Cat People

Many of you know I'm a cat person. I love cats. I grew up in a dog-only household, and by osmosis, I hated cats, because everyone around me always badmouthed them. But when my former partner, Jillian, and I moved in together way back in 2002, we adopted a cat (Simone). Changed my life.

Of course, animal adoption always changes you. Pet companionship is very special. But now on my 20+ year span of owning cats, I've really changed in how I think about myself and other people.

Cats are aloof, sure. And they're not generally trainable, like dogs. They rarely show the excitement that dogs show. So, it's really easy to see why many people don't enjoy them as much as dogs. Totally fair, and I'll never judge anyone for being a dog person, because dogs are great.

But here's what I've learned from having cats. First, while cat person and dog person are labels to describe what kind of pet they gravitate toward. I also think those terms can describe human behavior.

Much like Type-A/Type-B or Introvert/Extrovert, there are two brought behavior categories in cat/dog. But I don't think it's quite the same as those other dualities. Basically, dog people need other people. They need structure. They need socialization & near-constant companionship. They express their feelings directly. They are effusive and expressive. Dogs love you through play, through conversation, through touch.

Cat people need alone time in balance with time socializing. They are generally not effusive. You can only know what they're thinking/feeling if you study them, which requires familiarity. Cats think about safety a lot. They need places they can hide. Sometimes because they're scared, but also just as a failsafe in case they ever do feel that way. Cats love you through proximity. They also need touch, conversation, and play. But really they need to feel comfortable with you. And they'll do that over time.

Basically, it's a matter of open expression. I am truly a cat person in that I'm perfectly capable of being friendly and fun. But mostly I do my own thing and hope that the people close to me know that I love them even if I don't think to express it verbally very often. Because just knowing they're there for me is how I know they love me. They could say it a thousand times, but it's feeling them near me that really gives me shelter.

There's not a real arc to this pseudo-essay, but it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I continue to be amazed by my cats (Robert and Reba), not just because they're my special little kids. But because I'm hoping to fully become a cat some day.

In conclusion, are there any experimental surgeons out there?

-Jeffrey Cranor
Aug 29, 2025