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May be a silly question but one from a dating site...

post #1 of 19
8/18/11 at 10:36pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all animal lovers,

I am on a dating site and there are forums on it on which members can ask various questions. One of the questions was basically if your date had multiple cats, does that indicate mental illness? Let me qualify this by saying that the posters think multiple cats is three cats.

So some of the posters blatantly say run when their date has more than one or two cats. Some said as long as their place is clean and not a pig sty. But three was the limit. I myself was a bit surprised. I don't think three as multiple (which, I know, in its literal meaning, means more than one) but as normal . I have two and have a hard time resisting adopting another one (I also have a dog). So I guess I must be slightly mentally ill as I don't have the maximum of three cats.

What do you think of this? I know that some members have multiple multiple cats so it would be interesting to know their thoughts.
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post #2 of 19
8/18/11 at 11:42pm
Obviously, we all know that having three, four, seven, even ten cats isn't necessarily a sign of anything except a love for animals. Three cats -- that's nothing! Anyone who thinks that's excessive is just naive.

But the real point is that -- as with most of these dating-site questionnaires -- it's simply not possible make a fair judgment without knowing the individual circumstances. For some people, one cat is too many; others may be able to give wonderful care to a dozen. Pooh on anyone who passes judgment based on numbers alone!
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post #3 of 19
8/19/11 at 12:06am
There are all kinds of emotional crutches out there from alcohol, to religion, food, pets, shopping, etc.

On the show hoarders for example, it seems on almost every case the people have a bunch of cats, and cats can be great companions and are less expensive to care for than dogs especially if they are indoor/outdoor. But common sense tells you that not everyone with a bunch of cats is a hoarder. So are pets appealing to people with a mental illness? Yup! But pet ownership is quite common, and the majority are just people that like animals.
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post #4 of 19
8/19/11 at 12:27am
Oh dear if thats a sign of mental illness then I must be totally mad and most of my friends must be as well. Personally I think people with no animals have a mental illness.
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post #5 of 19
8/19/11 at 5:22am
People look at me funny when I said that we have seven cats. (To be perfectly honest, though, I have to admit that I never thought I'd ever say that we have seven cats! )

One of the employees in my building thinks I've more a few screws loose. He thought it was terrible when we "only" had six. And then I was talking to somebody about Tabitha the other day and this person asked me who Tabitha was. When I said that she was our kitten, his eyes got as big as saucers. He started shaking his head. And he walked away, muttering something under his breath. I couldn't quite catch what he was saying, but I think it was something about me.
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post #6 of 19
8/19/11 at 5:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milk maid View Post
Personally I think people with no animals have a mental illness.
I'm with you
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post #7 of 19
8/19/11 at 7:25am
Unfortunately there are still a lot of misconceptions out there about people who have cats. I had always had dogs and when I moved into an apartment I decided I didn't want to have a dog because I still work full time. I admit I kind of put off getting a cat. I was in my mid forties and the whole stereotype about middle age women living alone with cats kept me from getting one. A lady at work was looking for a home for an orphan kitten and I just decided to heck with what people think and I took him. Of course I had to get a second cat so the first one would have company when I wasn't there. I have a two cat limit where I rent so I only have two.
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post #8 of 19
8/19/11 at 9:03am
If this is the case, then I am full blown crazy!! I have 10 cats: 4 domestics, 5 awesome bobcats and 1 big lovable cougar. So yeah, lock me up because I feel cats are better companions than most people Oh and for those who do not know me, don't let my user name fool you. I am a guy, my name is John
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post #9 of 19
8/19/11 at 11:00am
I like to spin these sorts of things into something positive; my kitties provide the perfect litmus test for present and future relationships (friendships and otherwise). In essence: Don't like (my) cats? Get away from me. Unless you're a sort that is cruel to animals, which in that case, stay right there...so I can break your jaw.
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post #10 of 19
8/19/11 at 11:55am
Wow, that's just sad. People even consider that someone is mentally ill based on the number of pet cats? On the basis of.... ? what, exactly?

I think someone who thinks that is incredibly judgmental and obviously has no experience on which to base such an opinion. Are people with uninformed opinions mentally ill?

Is there the same question for the number of dogs someone owns?
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post #11 of 19
8/19/11 at 12:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Is there the same question for the number of dogs someone owns?
How about the number of kids one has?

Unfortunately there are so many stereotypes out there and there always will be. The good news is not EVERYONE believes them.
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post #12 of 19
8/19/11 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailie View Post
How about the number of kids one has?
Ooooo, another good point! My former boss had 13.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kailie
Unfortunately there are so many stereotypes out there and there always will be. The good news is not EVERYONE believes them.
Exactly.
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post #13 of 19
8/19/11 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat View Post
If this is the case, then I am full blown crazy!! I have 10 cats: 4 domestics, 5 awesome bobcats and 1 big lovable cougar. So yeah, lock me up because I feel cats are better companions than most people Oh and for those who do not know me, don't let my user name fool you. I am a guy, my name is John
I thought you where spoken for? So your not single and dating I would assume .


Now as for the question, when my boyfriend was alive and we lived in another state on 250 square acres and had 40 indoor/outdoor cats. But now that I live in a different state and home I only have two indoor cats and two indoor/outdoor cats.

I think if the persons house is clean then they can have a lot of any animal. But once the house is gross and discussing then it is time to RUN!
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post #14 of 19
8/19/11 at 5:13pm
If the question were phrased "Do you have so many cats that you hurl several at visitors while shouting gibberish", that would be fair IMO.
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post #15 of 19
8/19/11 at 10:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
...I think someone who thinks that is incredibly judgmental and obviously has no experience on which to base such an opinion. Are people with uninformed opinions mentally ill? ...
Standing ovation, Laurie! Well said!
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post #16 of 19
8/20/11 at 12:32am
Thread Starter 
Very interesting replies, thanks to you all!! I totally agree.with all responses...I was just so surprised at some of the 'knee-jerk' reactions about a date having more than one cat.. I don't think the same reactions would occur if their date had more than one dog. For some odd reason, having cats is considered less desirable than dogs. That's probably not the right way to word it. Maybe cats are considered more disposable? Of course, if a person is hoarding cats, as in having many and not caring for them properly indicates serious issues. But for those who rescue, foster or just have many cats, I would not by acby any stretch, consider them mentally ill. More like heroes....sometimes on a date I will not mention my pets until I ascertain what their attitude towards animals is. Not that I would going forward if they thought I was crazy, just So I can decide whether or not I'm interested.
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post #17 of 19
8/20/11 at 3:30am
So I guess I must be slightly mentally ill as I don't have the maximum of three cats.

well I have 2 kitty's and 1 puppy dog to but it's ok I know I'm mentally ill

But on a serious note I would not bother to date anyone that answered that question but then my kids do call me the mad cat lady so maby I'm not the right one to answer that
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post #18 of 19
8/20/11 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SweetPea24 View Post
Very interesting replies, thanks to you all!! I totally agree.with all responses...I was just so surprised at some of the 'knee-jerk' reactions about a date having more than one cat.. I don't think the same reactions would occur if their date had more than one dog. For some odd reason, having cats is considered less desirable than dogs. That's probably not the right way to word it. Maybe cats are considered more disposable? Of course, if a person is hoarding cats, as in having many and not caring for them properly indicates serious issues. But for those who rescue, foster or just have many cats, I would not by acby any stretch, consider them mentally ill. More like heroes....sometimes on a date I will not mention my pets until I ascertain what their attitude towards animals is. Not that I would going forward if they thought I was crazy, just So I can decide whether or not I'm interested.
Me and you do not agree on many issues, but you bring up a good point about having more then one dog. No one would bat an eyelash (other then me) if the person had nine or ten healthy dogs and a clean home. But if you said you had nine or ten indoor cats and your house did not smell people would think your nuts.

I think I am nuts for having my F3 Savannah destroy so many possessions but other then that I think I am a catch . Okay, not really and I do not think I would date again. After having spent 14 years with my deceased DB I just do not think I could open my heart to another man.
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post #19 of 19
8/20/11 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milk maid View Post
Personally I think people with no animals have a mental illness.

I don't know if I would go that far, but I have to admit I have difficulty imagining living with with no pets of any kind! I'm always suggesting to pet-less friends that they consider getting a cat or dog.
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