Not "MANLY" to like cats!

mercymanic · Oct 30, 2005

Originally Posted by halfpint

I think that's a bunch of BULL****

REALLY, I know lots of men that like cats, men that cry, men that are senstive, are they not supposed to be any of those either, I rather have a man that is careing, senstive,and loving then some hard person. I don't think people teach there sons to be tough anymore. Not manly what is up with that anyway

Ditto! I wouldn't even go out with a guy that didn't like cats. A lot of my female friends wouldn't either.

It's really messed up to hear a thing like that coming from a woman in the first place.

oz'smum · Oct 30, 2005

Maybe it's the showing of any love, towards anything, she finds unmanly. I'm not condoning it, I personally think that a caring man is a real man.

But if she didn't bring him up for a good part of his life, maybe she's misguided rather than being nasty.

(I always try to find the good on folk, I'm an optomist at heart)

lionessrampant · Oct 30, 2005

Cindy, I was just going to talk about how Hemingway was the picture of masculinity in his time (and, the picture of chauvanism) and he has an entire genetic mutation occurring in felines named after him! He's rolling in his grave!

I don't know. I hate it when people say anything is 'masculine' or 'feminine', so you know how I feel about this one!

kai bengals · Oct 30, 2005

If you look at it from a comparison stand point, and assuming liking a dog is considered by your mother-in-law to be manly........

If you were to take a cat and a dog of equal body weight, let's say 15 pounds, I would say pound for pound the cat is a much more lethal predator. Armed to the "teeth" with sharp fangs, 20 razor sharp claws and possessing extreme speed to utilize them.
The dog pales in comparison.
Shouldn't it be considered macho to befriend this animal who potentially could inflict some serious wounds?

I'm joking around of course......sorta. I personally have never felt less manly for loving our cats.

mrsfishy · Oct 30, 2005

My boss is an extremely "macho" kind of guy.....he lifts weights and has lots of tatoos from his Navy days and is kind of gruff looking/sounding....maybe I should tell him that it's not manly for him to dote over his 6 fur babies all the time!

snowleop · Oct 30, 2005

Originally Posted by mikenealis

I'm taking a class this quarter titled "Images of Men and Masculinity." I was worried for five weeks about this class and ended up going to talk to the professor because not only did I not relate to anything we were talking about in class as what was "male," but I fit in the opposite end of the spectrum for most of it. I have cats, I don't eat meat, I don't drink, I don't sleep around, I like to cook.

It turns out that it's not a "bad" thing to be different than mainstream images of what it means to be a man. In fact, I'm willing to bet that it's those images that are at the root of a lot of problems.

Interesting point, Mike. You should know that those qualities you have which deviate from mainstream images of men are exactly what make you an ideal catch for any potential partner.

snowleop · Oct 30, 2005

I was just thinking about the characters of Bobby and Hank in the animated series, "King of the Hill." Hank is a macho (and fairly close-minded) Texan man who can't stand that his son likes to cook, grow flowers, and play with dolls. There is one episode where Bobby's Home Economics assignment is getting a stain out of a cheerleading outfit. Bobby's sitting on his bed, examining the stain, when Hank walks in on him. Hank, clearly dismayed (especially since he isn't aware of Bobby's assignment), tells his son, "There better be a naked cheerleader under your bed."

mikenealis · Oct 30, 2005

Originally Posted by SnowLeop

Interesting point, Mike. You should know that those qualities you have which deviate from mainstream images of men are exactly what make you an ideal catch for any potential partner.

I'm going to put you in charge of getting the word out, then. I've been trying, no one's listening

zak&rocky · Oct 30, 2005

How stupid! I have always found liking cats attractive. That's the only redeeming quality about my ex-bf. He was like a butterball around them..
I didn't realize my husband liked them that much until he started talking one day about how much he missed his childhood cat Mitzi... A few weeks later a gal at work sent an email about Zakk and I was the first to respond. He was home the next day. He loves the cat to death. He makes up songs about them... You can't say anthing bad about Zakk around him- he's his favorite.

mom of 10 cats · Oct 30, 2005

Reminds me of my mom telling me when I hit 30, that now I would have to cut my hair short, because "women over 30 shouldn't have long hair." Some people just have twisted opinions!

Tybalt is quite manly, thank you very much, and adores the cats as much as I do! (I say he got it from his mom, who has 9 cats of her own!)

wellingtoncats · Oct 30, 2005

My ex boyfriend once told his classmates that when he was watching sport on TV it was his cat Cocos cuddle time!

dawnofsierra · Oct 30, 2005

The love of cats would have to be one of the most attractive features I can imagine in a man!

pat · Oct 30, 2005

I'd love to see anyone try to tell my husband, built as solid as a linebacker, that it's not manly to love/have cats. Heh...

KitEKats4Eva! · Oct 30, 2005

Gosh that's surreal - I wonder what other kind of weird prejudices he had to endure growing up?? One of the things I love most about my Maxey is his love of our furbabies - I'm with you on that one, Linda, I think it makes them MORE lovable!

amberthe bobcat · Oct 30, 2005

Wow, I guess this means I am not much of a man now does it

With the BIG kitties I have and love, I must be even MORE less of a manly man

cheeseface · Oct 31, 2005

Originally Posted by stampit3d

Can you believe that anyone would say such a thing? GO FIGURE!

Your mother in law has a very distorted view.

I believe that kind of thinking is more common among men. It's an unspoken stereotype that I don't adhere to, but lots of men do. I'm comfortable enough with my manhood that I don't make myself hate cats to feel manly.

ryn · Oct 31, 2005

Originally Posted by mikenealis

I have cats, I don't eat meat, I don't drink, I don't sleep around, I like to cook.

That's my hubby you're describing, except he drinks alcohol.

I think most men don't fit the dominant image of manhood, if they did, why would there be a need to advertise what the right way to be "male" is? Most women don't fit the female stereotype either (I was actually a bit annoyed, when I tested my psychological gender, and it turned out to be woman from four options. I don't want to be that indoctrinated). The supposition that gender equals sex is just stupid social convention.

A very ignorant and narrow inded woman that mother-in-law.

stampit3d · Oct 31, 2005

I especially have enjoyed reading the responses from men on this thread.
You guys are just WAAAAAAY TOOOOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think there is just something that women really love about a guy who loves cats!!!
Linda

purr · Oct 31, 2005

I was just thinking while reading this thread, that if I had a choice between the exact same people and one liked cats, I would pick that one. Mostly just because my #1 'must have' for a guy is that he must love my cat(s). I'm sure a lot of other women with cats feel the same way, so a lot of "manly" men will be missing out!

sar · Oct 31, 2005

This reminds me of my male mates in High school - one was eating a tuna toastie and the others told him that it was a girls' toastie, men eat ham and cheese!!!

I never realised that food and pets were 'supposed' to be gender specific!

Not "MANLY" to like cats!

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