This sort of this is called a "gender performance."

Look, I'm a guy and hate cats, but they love me. Despite hating cats, I will generally be nice to them because I think it is wrong to be cruel to pets, especially in their own homes. They have no choice in their habitat or lives. So, if I'm visiting or staying in a home with cats, I'll be nice to them, but I will try to avoid them where possible and will never have one. Fortunately, my wife is allergic to cats, so I'll never be stuck like OP's husband.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably the gender thing and would be different if your pet were a dog. Have you noticed that boys' clothes are decorated only with dogs and girls' clothes generally have cats? You never see cats on boys' clothing ever. You never hear about cat men like you do cat ladies.

This is so true! I hate how our society is so restrictive about what men should and shouldn't like and what is "masculine." My DH is from another country and I feel like as he grew up he was allowed to just like whatever he liked. He readily admits kittens are wonderful and adorable, etc. Every little thing is gendered in our country now and I hate it so much. I want my son to feel like he can be himself and like whatever he likes without being ridiculed or having his sexuality questioned or whatever.

P.S. not that I think anything is wrong with homosexuality, I just think we don't need to tether everything to gender and sexuality. Another example: I once told my friends about a male friend who is an interior decorator and their instant response was "Is he gay?" No, he's artistic and likes freaking decorating, ok! Why can't men just like interior decor and kittens.

Anonymous wrote:It's probably the gender thing and would be different if your pet were a dog. Have you noticed that boys' clothes are decorated only with dogs and girls' clothes generally have cats? You never see cats on boys' clothing ever. You never hear about cat men like you do cat ladies.

This is so true! I hate how our society is so restrictive about what men should and shouldn't like and what is "masculine." My DH is from another country and I feel like as he grew up he was allowed to just like whatever he liked. He readily admits kittens are wonderful and adorable, etc. Every little thing is gendered in our country now and I hate it so much. I want my son to feel like he can be himself and like whatever he likes without being ridiculed or having his sexuality questioned or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is the unmanly thing. My dad was the same when we were growing up.

Mine, too! And then I'd catch him hanging his arm off the sofa and twiddling his fingers to get the cat's attention.

Answer: Men are weirdos.

After 6 years of asking, my DH finally agreed to take ballroom dancing classes with me. Even though he obviously enjoyed it a lot from the very beginning, it took him at least 6 months to admit that he even likes it a little bit.

It's probably the gender thing and would be different if your pet were a dog. Have you noticed that boys' clothes are decorated only with dogs and girls' clothes generally have cats? You never see cats on boys' clothing ever. You never hear about cat men like you do cat ladies.

I think it is the unmanly thing. My dad was the same when we were growing up.

I believe the reason is "sense of humour".

Apparently not the reason you married him. I like him already as it seems to be a problem for you.

When you're not home he does dirty things with it.

LOL! My DH is the same way! I think he thinks it is "unmanly " to like cats so he pretends to hatell ours.

My cat has kidney disease and I told him we should put her down rater than expensive tests and treatment. He vehemently protested all in the name of protecting the kids feelings. Yeah right!! He's going to be heartbroken whrn the cat he "hates" dies.

Why do YOU want him to admit he likes the cat?

He probably thinks it is funny to see you get riled up over it.

ha ha I have no idea but it's a cute story, OP

I know this is a dumb topic but it's something that bothers me. We have 1 cat who was mine before we met. He pets her, plays with her, holds her, brushes her and even on occasion makes a bed for her in an empty box. All actions of like/love to me, yet he claims he doesn't like her at all. I ask then why he does all those things and he says "so she won't claw my eyes out while sleeping. I need to stay on her good side". I point out, she's never clawed anybody or even killed any bugs so why would he think she'd do that and he says "there's a first time for everything".

I think he likes her but doesn't want to admit it for some reason... Why? To piss me off? Is it because it's not considered manly to like a cat or something?