Alison Gallagher-Hughes considers how changes in social attitudes could bridge a traditional gender divide.
Most of us carry some ‘baggage’ and the same could be said of the cat. Society has defined it by association, from its looks, behaviour, movement and interaction with humans. It runs deep: influenced by history and culture, positive and negative – from Bastet, feline Goddess to the Ancient Egyptians, to the supernatural familiars of witches. Throughout time, however, they have been strongly linked to the feminine.
In contrast, the dog has long since been seen as “man’s best friend”, perhaps emanating from their traditional role as working animals, but are the tables starting to turn? Could blokes be gearing up a new bestie?
For a whole host of reasons, a new generation of male cat owners appear more willing to “own it”, celebrate their kitty connections, and promote the fact that cats are cool.
This has not been a sudden change, but mirrors our evolving relationship with pets. As little as 50 years ago, a household cat may have had a dual purpose – as a mouser, as well as a domestic companion – but increasingly sharing our homes and our lives with cats has led to stronger bonds. Generations of boys have grown into men with positive experiences of having a cat as a family pet and as adults, male cat ownership has increased.
More than five years ago, UK Pet Food (formerly the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association) carried out research that found more than two thirds of feline owners (around 5.5 million) were men, equating to approximately one in five British blokes.
Of course, this has also been propelled by practicalities. Cats are generally cheaper to acquire (pedigrees excepted) and maintain, and their independent nature means that ownership is less demanding and time consuming compared to a dog.
Living environments also have a sway. In the UK, increasing house prices mean many cannot afford to live in a property with gardens to exercise a dog. On the continent, apartment living is the norm for city dwellers, making cats a practical pet choice. In Japan, cultural affinity to cats, partnered with limited living spaces within its cities, see high levels of cat ownership.
Cats are also great companions and highly individual characters – developing a connection with them enriches our lives and enhances our
