This is an off-the-cuff post and it is probably a slightly complicated subject which may require more than I am willing to give it. It is more a discussion document than the complete package.
As they are retired, older people are around the home much more. They are able to get involved with their cat much more which would lead me to believe they would be good with a more active or demanding cat. However, older people are less motivated and more static and therefore are more likely to prefer a docile, less demanding cat.
Also older people become less able to do things properly. They screw up because their skills deteriorate. This implies older people would prefer a docile, undemanding, easy to keep cat.
As for younger people you’d have thought they’d prefer a more active cat but….younger people are working hard nowadays in a more competitive world which obliges them to be away from home a lot and/or with less energy and time to devote to their cat when they crawl home from the hard slog of the workplace.
This leads me to believe that younger people might prefer a docile undemanding cat. This in turn leads to the conclusion that modern humankind increasingly prefers a docile highly domesticated and undemanding cat able to be content with his own company.
If I am correct, I have to come to the conclusion that the sooner the domestic cat loses his/her wild cat tendencies the better.
I have consistently come to the sad decision that the fact that the domestic cat is less domesticated than the dog is detrimental to the cat. The domestic cat has to become more domesticated to suit modern living.
There are other factors too. Older people are likely to downsize which means to an apartment. Apartment living is fine for a cat if it is on the ground floor and the gardens are large and safe for cats (if let out) and provided neighbours tolerate cats. There are complications. Once again this leads to older people opting for an easy to care for cat able to cope with full-time indoor living (possibly).
Younger people are more likely to move. Moving is bad for a cat. The best sort of cat to cope is a docile cat who has little interest in expressing his wild cat heritage.
Yep…young people and older people want the same cat: undemanding and highly domesticated.
Excellent point -esp. the third P, and I quote [Dee]: It makes me wonder if they should have a cat at all.
Yep, and yet your openmindedness and willingness to not fully judge is appealing. I agree with you. We (my daughter and I) had a clean, beautiful household filled w/ love, five cats, an uncaged hamster, and koi, even though I was working and going to school, while my daughter went to school. It was just filled with love and respect. Miss that. 🙂
Quite interesting article, even though you were a bit? tongue in cheek, Michael. lol <3
Myself, at age fifty-five, prefer cats/kittens who have all of their teeth and their claws. Purrsonality can run the gamut–just so long as the cat is fairly predictable in behavior, i.e. quiet, inquisitive, rambunctious, clown, demanding? I don't care. Just no crazy, psycho, slashers. 😉
Michael the recent “Mumbai Cat Show” gave me a exposure to the various types of cats in the city and the temperament. Seems Traditional and Ultra face Persian cats are in vogue because of their absolute docile temperament.All the persians i saw resembled toys rather and were owned by Young Indians, myself being one of the oldest in the young crowd of exhibitors. Bizarrely i also own the most ferocious pedigree traditional Persian cat in the form of 5 year old “Matata”. He really keeps the house active and also worried as his temperament is unpredictable.Agree that elderly people would prefer docile cats as they are easier to handle but then i feel a active cat could keep a senior citizen active mentally as well as physically unless totally handicapped due to old age.
Please change the reference comments within “—” as it happened mistakenly because the key of C (copy) was pressed correctly by me, thank you.
Instead of
“” Is it possible to interview someone who you know kills cats and ask them why they do it?”
please put the following sentences of DEE, thanks.
“But, as you point out, it seems that a younger working person would prefer a docile, low maintenance cat because they lack the time and energy to invest in any other kind. It makes me wonder if they should have a cat at all.”
TOTALLY AGREED with DEE, and you are a MASTER in the cats issue, Michael. I see this subject have to deal with different psychology levels of people and I think before adopting any cat or kittens, a questionnaire form may be put in before. A diary of a person can help in this regard, whether he fits to have a cat because I think that any pet is a living animal and has a heart and spirit in it. We can not just over look any issue of the cat, we have to tame the cat, socialize it, feed it, clean the beds, the litter boxes, and watch like a lioness whether our baby is in comfort or not, we have to give her the more and more time to let her understand us and let us understand her needs and psychologies. I fully agreed with DEE that what she said in her reply ” Is it possible to interview someone who you know kills cats and ask them why they do it?” and if anyone…I seriously argue to this…If anyone can not spend his/her energies to maintain and do welfare of that companion, may in NO WAYS have the right to spoil her(cat’s) life. No way…but I pray for you to soon let us congratulate you that you have a new baby at home and that is a beautiful companion of your life…A CAT…A kitten…A kitty <3 <3 <3 I am waiting for good news from your side, Michael, God bless you, ameen <3
Most rescues try to match senior cats with senior people.
Some of it may have to do with the lower activity level of an older cat. But, mostly, seniors go for it because they can’t stand the thought of a beloved cat outliving them.
I’ve seen a lot of younger working couples with children adopt young active cats or kittens. Those cats are usually considered “the kids’ cat”.
But, as you point out, it seems that a younger working person would prefer a docile, low maintenance cat because they lack the time and energy to invest in any other kind. It makes me wonder if they should have a cat at all.
But, God knows, that I can’t judge, because I’ve had multiple cats all of my life, even at times when I worked 60+ hours per week and raised 2 kids alone. But, if the desire to caretake is strong, there’s always a way to make it work.