Men can like cats nowadays for the same reason that men can find Tina Fey really sexy—-because feminism has loosened the gender bindings of masculinity enough that they can find something other than dumb adoration appealing. You’re welcome, men. I realize that my comment about dumb adoration will probably come across as offensive to dog people, so I’ll state up front: I am a dog person. In fact, I think getting dumb adoration from your pet is the appropriate place for that, so that you don’t put that on your lover. I’m just noting that under the old gender rules, masculinity was often considered mutually exclusive from desiring loving relationships of the romantic or pet variety with anyone capable of more than gazing at you with that blank intensity of pure thoughtless love.
Of course, part of it is the simple fact that cat ownership is on the rise overall, and dog ownership is on the decline. Cats just are more appropriate for the modern urban lifestyle. It’s a matter of space, yes, but it’s also a time issue. People work long hours and have long commutes and all that isn’t so great for dogs, who need lots of outside time. Cats don’t need to go outside. In fact, it’s fun for me to taunt my cat when she’s sitting in the window longingly gazing at birds. “You’d like to go out and get hit by a car, wouldn’t you?” I say with an evil, cat-depriving laugh.