For many of us females who are extreme fans of felines, we wear our “crazy cat lady” badges proudly. I know that for myself, the opinions of others doesn’t matter much to me. And I especially don’t care if someone doesn’t like cats. I’m crazy about them and I am not about to let them bring me down! For decades, the stigma surrounding the crazy cat lady stereotype has been one fueled by the masses.
Crazy cat lady memes have long since been a trend on the internet and social media…
Sure, dog people can be “crazy” too. But many often times people associate a crazy cat lady as a woman who is mentally unstable. Usually disheveled, unmarried, and a cat hoarder too. But such is not the case, as we crazy cat ladies know. I love cats, probably more than anyone I know, and I’d like to think I’m far from the unfair picture that’s painted about crazy cat ladies given that I’m married, have three young kids, and happen to love all animals. But obviously cats most of all!
But a recent finding out of UCLA tells us that we crazy cat ladies are not in fact crazy at all. And even defends us to others who try and give us a bad rap:
“We found no evidence to support the ‘cat lady’ stereotype: cat-owners did not differ from others on self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or their experiences in close relationships. Our findings, therefore, do not fit with the notion of cat-owners as more depressed, anxious or alone.”
Being a crazy cat lady is clearly nothing new…
The research was published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, and to gather their data they analyzed over 500 pet owners. Polling both the crazy cat lady and the crazy dog lady alike.
We know that people who are partial to cats can be more reserved and less social than say a dog person, but it’s nice to know that science can dispel the stereotype surrounding us cat ladies. In a 2017 study, we learned that there was no link to cats making their owners crazy by way of possible toxoplasmosis transfer.
In that study, researchers shared with the world that:
“Many people own cats. And it’s reassuring that our findings suggest that cat ownership is not associated with an increased risk of mental illness. [As previously suggested].“
Most importantly, the UCLA study revealed more information. We are just as equally susceptible to developing/managing mental health conditions as dog people are! So, I guess at the end of the day, we’re all a little crazy after all. And if being crazy about my cats labels me a nut, well then that’s purrfectly alright with me!
Share this story with any other crazy cat lady that you know. If anyone ever tries to tell you that you’re a super crazy cat lady… quickly remind them that you’re no crazier than them—and that’s a fact backed by science!
I love my cats. I really find the stereotype to be unfair. I think, if anything, having animals to take care of actually PREVENTS mental illness. It gives us a PURPOSE to get up in the morning!
Thanks!
Guess I’m thesterotypical crazy cat lady, I’m over 50 never married n p kids and I like being alone with my animals better than being around a bunch of immortal lazy critical minded people who judge others without looking in the mirror.
This is genuinely how I hope my life turns out in the next 20 years – I don’t want kids (for the sake of having them), or a relationship/marriage just because ‘that’s what people do’ or so that I have someone to make me feel better etc., society has us fucked up thinking that there’s just this one pathway in life we have to follow. I mean, I quite literally lose more and more interest in humans (greedy humans particularly) which each passing day, so why would I trap myself in a marriage with 5 kids who will unwittingly have to suffer all my unresolved trauma (going to refrain from also ranting about having kids despite knowing climate change is going to their problem to deal with) because that’s what the rest of y’all do. Just me, my cat, and I – if someone can join in the picture, good for them but I won’t have them bound by the constraints of what is perceived as ‘normal’ (i.e. monogamy) or be the one responsible for making them happy. I want to be my own self and with someone who is also their own self and who can function without me. But I won’t actively search for something I don’t need, If it happens, it happens.
Wow. I don’y know what happened their Honor…LOL. Thanks for that….buahaha. Who knew I’d enter into therapy mode 😀 – basically CATS RULE! FUCK YEAH!!! we get called the crazy ones for loving cats, then these are from the same people who burst the mucus sack on their dog’s anus to help them poop or holding onto a failed marriage because ‘people change’ – I mean c’mon people!
(seriously, what is happening here hahaha, maybe I’m getting out all the negative before 2022!)
anyway, love yourselfffffff (and your cat) and a happy and healthy 2022 for everyone!
peace.
I’ve been called
Yes I am called ” CRAZY CAT LADY I know what it really stands for so it doesn’t bother me one bit. I can’t help it. I❤CATS. Matter on fact I just got new kitty from the shelter they won’t have anything to say about that will they no they won’t.