Why are cats so popular on DU?

[BainsBane]

I like cats. I have had several cats as pets in my life. But I now have a dog, and I so love my dog. I find she offers me much better companionship that a cat. I certainly have no desire to detract from the important relationships people have with their cats, but I find myself wondering why cats are so much more popular on this site than dogs.
We see endless threads of cute cat pics, cat avatars, and many threads about cats, yet far less about dogs. Any theories why?

[Curmudgeoness]

1. From spending time in this Pet group,

I am not sure that cats really are more popular here. I think we all love our animals, and many have dogs.

Maybe the reason it looks like cats rule is that the cat people are more outspoken and post more, or maybe it is just to piss off the kitteh haters.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Because cats make their owners post about them... n/t

[Kookaburra]

22. Hehehe!

I wouldn't be surprised to learn my kittehs are actually doing the postings themselves.

[Voice for Peace]

23. hahaha one of my cats has his own facebook page

and it wasn't created by me.

[kdmorris]

3. I'm an EOPL (Equal Opportunity Pet Lover)

We have 2 dogs and 2 cats.

[arcane1]

4. We're just appeasing our overlords

[catbyte]

5. Probably due to cat & dog natures. Dog people are out doing stuff with dogs.

We cat people hang out inside with the kittehs. I have serious nerve damage/chronic pain issues, so cats are perfect. Plus, I have never been able to get past that "dog" smell--even clean ones. Peeyew.

[BainsBane]

6. eau de chien

I love it. But that's because it comes from unconditional love.

[Angry Dragon]

25. that dog smell is dog farts

[HereSince1628]

7. My guess is Catwoman and MattCom on DU1.0

but it's just a guess.

It sure wasn't because of underpant's underpants.

[GoCubsGo]

8. They're popular all over the Internet.

Just look at the LOLCats page, which has been around for eons. The article linked below suggests some possible reasons they're more popular, but I also suspect that a lot of it has to do with the fact there are more cats kept as pets than any other animals (86.4 million cats vs. 78.4 million dogs according to the ASPCA.)

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/101283/cats-internet-memes-science-aesthetics#

And, they've been ruling us for thousands of years...

?w=620

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I think it's because they're funny.

They're almost like cartoon animals, except they're real. They have goofy little faces with funny expressions and weird, flexible little bodies like furry Gumbies. So almost any photo you take of a cat is likely to be funny. Hence the LOLcat phenomenon.

[BainsBane]

10. and maybe because they tend to be dignified

so putting them in funny situations is especially humorous.

[DainBramaged]

11. Kittehssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

(My baby, Digit)

[2theleft]

12. Dog lover here...

And I don't understand it either! In the kitties defense though, I'm horribly allergic to them. I work with people who get daily allergy shots just so they can have a cat, they are that big of cat fans.

I am perfectly content with my two big pups.

And to the person talking about the dog smell... My big guy, 120 pound, hound/dobie mix...he NEVER smells. It's the craziest thing. Every ONCE in a while, like twice a year, he will smell kind of like Fritos. That's when he gets a bath. He is VERY dignified though. Would NEVER think to roll around in the yard like a DOG. The boxer on the other hand...well...that's a whole 'nother story!

[BainsBane]

13. If you're diligent about bathing them

They don't smell much. Of course some breeds smell more than others. I don't notice or mind the smell myself. My girl brings me so much joy, a bit of smell doesn't matter.

[2theleft]

14. :-) I don't mind my boxer's doggie smell

And really, with no fur, she's a snap to bathe and dry in no time flat. Nothing better than snuggling with a boxer since they are SO affectionate. Has to touch you when she sleeps. Last night I woke up because she was having her doggy dreams and it must have been a puppy dream because she was "nursing" the end of my pony tail! Such a baby (at 3 1/2).

[BainsBane]

15. Mine's a boxer mix

Boxer and some sort of scent hound, or so I was told. She actually looks quite a bit like a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Since she's a rescue, I don't know for sure what she is. She's SUPER affectionate, the best cuddler.

[2theleft]

18. Rescues are the best. My big boy is a rescue.

He is such an unusual dog. Definitely a scent hound and supposedly a doberman mix. HUGE boy, super sweet, my good buddy, but NOT a cuddler. With your boxer mix, you definitely know the pure joy of a boxer's affection. Unlike any dog I've ever had. I would not trade either of the babies for anything. They bring such joy to your life! My boxer is actually the only pure-bred dog I've ever had. Always done the shelter pups. But, she was a gift, and I mean, who is going to say no to a precious puppy??? Even as a pup, she was a snuggler. Sat in my laps on the days I worked from home for HOURS on end. Never had a dog with such a need for physical contact. Really brings a smile to my face.

Does your baby do the boxer kidney bean when you come home and she is so happy to see you that her body practically bends in half with the weird little dance they do? And I swear, sometimes it look like she is walking on her tip-toes.

I think the world would be a much happier place is everyone had a dog to come home to!

[BainsBane]

19. She does do that dance

I didn't realize that was a boxer thing. She does this kind of dance with her front paws, and then twists herself around in excitement. My cousin calls it "spazy" (not my term). But Lola does it because she's excited, not from a lack of coordination, as my cousin insists. I've had her for three years now and she has become more affectionate over time. I don't think she knew if I was her permanent home during the first few months because she had been moved from home to home so much. She had also just finished weaning a litter of pups. So she had some trust and abuse issues to overcome. But now she is very affectionate.

[Voice for Peace]

24. have you seen Loca the special pug?

[BainsBane]

28. thanks

This video brought a lot of joy to my cousin's son, who has just come out of the hospital after experiencing an attempted abduction last night.

[Voice for Peace]

29. Wow..

I'm sorry to hear of this, I hope he is all right?

[BainsBane]

30. yes, bruised with a minor concussion

and pretty scared, I'm sure. But being a 17 yr old boy he won't show it.

[get the red out]

27. I kind of like my dog's smell

For a long time, when I didn't have a dog, I didn't like doggie smell (though I loved dogs) and I always thought it would put me off. Layla's smell bothered me for about a day after we adopted her. Now I associate her smell with such good things that I start looking forward to it during the day and often stick my nose into her fur. We do try to keep her pretty clean also, she's a rough coated BC mix (mostly BC) and I don't like it when her white belly looks brown, and I don't think dragging dirt around in her double coat would be very good for her anyway. There are water-free bathing products we use that keep her clean without having to throw her into the bath tub after every game of fetch in the winter. She came in last week with frozen dirt in her furry tail, it took both me and my husband to get that out, she was a MESS.

I absolutely love the way cats smell. I adore cats also, but my husband is a dog person exclusively (doesn't hate cats, just prefers dogs). I love dogs so much that having a pet to love is the most important thing to me.

I do love the fact that I can so easily take Layla in public on her leash and to Pet Smart and local pet supply stores. Dogs are also fun to train, as I'm finding now that I'm involved with dog agility.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. Dogs DEMAND your attention

and sometimes I just have to close the door. But cats are content to curl up on your lap or by your side and purr I love the purring.

[BainsBane]

17. My dog is curled up with me right now

Sure she needs exercise, but afterward she likes nothing better than to have a good meal and snuggle with me.

[Curmudgeoness]

26. I guess your cat never sits on your newspaper,

or book, or computer. Lucky you. My cats have always demanded attention, at least at the times when I am trying to give my attention to something else.

But I do agree that the purring is one excellent reason that cats rule.

[eridani]

20. Population has increased, and so have work hours

Cats need less space and less care.

[mopinko]

21. they aren't popular- we are making fun of them.

dogs- we love.