Study reveals men with cats are a dating turnoff

SharpshooterTom

If you’re a guy with a cat and a dating app profile, listen up (but maybe put your feline pal in the other room first).

Men who own cats might be less likely to get dates, according to a new study on how women perceive potential matches on apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble.

The findings, published by researchers at Colorado State University and Boise State University, looks into the question of “whether men were considered more attractive when posing for a photo alone or holding a cat.”

Their conclusion? Cats, aren’t cute — or at least, they don’t make their owners seem cuter. In fact, for 708 women surveyed in the experiment, they actually made men appear less attractive.

The study was relatively simple: Researchers showed the women (whose ages ranged from 18 to 24) photos of two men, each of whom had posed for one photo with a cat, and one without.

Then, based on the photos, the women were asked whether they’d consider dating that guy — with many saying their opinion decreased after seeing him with a feline companion.

For example, 38 percent of women surveyed said they’d date the first man in the study, based solely on his cat-free photo. After they were shown a picture of him with his four-legged friend, that figure dropped to 33 percent.

The percentage of women who said they’d never get involved with the man also rose once they saw him with a cat, from 9 percent to 14 percent.

“Women viewed men as less masculine when holding the cat; higher in neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness; and less dateable,” the researchers wrote of their findings.

The outcome was far from expected. In fact, the study’s authors admitted that, before the survey, they had believed that holding a cat would make a man appear more attractive. This was based on previous research which found that “women view pet owners as more attractive and dateable than non-pet owners,” according to the study.

It seems as though that hypothesis may only extend to dog owners — who, according to the researchers’ citations of previous studies — might be seen as more “masculine” than guys with cats.

“Women prefer men with “good genes”, often defined as more masculine traits,” the study states. “Clearly, the presence of a cat diminishes that perception.”

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cat-might-hurting-dating-life-122335854.html

So basically the story is its ok to own a cat but just don't shove one into your profile pic with you?

Do many single men own cats?..

Seems like more a woman's pet..

Although it is 2020 I suppose..

nullzero

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Do many single men own cats?..

Seems like more a woman's pet..

Although it is 2020 I suppose..

Looking forward to the replies this garners, lol.

EmmetSpiceland

The smell of a home with a cat is never pleasant.

GinSoaked

About 50 seconds in maybe the reason why

That's funny
i wonder if they just got sick of looking at the guy and if they tried it in the order with-without as well

Risingshadoo

If a woman has pets, I wouldn't date her. Sorry.

SlowMotion321

That's cause they're pussies!

Apiarist

Owning a cat is fine. Putting a selfie with a cat on your dating profile shows that the guy is so desperate for attention as to use a pet to attract a date.

GinSoaked

Seamai

I worked with a woman on her early 30's who never shut up about her two cats, I got a text from her once while she was on holidays saying she was really missing her "babies". If I was her fiance I'd be running for the hills.

Alf Veedersane

Seamai wrote: »

I worked with a woman on her early 30's who never shut up about her two cats, I got a text from her once while she was on holidays saying she was really missing her "babies". If I was her fiance I'd be running for the hills.

Worked with a similar woman who spent half her day sketching pictures of her cats.

The other half was spent talking at people about them.

I wonder how much was invested in this research to arrive at a rather obvious conclusion.

ArnoldJRimmer

Well number one, I don't use Tinder, but if I did, I wouldn't include details of my cat within the profile as who fcuking cares. A pet does not define a person unless you are Joe Exotic

But number two, I wouldn't date someone who was so shallow that they would think that a man who has a cat is somehow less masculine or worthy of a date

punisher5112

I know no man that know a cat....

silverharp

I remember hearing recently dating advice to not date someone who has a dog because the dog will always come first, in the context I heard it seemed for men not to date women with dogs but I guess it could go either way. I suppose you could be extra determined and wait for the god to die of old age :pac:

Alf Veedersane

silverharp wrote: »

I remember hearing recently dating advice to not date someone who has a dog because the dog will always come first

And that ruins the mood I'm sure

Hoboo

Without spending time and money on a study, I wouldn't expect a girl/woman/lady/female, whatever the correct term is this week, holding a cat in her profile picture, would fair too well attracting guys either.

Grab All Association

What happened to After Hours?

Not that long ago with a thread like this there’d be 7 pages of vagina jokes within an hour before the thread would be locked.

You’re all just short of putting your preferred pronouns on your boards profile and posting about veganism and gender neutral clothes.

Bobblehats

Much safer option should he have three bull mastiffs straining at the leash

c.p.w.g.w

Seamai wrote: »

I worked with a woman on her early 30's who never shut up about her two cats, I got a text from her once while she was on holidays saying she was really missing her "babies". If I was her fiance I'd be running for the hills.

Literally sounds like myself & OH...

Most folks form strong bonds with their pets, so much so that there is little difference in brain scans between someone who has lost(Died) a family member or a Pet(Dog & Cat)

So, in conclusion, it was a simple case of "Do you like cats?"

mikhail

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

Well number one, I don't use Tinder, but if I did, I wouldn't include details of my cat within the profile as who fcuking cares. A pet does not define a person unless you are Joe Exotic

"Do you have any pets?" and "Are you a cat or a dog person" are very common dating profile questions. Tinder is 90% about the photos, but photos of pets are common. (And welcome too, I think. I'd certainly hesitate to date a cat owner if I were allergic to cats!)

But number two, I wouldn't date someone who was so shallow that they would think that a man who has a cat is somehow less masculine or worthy of a date

There's a difference between people who would articulate that idea if you asked them, and unconscious bias and association. I expect there are lots of women who would tell you they'd be positively disposed to a cat-friendly man, but who would just rate the dating profile of a cat-owner a bit lower instinctively.

To pick an extreme example, there are plenty of people who would consider themselves far from racist, but who display very strong statistical racial preferences in their selections on dating apps.

buried

Didn't do this lad any harm, and not only was he a psycho, he had the head of a battered 1989 MO Toyota,

Although yer wan was blind anyways so

PsychoPete

I was in a relationship with a woman who wanted to move in together but I had to get rid of my dogs, so I got rid of her

Rodney Bathgate

PsychoPete wrote: »

I was in a relationship with a woman who wanted to move in together but I had to get rid of my dogs, so I got rid of her

Where did you bury her body?

Class MayDresser

Whereas a woman with her pussy on show on her dating profile is OK. Hmmm.

SlowMotion321

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Where did you bury her body?

Fed her to the dogs of course;)

PsychoPete

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Where did you bury her body?

If there is a body, there is evidence! That's a rookie mistake

Rodney Bathgate

PsychoPete wrote: »

If there is a body, there is evidence! That's a rookie mistake

Yes, my bad, I should have asked how you disposed of the body.

Rodney Bathgate

Class MayDresser wrote: »

Whereas a woman with her pussy on show on her dating profile is OK. Hmmm.

What dating app is this now?

frozenfrozen

is it only a 5% difference? I thought it would be more. 5% probably accounts for the "I only swiped for your dog" women

punisher5112

Meow.....


My cat use to say helllooo

B.A._Baracus

SlowMotion321 wrote: »

Fed her to the dogs of course;)

That right there is a zinger :pac:

Personally I find men who love cats very attractive, but I would wouldn’t I?

bitofabind

Cats are shrewd, emotionally unavailable lying b@stards. I've always loved cats.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I have two cats (Hopkins and Pluck), and I'm tremendously successful with women.

That said I would never put a picture of them on my dating profile, or use a dating site for that matter.

Leg End Reject

Don't fcuk with cats, or the men they own.

Sam Hain

PsychoPete wrote: »

I was in a relationship with a woman who wanted to move in together but I had to get rid of my dogs, so I got rid of her

Yeah, that's the way it went down. Cool story.

buried

Fair play to cats. Anything that is a total apex predator, a killer akin to something like a Great White Shark in its own environment, but also has the uncanny ability to make half the people on the planet go gooey eyed foolish over them, people that the cat literally does not give a $hit about, that's one species that's got the game sown up and also deserves respect for it.

punisher5112

My pussy is upstairs

Seamai

Cats are kuntz, we have several families of wild rabbits living in the ditch along our garden doing no harm to anyone. There have been two domestic cats skulking around for the last couple of months waiting to pounce on the kits as soon as they emerge from their burrows. I wasn't too upset when I spotted one dead on the road last week. Give me a dog anyday.

Wibbs

buried wrote: »

Fair play to cats. Anything that is a total apex predator,

They're not apex predators. Maybe on islands with no other large predators, but otherwise no. Tigers are apex predators, wolves are apex predators, humans are the top of the apex, cats no, whether wild or domesticated. For a start while wild dogs and humans will regularly go after and take down prey many times their size, cats won't. They don't have the strength of numbers for a start. Wildcats are extremely careful and skittish in areas with wild dogs about and are regularly predated upon.

but also has the uncanny ability to make half the people on the planet go gooey eyed foolish over them, people that the cat literally does not give a $hit about,

Actually cats do give a sh1t about their owners, or extended family/parents as they generally regard them. They will take advantage of others, mostly because they're a largely solitary animal in the wild and quite vulnerable so will try to fit in when they can. Dogs are similar though their pack/family instinct is more acute. The notion that cats are this aloof uncaring creature is a myth projected onto them by some. Cats can be extremely loving and affectionate, more than many working breeds of dogs.

that's one species that's got the game sown up and also deserves respect for it.

I find cats and to a lesser extent dogs have a lot of projected qualities from their owners and it says more about the owners than the cats(or dogs) as an animal. Maybe that's why men with cats might be seen by some as a turn off? A guy who projects the idea of emotional independence to the point of disinterest onto cats may reflect his own aspirations and this might put some women off who will understandably look for loyalty.

Cats are often seen as more "sly" too, which might put some off. Though again they're not particularly "sly" at all. Dogs actually push more human buttons than cats ever do, and get away with it. They even evolved extra muscles in the face to give that puppy dog eyes look, something wolves don't have and something cats never evolved. They also vocalise more than their wild ancestors in order to deal with us. Dogs are much more emotionally and socially manipulative than cats. Well they've been with us for far longer, at least 20,000 years and likely longer. To the degree that your average person can understand wolf vocalisations and body positions more than they can of our closest relative the chimpanzee, and more than cats. Cats are more popular these days because modern life of empty houses and the 9-5 suits them more. They're more of a "part time pet" in that respect.

Seamai

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

The smell of a home with a cat is never pleasant.

No, it's vile, the owners probably get used to it and don't notice it. The litter tray business freaks me out, their paws are in it and afterwards everywhere else around the house and cat owners don't bother trying to convince me that you change the litter after every crap, I very much doubt it. I have a friend with cats and I hate going to her house, I see them everywhere, kitchen top surfaces, furniture, even saw one climbing up the curtains once.

Homelander

silverharp wrote: »

I remember hearing recently dating advice to not date someone who has a dog because the dog will always come first, in the context I heard it seemed for men not to date women with dogs but I guess it could go either way. I suppose you could be extra determined and wait for the god to die of old age :pac:

Never got this. In what situation would it come down to having to make the dog a priority over your boyfriend/girlfriend in any meaningful way?

"Sorry, I can't go away this weekend as I can't get someone to mind the dog". Is about the worst I can think of and entirely rational? Hardly relationship shattering stuff.

There isn't going to be a scenario where a masked intruder has a gun put to their head and demand they chose between the partner and the dog.

I've dated plenty women with dogs and it's never been an issue. A few times I've missed the dog after the relationship ended.

Cats are particularly good listeners, take a lot more in than they let on, then they surprise you with what words they recognise. For example Séan O’Rourke, on the radio many months ago, was interviewing a vet or animal behaviourist about dogs and cats. Next minute cat’s head was turned towards the radio with ears pricked up, listening most unusually with full attention. If I utter the phrase “birdies in the garden” he’s up to the window in a moment.

As regards emotionality, my cat, too large to sit on my lap, pushes himself against my belly as I slouch in the couch, and when I exit the room to go to bed he wails for ages trying to beg me to return to the living room. He’s very emotionally attached, and takes to other people quite readily. A rescue cat, I’m fairly sure he was hand reared as a kitten as he displays all those demanding needy behaviours.

jam_mac_jam

No I wouldn't be interested in a man with a cat. The smell of their houses are disgusting. That would be the main thing with me.

Dog man all the way.

o1s1n

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Dog man all the way.

I've smelled some stinky dog houses in my time too

Church on Tuesday

I love cats. I like how independent they are. Up until a couple years ago I had one but it got hit by a car

Don't even keep them in, I let them in from time to time but they stay outside for the most part. I don't buy them toys or other pointless ****e like that and I certainly don't have catnip.

My mates wife has a cat and she spoils it like you wouldn't believe, it gets the best of the best, it's bizarre to watch and walks all over the place, I couldn't be having that.

And yes, I love dogs too.

3DataModem

Perhaps if people were aware how much cheap jewellery they could get with a cat... .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2yWAD5OzhM

Zaph

SharpshooterTom wrote: »

So basically the story is its ok to own a cat but just don't shove one into your profile pic with you?

It is never OK to own a cat!