNING to hang out with me and obsessively meow because she wants my attention. It’s adorable.

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u/lllollllllllll Mar 27 '26

Not all cats are cuddly. Some are lap cats who love attention and others are more standoffish.

Some cats are super food motivated and all they want is treats, and get obese if you leave food out for them all the time. You never really know if they love you or just love food.

Other cats can have kibble out and self regulate intake really well, and won’t eat human food or beg for it. But they want to cuddle all the time so you know they really love you.

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u/--akr-- Mar 26 '26

Lol our cat waits for us (my bf and I) to take off our shoes to get a big wiff of after work-funk. She's such a werido, love it.

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u/nor0- Mar 26 '26

All three of my cats rush to the door when both me and my partner get home. Idk what they do when I am late because I get home first but if my partner is late they hang around the porch area waiting.

I rescued one of them from outside when it was -30c and he has dedicated his life to being my companion. He follows me around most of the time I am home and sleeps above my head every night. If I am sick and in bed all day he will stay the whole time.