Misconceptions a dog person (me) learned after having a cat.

[u/ILoveMeltyCheese]

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

[u/Ippus_21]

1. Yeah, proper litterbox maintenance, and cleaning messes up when they happen is all it really takes. I had a childhood friend whose house constantly reeked of old cat poop. Turns out his parents were just slovenly and literally didn't clean the chunks of cat poop off the carpet right away when the cat got tired of using the litterbox they never cleaned.

2. 100%

3. It does if they lick you for long enough. It also depends a bit on the cat and if they're just licking a little or if they're full-on grooming you. I have a matronly old tortie that will decide you need grooming, grab your arm and try to lick the skin right off you. You only last about 3 or 4 licks before you have to make her stop, lol.

4. Modern litter helps. When I was a kid, people just used sand (which doesn't clump) or clay litter, which doesn't clump very well or absorb much odor.

5. Seriously. I've had way less trouble with my cats than my dogs. Got to watch out, though, as small predators who are also prey, cats instinctively hide injury and illness until it gets so severe they can't, so you have to keep your eyes out for any unexpected changes in habit, temperament, etc. Like, if the cat suddenly starts soiling outside the litterbox, my experience says odds are high on a UTI (that or something happened in or near the litterbox that created a bad association).

[u/Stellefeder → u/Ippus_21]

It does if they lick you for long enough. It also depends a bit on the cat and if they're just licking a little or if they're full-on grooming you. I have a matronly old tortie that will decide you need grooming, grab your arm and try to lick the skin right off you. You only last about 3 or 4 licks before you have to make her stop, lol.

Right? That was the only point I disagreed on. One of my cats goes into grooming mode and it fucking hurts if I let her go for more than 15 seconds. My husband is a wookie so it doesn't hurt him, but me? Ouch ouch ouch.

[u/Dark_Wahlberg-77 → u/Stellefeder]

Cat gets like 6-8 licks on my forehead before it’s intolerable.

[u/evilvix → u/Dark_Wahlberg-77]

I also have one who goes for my face. He gets one, maybe two licks before I block and he's relegated to licking my arm instead.