It is a misunderstanding to think cats don't love us like dogs do, or that they are less social, or that they are lower maintenance and need less attention and care. Cats don't even like it when we go out of our way to greet the dog but not them. They get separation anxiety. They sleep when they are stressed or bored (relatable), so we often misunderstand these emotions in cats. Cats feeling superior, or not needing us, or not caring, makes me so sad for cats, knowing all this to be false.
@ItsTrainingCatsAndDogs this one is always so baffling to me, because of you put in the slightest effort to get to know your cats, learn a little bit about their communication/body language, and treat them like an actual being instead of an object, they are simply the best little friends you could ask for! I have never lived with a cat and not built a really nice bond with them, because cats want to have a relationship too
@ItsTrainingCatsAndDogs yes, yes! I used to have a cat that could recognize my footsteps on the sidewalk and when she heard me coming up the street would absolutely gallop to meet me and then walk back with me all the way up the block. There was no mistaking that kitty's love and sociability.
@ItsTrainingCatsAndDogs One way of putting it that made it click for me is that cats are absolutely social animals, but they are not pack animals. We tend to lump both concepts together because we are and so are dogs, but once you separate the two, cat socialization suddenly makes a lot more sense
@bujold Yes-- also, they are very territorial. But rivals will share territories in shifts or even together if resources are plenty enough. You can often improve cats' relationships dramatically just by giving them more than enough resource sites for everyone.
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