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.
I think it depends on the person, not the age. My husband and I are 42 And 51. We both work full time with very demanding careers (attorney and IT professional). No human kids but our six cats are our furry babies. Ages 1 to 8 yrs. They are very active and demanding of our attention and we totally indulge them. The key is when we are home after a long day and on wkends we give them tons of love and play time. They are very happy, healthy kitties and we love them dearly. It’s awesome to see other cat parents on this site who appreciate these beautiful and amazing beings.
Well said. Totally agreed. It is just that in general older people are more available and younger people are less available to be with their cats.
I THINK THAT MY CATS AND DOGS KEEP ME GOING,KEEP ME ACTIVE.I AM 67 AND I KEEP ON MY FEET NEARLY ALL DAY AND MOST OF IT IS TENDING TO MY FUR BABIES.OF COURSE ,I DO HAVE MY COMPUTER TIME AFTER MY DAY IS DONE. MY CATS ARE ALL PILED UP AROUND ME.MOST OF MY CATS ARE GETTING OLD LIKE ME.
I am the same. We need our cats as much as they need us. They keep us alive and alert. Also there is some physical element too which helps with weight loss or stopping us getting overweight. I need a cat because I need to care for someone. I need to nurture like a father. It is hardwired.