Ditch the doggie?
Indiana over at The Dog's Name says that pets are a detriment to single women's lives and that they should get rid of them:Seriously to most men a single woman in her late 20s or 30s with a cat is a huge red-flag and a flashing neon sign screaming "stay away, crazy cat woman".
As a pet owner and a dating blogger, I think this is ridiculous and unfair. Indiana says that men do not appreciate that "pet owner" likely also means "caring person." Instead, they are simply focused on the fact that you have to leave home early to walk your dog or feed your cat and that the animal will take precedence over them.
Here's a tip: If a girl has to leave drinks or a date early to take care of their animal, it is likely at least one of three things:
1. She is a bad planner. Most people who have pets can plan their schedules well enough to have a life and care for their pets.
2. She is obsessed with her pet.
3. She just doesn't dig you and is using Fido as an excuse.
There are plenty of women (and men) out there who love their pets and are far from obsessed (exception: see Jamie from Confessions of a Matchmaker.) Indiana, don't lump all pet owners in one group and pull out the tired cat lady cliche because you had one bad experience.
What do you think? Anyone have an experience or argument to prove me wrong?
Comments
It's The Ku! Woo!
I have nothing productive to add.
Posted by: Mary | September 26, 2007 12:52 PM
Maybe the guy is just a dog person himself. If the gal had a pooch, I'm not so sure it'd be an issue. At least with dogs, you've got the option of hanging out at the park and/or taking your date on a stroll with the mutt. I actually think most dudes would be able to get over a dog.
Cats, and single women who "own" them, conjure up so many stereotypes. Cats, because you can't really do much else with them other than build them a cat attic, give 'em some yarn and cat nip and change out the litter box. Haven't you ever at least heard about a cat that's adopted a "him or me" mentality? Like the kind that poops in the new guy's shoes, or on the sheets after new guys spends the night.
In my experience, cats are far less social a species than dogs are - at least wild dogs can adapt to a pack mentality and assimilate well, once cats go feral, it's difficult to bring them back - and, thus, to complete the stereotype, any woman that would have one surely must be a loner and or have something wrong with her such that she can't be adapted back to society. Cat lovers, you can't see that the tongue is firmly planted in my cheek.
Posted by: Columbia | September 26, 2007 1:51 PM
My only problem with a pet (in this case two) was that I was allergic and the woman in question kept getting pissed because I wouldn't come over.
Posted by: Amadeo | September 26, 2007 1:52 PM
I can honestly say I've never sunk so low as to use my cat as an excuse to leave a date. It must have been pretty awful. Do these women (and men) never go on vacation? Forget that, do they ever go to work?
And since when does being an animal lover make you a bad lover? I am all kinds of confused and slightly offended by this.
But that's a fantastic picture of Haiku!!
Posted by: Nancy | September 27, 2007 12:47 AM