Why people say they have a "boy cat" or a "girl cat" but when the cat grows up, they don't call is a "man cat" or "woman cat"?

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• undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I’ve read a lot about how dogs have evolved to hit some of the same triggers that human infants do. I’ve also read about how we tend to view pets as children in our minds. I imagine that that all plays a role in it.

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  • saltesc@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I dunno. I view my dogs as companions. Yeah, they need me to look after.them like they’re children, but I need them to take care of me in the wilderness, protect the house, cheer me up, entertain guests, tow me on the longboard.

    There’s no association with them and a human child for me. If anything dog ownership has shifted my mentality into the symbiotic relationship of a pack. I think being stuck thinking of them as children would make for some very miserable times and bad behaviour from both the owner and the dog.

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    • undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I agree, but I also think the studies are speaking more broadly and possibly on a subconscious level. I feel the same as you but at the same time I can acknowledge evolutionary traits they might have.

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  • Dasus@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    We totally do.

    You can address a pet like you would politely address an adult, but only in a jokey way. Like “oh, and who’s this handsome gentleman/lady?”

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• Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  They do? Who does this? I’d say ask them.

  I use the terms “male” and “female”.

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• Canconda@lemmy.ca ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  nostupidanswers? cuz there are no man cats or woman cats. That’s some weird chimera shiz.

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