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.
Mata was not “Inbred” but i had plans of breeding him to his dam to create a new local line pof Indian traditional persian cats.It was a big flop as “Matata” just doesn’t know to mate, something bizarre as is his violent temperament.He is handsome and a excellent loving pet.
I had forgotten that. One reason for that is because both the human or the cat are more likely to die, is that correct? They are in step in terms of lifespan. That may be a factor. I suppose the main factor is low activity levels.
The worldwide popularity of the Persian (the most popular purebred cat probably) is because of what you say, they are docile and like toys. I understand completely but at the same time it is a bit of a shame as we are gradually taking the cat away from its wild roots and its true character (except for Matata!).
Well, you’re a bit non-typical 😉 You are like me really. We will like almost any cat but the qualities you list accurately describe a good cat companion and the best of cats: quiet, inquisitive, rambunctious, clown, demanding?
Do you prefer male cats. It seems that you do.
Matata has disappointed Rudolph on the sire front 😉
Hopefully Matata’s ‘ferocity’ is recessive? or was he possibly inbred? Not good, but I guess he does make a good sire at times.
And I sure hope THAT gene is recessive! lol. Still, he is a handsome cat and intelligent, as I recall from your pictures/comments in the past –even if he doesn’t have the cojones to ride on the back of your motorcycle. 😉