Morgan questions the psychological health of dog owners:
Being told that you’re not as great as you thought you were can be hard to take. Coming home to an animal whose wiggling deference says, “Yes you are great!” is essential to their egos.
Cats are just too honest, and some people aren’t ready for that, Vox.
We’ll ignore the obvious anthropomorphizing here, (which is clearly inaccurate anyhow based on at least two of the “cute cat” stories in the thread from which this statement came), and simply examine the question of whether cat owners are prone to masochism, narcissism and mental instability.
It is natural to seek out those who enjoy our company, but it is a sign of low self-esteem to crave rejection, especially from those near and dear to us. Since we’re anthropomorphizing – an “honest” cat indeed – exchange a beloved human for the beloved animal in several of the aforementioned circumstances.
“I came home from work and my wife was so happy to see me that she smiled and flung her arms around me the moment I walked in the door.”
Is this truly the sign of a fragile ego? Or is this?
“My husband was smiling at me and told me that he wanted a hug. But when I went to put my arms around him, he punched me in the face. It hurt, but I didn’t mind because I know he still loves me.”
And how about this?
“My wife never pays me any attention except when she needs something. Then she’s really nice to me until I give her what she wants. Sometimes she leaves and I don’t see her for days. But mostly she just sits in the house and ignores me.”
Clearly, cat owners are desperately in need of psychological help since they not only feel that they deserve this malicious and sadistic treatment, but actually crave it. They perceive cats as honest only because the abusive little beasts treat them as badly as they believe they deserve to be treated, being of such little inherent worth.
While seeking love, affection and friendship is healthy and the sign of a rational, well-balanced individual, a masochistic desire for rejection and abuse is indicative of insecurity and self-destructive psychological instability. It is logical, then, to conclude that the mere desire to own a cat should probably be sufficient evidence to justify prescribing anti-depressants.
Q.E.D.