Why do some women devote their lives to saving cats?
Some women give their lives to rescuing and looking after cats who need help. Why do they do this?
Cat rescuer Jeanne Bones
I don’t believe that long term, dedicated cat rescue is exclusively the domain of women but there is no doubt that there are many more women than men involved. Why is this?
The main reason is the obvious one:
“[Women] have a stronger nurturing instinct than men”, Dr Roger Mugford, animal psychologist at the Animal Behavior Centre.
That is rather a simplistic answer because most women are not involved in dedicating their lives to saving cats. So what marks out the nurturing woman who wants to save cats?
Firstly there are personal, inherited characteristics but Pat, a pensioner, provides an nice insight. She has been sensitised to the abused creatures of the world because she has seen animal abuse and she has received personal abuse in her earlier life. Most particularly she saw kittens being abuse when a child.
If a person is sensitised to animal abuse they will be motivated to stop it. Add to that the natural nurturing nature of women plus the steady stream of cats needing help and you have the equation that results in a woman devoting her life to helping cats.
So what happened to Pat? She is drawn to sick and unwanted cats. This really is a reflection on a person who is empathising with vulnerable cats.
Pat’s own words sums up where her sensitivity to vulnerable cats comes from:
“I don’t know why I love animals so much. Perhaps it was my upbringing. My dad was a bully… bullied my mum and he used to drown kittens,” says the 71-year-old from Dagenham, east London.
“I used to have to watch – I was only a tot looking over the sink and all these kittens were going in a cocoa tin. I never forgave him for it.”
“The last bloke was a drug addict, he used to beat me to a pulp. Maybe that’s why I like animals. I feel so sad because people are so cruel [and] don’t think animals have feelings.”
The caring approach towards cats has no brakes. It usually lacks a practical and pragmatic method which can lead to acquiring too many cats, mess, high expense and chaos. This happened to Pat and she felt trapped and stressed by the situation she had created. But then the situation that she had created was born out of her emotions not out of practicalities or for financial reasons. Emotions don’t have boundaries.
Cats Protection said that over the period 2006-2010, 25,510 rescue cats were adopted by women out of a total of 35,335 cats.
Sometimes women who dedicate their lives to saving cats adopt a practical approach and formalise that love of animal rescue by creating a rescue organisation. One such lady is the former top photographic model, Celia Hammond who created Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
Celia Hammond animal rescuer
Although she managed to avoid becoming a stressed cat hoarder, she has paid a price; she has ended up on her own because her work has taken up so much time that she neglected her relationships (as at late 2010).
A lot of devoted cat rescuers are alone with their cats. They don’t mind. It is a price they are prepared to pay.
“It’s very hard to do this job and have a normal life. Relationships just fall apart, I’ve had three main ones and I neglected all of them which is why I’m on my own,”
“In a way the whole thing was upsetting, but it was also a relief because I didn’t have to answer to anybody anymore. The thought of being alone when time goes on is a little bit scary sometimes, but not really.” (Celia Hammond)
Can we throw into the mix a conscious decision by women who devote their lives to saving cats to form relationships with cats in preference to men? Possibly yes, on occasion, and this may reflect personal early life experiences as demonstrated by Pat.
The ideas here are mine. They are not necessarily correct and they are not supported by research. The quotes come from a BBC article of 2010.
You may want to check out my latest book, WOMEN WHO STILL LOVE CATS TOO MUCH. It’s for women like myself, who just can’t stop the immense feelings they have for cats.
I’m not sure why I’m drawn to rescue, but it must have been from childhood. I’ve always had an empathy towards the vulnerable, whether human or animal. I didn’t learn this from my struggling parents. Although I do recall that my mother always made a sandwich for the homeless “bums” who knocked on our door. They would wait outside on the steps, and I would bring it to them. It felt good to give, even though we ourselves had very little.
However, when we decided to get a dog for our two children, I didn’t consider a rescue dog, because I wanted to raise the dog from puppyhood to avoid issues that might come up from their past. Other than that first dog, all the rest have been shelter or stray cats.
It is in your DNA I guess! Although your mother was kind to the homeless. That may have had an impact.
Very nice article and thought provoking.
I can only guess why this has been a lifelong passion, why I have blown off relationships, and why I have such a drive to save.
I grew up in a very happy but large (5 siblings) family. We were financially fair, but my family had a serious urge to always help the less fortunate, be it animal or human. That caused a financial struggle at times. I won’t bore everyone by repeating the long description of Herb, the homeless bum, who lived with us almost 2 years or the countless stray animals that were taken home from the side of the road.
But, I think all is relevant as to why I am who I am. I grew up with the expectation that the less advantaged need our help and that we have an obligation.
My choice of cats, as a child, came about because I sought privacy and solace in the woods, away from the chaos of such a large family. That’s where I found most of my cats and where I go today. As a little girl (7-8), I learned that the expectations of me were far less with any cat than with any human, that a cat will love me “no matter what”, and that they will give me more than I could ever give to them.
Dee, your reasons are to be expect based upon your early life experiences. They are a classic example really. There are variations on the reasons (usually early life experiences) but at root there is a connect and a sensitivity towards the vulnerable and needy which some women respond to wholeheartedly and for life.
Thanks for sharing so honestly.
I’ve come to know myself as a “rescuer”, and that includes anyone on my path that needs help that I’m able to give.
I’ve been helping a mentally ill man for 24 years, because he happened to cross my path, and has the same illness my brother had, who committed suicide. His family is also mentally ill, so he has no sane person in his life other than me.
I’ve rescued and tamed feral cats, but actually just a few, over my lifetime. I could never see myself actually hoarding a number of cats. Usually I rescue them from their immediate circumstances, then take them to a shelter.
The kitty I have now, was a feral, and although I wouldn’t have selected her if I’d had a choice, it was really a rescue operation to save her from euthanasia. I had fed her as a feral, so we had some history, before I surrendered her to be neutered and put up for adoption. Because of her shyness, they deemed her un-adoptable, and slated her for euthanasia.
Even though my landlady had said “no animals”, I begged her to let me rescue this kitty, and she relented. That was 3 years ago, and Mitzy has come around, and is no longer the shy, timid kitty from the streets. She and I are very bonded.
Since I have no intimate relationship at this time, and probably won’t again, at my age, she provides warmth and companionship that satisfies my heart.
Today, there was a tiny dog wandering around my house, and I tried to get him, but he ran away. I’d never seen him before, but I had to let him go. I hope some kind soul helps him find his home. He was so small and thin, and I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t.
Do you know what drives you to be a rescuer? You obviously have a tender heart towards animals that need help. Were you taught it or did you feel you needed rescuing? I think this is why I have a tender heart towards animals.
I think one reason is simply women live longer than men in general, there are more of them around to look after cats! 🙂
Nice thought and it is hard to deny that. It is quite possibly a factor!
Note: Above link FYI >research-Copy-Paste-Delete.
Thank You
Thanks Eva. I’ll check that link out. Yes, cats are wonderfully therapeutic.
Scientific studies have shown time and time again that cats are more than just good pets. They are extremely therapeutic,They lower blood pressure, improve bone density in women and the cat’s purr is healthy for the heart, lowers blood pressure, decrease’s stress ect. – See more at: (deleted as requested by Eva after being read!).