Bella Patton, Campus Carrier asst. features editor

Unfortunately, cats in both real life and fiction are often portrayed negatively. The “curse” of bad luck that comes with black cats or cats’ companionship with villainous characters may work during the Halloween season, but the stigma doesn’t make sense in real life. This stigma has caused cats to be misunderstood as aloof, unfriendly or unloving, when my experience with cats has often shown them to be better companions than other pets. 

When I was twelve years old, my family adopted two kittens that soon became part of our family. These two cats grew into the opposite of what people tried to tell me about cats. Once they became comfortable in their new environment, they turned into loving, excited pets and were always very obviously happy to see us. However, even my own brother, who has been a self-titled “dog person” for his entire life, didn’t want to bring them home. In true little brother fashion, he spoke out on his dislike of cats and always claimed they were the better pet. 

While cats may not always be the ones to run into your arms at the end of the day like dogs (although some certainly are), the idea that dogs are inherently better than cats is a societal construct formed through legends and superstitions that don’t reflect their strengths and qualities as an animal. Cats are highly intelligent, playful and can even play interactive games like any other pet. Cats are just uniquely affectionate in their own way, especially when compared to dogs. Instead of wagging tails, my family and I came to enjoy hearing my cats purring or watching them “make biscuits” on their blankets. I also can’t even tell you the number of times my cats have weaved between my feet whenever I go back home from college, excited to see me every time I return. 

I think the rest of the stigma against cats comes from their ability to be independent. Dogs are known for wanting constant attention. However, independence is another strength of cats. When I lived at home, my cats were happy to play with their toys or even with each other during the day. Additionally, a cat’s independence isn’t something that should be as off-putting as others like to say. Earning a cat’s affection instead of being bombarded by a jumping dog is much more rewarding. Once a cat likes you, it likes you for life. I will always remember the time my friend’s particularly grouchy cat decided it liked me. Her family told me I was “one in a million,” as their cat normally didn’t approach outsiders. 

Ultimately, I’ll always be a cat defender. If more people embraced these differences between cats and dogs, they could better see the appeal of having pet cats and why owners defend them so much. While I understand that some people simply don’t like cats, I think our feline friends deserve a second chance from all of the cat-haters. My two cats, along with the many others I’ve met, have shown they aren’t the “villain” of the pet world. They can be just as loving, fun and enjoyable as any other pet.