On Dec 24, 11:56*am, "Phil P." wrote:
"David McCracken" wrote in message
...
I'm wondering first if this is just my imagination...if other cat owners
out
there have felt the sting of this stigma. *Perhaps people just have a hard
time linking a 6 foot, 2-inch, 235-pound male to two little kitties
instead
of, say, a Doberman. 
Would appreciate any thoughts or experiences.
Thanks again and happy holidays.
I think this will make you feel better:
"Confessions of a Cat Guy.
Authors: Kollus, Brad
Source: Cats Magazine; Dec99, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p66, 1p, 1c
CONFESSIONS OF A CAT GUY Am I crazy?
I'm a very eligible, professional, straight male in his early 30s who loves
cats. What's wrong
with that? You'd think my caring, sensitive and nurturing nature would be an
instant chick
magnet. But no, it's not considered "manly," I'm told.
Just because I love my two kids (er, kitties), Scotty and Spanky, buy Cats
magazine and wear
a silver cat ring, I get tagged as "weird." So what if I'm constantly
tripping over catnip mice or
that I've taught my cats how to play tetherball? Who cares if my cats have
health insurance or
that I have a cat shrine (complete with cat candies) or that I carry
miniature portraits of my
kitties in my wallet? After all, the guy next to me is showing
off--woo-hoo!--yet another
drooling baby picture. I think it's a testament to my sympathetic side that
I have a cat license
plate, own the Franklin Mint's Egyptian Cat Goddess Bast Statute, brush my
cats' teeth and
have an extensive library of cat books. Does this all make me odd?
Don't answer.
If I went to golf shows, bought Golf Digest, spent every weekend golfing,
had hundreds of
dollars in golf accessories, a golf book library and a membership to a
country club, would I be
weird? I think so. But it would be socially acceptable and that's just not
right.
I've tried to meet the right woman. I placed a personal ad in the paper and
included that I like
cats. I made a date with a veterinarian who owned two cats. C'mon, this had
to work. But she'd
had four years of vet school and I had to correct her all the time. She
didn't even brush her
cats' teeth. I had no choice but to stop seeing her.
Then there was Shelter Girl. She worked at the local animal shelter, owned
nine cats, had her
own pet-sitting business and worked part-time at a pet store. Paradise, I
thought. We'd grow
old together, she and me and our cats. We'd volunteer at the shelter and
hold hands while
scooping cat litter--two cat-lovers in love. But alas, she broke it off. "I
don't have time for a
man," she said. Her cats took it all up.
On another date, I tried to impress a woman by telling her how I had taught
my cats to play
tetherball and that we were invited to appear on the Late Show with David
Letterman.
(Unfortunately, I had to turn that offer down since my cats were too
neurotic to perform in
public.) "It's so cute that you taught your cats to play baseball," she said
politely
EBSCOhosthttp://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/delivery?vid=20&hid=15&sid=820cd52...
"Baseball!" I bellowed. "Cats playing baseball? That's absurd. Ever seen a
cat hold a bat? No
honey, my cats play tetherball." She never returned my calls.
Then, I met Kate. rd finally met the right woman. I spent our time together
feeling as though I
was floating on the ceiling. I perused jewelry shop windows. Then one night
after watching
Shakespeare in Love, she ripped out my still-beating heart. She just (ouch!)
wanted to be
friends.
After months of agonizing, I bumped into her. I swore nothing she could say
would shake me.
"By the way, Brad," she said, "I'm allergic to cats." I felt salt pouring
afresh into my wounds.
Sometimes I think I should give up my loves to be "normal." Then Scotty
crawls on my chest
and Spanky on my lap and I realize it's not an option. There's nothing wrong
with a guy who
loves cats. Maybe there's something wrong with a world that devalues such a
relationship. I'm
not crazy I'm not.
OK, maybe t am. But just a little.
There's nothing wrong with a guy who loves his cats.
~~~~~~~~
By Brad Kollus
Brad Kollus lives in Columbus, Ohio. Matchmakers may send letters to Brad
care of Cats magazine."
Happy Holidays,
Phil
"I have found my love of cats most helpful
* * * * * * *in understanding women'
* * * * * * * * * * * *--John Simon
where can i find this man? what's his number? he is the man for
me!!!!!
unless he is really ugly or fat of course
i have to say those men who think that taking a baby out to the park
or something is going to attract women are completely wrong; any
single girl will just assume that you are already taken (hence the
kid, it is probably yours and you are only taking it out cos you have)
and give you a very wide berth. You want to walk a dog or something,
doesn't show that you are already burdened with kids and a woman, but
you are (a) a caring animal lover and (b) may be single
obviously if one could walk a cat inthe park that would be better, but
that is tricky.
anyway, al those people who claim they are allergic to cats YOU ARE
TALKING ********, no such thing as far as i am concerned, just get
over it wahtever it is, my dad's cat used to make my eyes itch and
water a lot but i got over it and so should you. it is just a sad
excuse used by horrible people who are not in touch with their feline
side and anyone who claims that they are allergic to cats should be
avoided at all costs
and phil, my clothes are covered in cat hair
bookie