The dog owner double standard: what’s that all about?

If you’ve been reading my blog from start to finish, you may have noticed that the only theme I have (as everything is pretty random on here) is that every post has “what’s that all about?” in bold letters. Typically, it is not in the title and you don’t know when it’s coming. It’s like a Kinder Surprise.

Now, because I feel so passionately about this topic (slight exaggeration) I have placed the WTAA in the title of this post.

Background:

I own a cat. I love him, his name is Turner and he’s perfect.

Actually, he is sitting beside me purring as I type this. Since the day I brought him home, people have considered me cat lady. Not lying – I started to receive porcelain cats from people (I currently have two), cat email forwards, decks of cards with cats on them, cat jokes at my expense, over sized cat wood carvings, abstract cat sculptures, etc, etc. Mind you, I have embraced it a little bit. I do own leopard print, I love vintage fur and I talk about my little guy a lot. HOWEVER, I still believe in the bottom of my heart that I am not a true cat lady. I only have one for g’s-sake.

Purpose:

Why is it, that dog owners can be totally obsessed with their dogs and they do not get labeled something so negative? Dog owners have facebook groups.  Dog owners sit around and talk about their dogs for hours. Dog owners buy CLOTHES for their dogs. Dog owners make twitter accounts for their dogs. Dog owners have photo albums dedicated solely to their dogs. Dog owners set up play dates. Dog owners talk gibberish in public. Dog owners think it’s ok to bring their dogs everywhere. These women and men are not labeled Dog Ladies, or Dog Gents. They just love their dogs.

I do not have a twitter account for my cat (ie. @delphiethedog – sorry C and C).

Conclusion:

Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs. I intend on having one…one day. However, why is it ok for people to obsess over their dogs and it’s not ok for people to obsess over their cats. What’s that all about? This double standard is quite upsetting for a single girl nearing 30 that has a cat and is terrified of being forever labeled a Cat Lady – “Hello Celibacy, my name is Jen”.

Pets are pets, you either have one or you don’t. It’s when you have too many…that’s the problem.