Guess What My Neighbor Said About My Ferals Colony?

We were downing a few cold ones and i told him about the colony i take care of. Guess what he told me i should do...drumroll...The idiot said to blindfold and dump them in the woods. I straight told him that was cruel. This came from a guy who worships his German sheperd. SMFH!

Some dog people can't extend the compassion to cats for some reason.

I've worked for and volunteered at several animal shelters over the past 20 years. And I love dogs AND cats (well, pretty much anything furry melts my heart - -- I even fostered at a wildlife center!). And as much as I hate lumping people into "dog people" and "cat people" (no disrespect meant at all kittyluv387 !!!!), I've found that (as a VERY broad generality) often self-proclaimed "dog people" find it funny to try to upset a "cat person" by saying cruel things like your neighbor said, often simply to "rile up" the cat person. But that same person would be furious if you said that about a dog and puppies!

We have a neighbor who has an adorable Maltese mix they rescued from a horrid situation (which I give them alot of credit for). And while she's very sweet (we love her too), she's gone through alot and has alot of issues (she's a submissive pee-er, etc.). If I ever even joked about doing harm to his dog, I think he'd come after me (verbally at least). But if that couple is at our house, that same "love my dog with all my heart" guy has said things to us that make my blood boil (after one of our sweet, old kitties jumped into his lap and fell asleep, he looked at me and said "Now there's cat hair on my pants - - -if you weren't here, I'd be throwing him in a bag with a bunch of rocks and tossing him in the river without a second look in my rear view mirror."

So J Johnv713 - - I have no answer - - wish I did! But I too have had those types of experiences -- you're not alone in your frustration!!!! I too wish I could figure out why it's perfectly fine for some people to look you in the face, say something very angry and nasty about the cat you love - - -and then turn around and get furious if you don't find it hysterical. Maybe it's meant to teach us patience?

Thank you for fostering. “Now’a there cat hairs on my pants” im feeling Funny and angry at the same time LOL.

Well, its not so much hes a dog person, it’s just that if he didnt care for cats at least dont suggest dumping them in the woods blindfolded. And when he said it , he didnt bat an eye so i knew he was dead serious. Just sad

I’ve met a lot of people who hate cats. I’ve come to realize these people just have poor understanding. My husband (silently) hated cats when I met him.. I had a cat. We lived together. He now LOVES cats. He was raised around people who spoke poorly about cats.. “they stink”, “they’re mean”, “they’re feral” etc.. and people that made jokes about throwing cats up on ceiling fans, etc.. his mom got a litter of kittens once and the mom cat attacked her for them.. these experiences made him think poorly of cats..

Now that he has first hand insight on how to interact with cats (which is vastly different than rough puppy play), he loves them

Johnv713 said:

The idiot said to blindfold and dump them in the woods.

Click to expand...

How would that moron like to be blindfolded & dumped in the woods? I swear humans don't understand a dang thing until it happens to them.

maggiedemi said:

How would that moron like to be blindfolded & dumped in the woods? I swear humans don't understand a dang thing until it happens to them.

Click to expand...

Some humans are just plain mean and stupid.

I didn't like cats when I was young. After I started feeding a few stray and developed a colony of 22 I fell in love with them.

Johnv713 said:

We were downing a few cold ones and i told him about the colony i take care of. Guess what he told me i should do...drumroll...The idiot said to blindfold and dump them in the woods. I straight told him that was cruel. This came from a guy who worships his German sheperd. SMFH!

Click to expand...

-he was probably just trying to get a reaction out of you. But I would remember it anyway. He would definitely be less important in my life.

And for what its worth, I think a cat in the wilderness would survive better than his dog.

muffy said:

After I started feeding a few stray and developed a colony of 22 I fell in love with them.

Click to expand...

HA! My colony is about 12 and i thought it was overwhelming.
As for the neighbor i cant believe ppl are stupid and dense sometimes. Idk if its the water in my area or what not but there are plenty of folks like him around here.

My cat hating coworker loves to get a rise out of me. He said he hopes I get allergic to the cats. I just said I would get allergy shots! To get him back I said I hope he gets bitten by the lone star tick! He’s the kind that only eats beef, chicken and pork. Says seafood tastes like dirt. It would be his nightmare. Yes he is still my friend. He has some polar views from me and is very stubborn.

J Johnv713 - thanks SO much for the kind words about fostering (we think last year we hit somewhere near 150-we need to actually sit down & count!).

And Mamakitty&me -my hubby was also VERY much a "dog person" when we met. He's an extremely kind person and didn't hate cats - he was, at best, indifferent about cats (which is putting it nicely). But when we started dating 20 yrs ago, I told him I came w/2 cats---and with me it's love me, love my cats! Cut to now--and he loves our kitties desperately. He told me that he used to think all cats were alike---aloof, independent, and could care less about their guardians. Within a few weeks of living with my 2 kitties - he was hooked! He realized he had formed an opinion w/o ever knowing any cats! He went from an "I hate cats guy" to someone who actually loves our kitties with every fiber of his being!!!!

However--that said, he (even on his worst days) would NEVER have wished any harm on any cats!!!

I have to say - I'm kinda feeling what M maggiedemi said - My money's on the kitty if it was a game of Survivor & he and a kitty were taken blindfolded into the woods!

Some people are worth trying to convert and educate.( some aren’t) How many cold ones had he downed when he said that? Some people get a little nasty or aggressive after a few cold ones. It could be that he just hasn’t learned the wonderful nature of cats. It could also be that he isn’t the great friend you imagined. I have neighbors nearby who decided to use a colony for target practice. When I discovered the kitties and started to Spay/Neuter, rescue, socialize and adopt out the kitties they thought it was funny to take pot shots at me! Dogs are more popular here but they are also at risk. Some people are ignorant, some don’t really mean all they say and some are just cruel or sick. We can’t always choose our neighbors but we can choose our friends. If you can’t covey to him (when he isn’t downing a cold one lol) that his comment was inappropriate, I think you might be better off to visit with a different neighbor. Or just come here and share with us! We love you and your kitty colony! We understand your disappointment in him but for now, give him the benefit of the doubt until you can confirm his sober position. Keep doing what you are doing! It’s the right thing to do.
Oh yeah. This last colony was 103 saved and removed from danger. We totally support you!

Purr-fect said:

-he was probably just trying to get a reaction out of you. But I would remember it anyway. He would definitely be less important in my life.

And for what its worth, I think a cat in the wilderness would survive better than his dog.

Click to expand...

If that's how he needs to get a reaction out of someone, he has the mentality of a 5 year old. He wouldn't be in my life at all until he decided to act his age which would likely be never. I'd also offer to blindfold him and dump him in the woods. I think it would take him longer to get home than it would a cat. Cats are smarter.

Some people just like trying to wind others up. A guy I know makes irritating cat hater comments whenever he's had a few drinks, but I know he's just doing it to get a reaction out of me.

I'd like to see this guy you know try to blindfold a feral cat J Johnv713

Norachan said:

I'd like to see this guy you know try to blindfold a feral cat

Click to expand...

Ha! I'd love to see that too.

maggiedemi said:

Ha! I'd love to see that too.

Click to expand...

I don't think I'd try it even with a non feral cat. He can though. He might be eligible for a Darwin award afterwards.

The more I'm around the average person, the more I purrfer cats & dogs. I have discovered some that claim they do not like animals (dogs included) haven't had positive interactions with them. Some only see the negectives (care & attention they need) or have little understanding of them.

I try to "educate" if I believe someone is worth the effort. Other times I will say something like we can't all be alike or like the same things.

I'd be tempted to make light of the guy upset over cat hair. Offer a lint roller & say you hope he never has a kid since they make bigger messes. If he has kids, ask how he managed. As for the throwing in a river comment, I'd say I've meet a lot of people that deserve far worst. Comments like "Wow, anger issues?" or "You can't be serious?" pops into my head. Honestly, its just a little cat fuzz. Some people need to be called out for their bad behavior. Makes me think they weren't properly disciplined as children. Or they are use to saying crap & no one questioning them.

I dont consume alcohol. We were with a group of ppl and they all had one beer. Oh and btw he said even when blindfolded cats can find their way home. I just didnt know what to say after that.

You need a better class of neighbor.

I have to say - - I laughed out loud SO hard at some of these that my hubby turned around and said "what comedy are you watching?" (we're graphic designers who work from home together).

Z ZepMom - the idea of handing him a lint roller when he walks in is hysterical - - -you can't beat a comeback that's practical with a little "shade" thrown in there!

And Norachan - - the line you had for the guy wanting to take the cats into the woods - "I'd like to see this guy you know TRY to blindfold a feral cat!" had us BOTH laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes!

You guys are "my kinda people!"