Do you feel cats are discriminated against?

Question

I just got back from pet supply shopping and I'm just fuming. The store had 4 aisles of dog food, two aisles of dog toys, and 1 wall of cat food, cat toys, and cat litter. There was no selection. We don't have a Petsmart so Tractor Supply is where I go for my supplies. I see this just about everywhere though. Does anybody else have this problem? I also have a dog so I'm not prejudiced, I just can't hook up my cats the way I can my dog.

Answer 1

My town used to be the same way, only cats and dogs supplies were on the same aisle...no variety for either. That is until we got a Petsmart. Now my kitties are happy kitties. Have you tried ordering online from different places? I know it may take a little longer but sometimes its better...it comes to you and you don't have to drive to get it. Just a thought. Have a great day. BTW check out the links.

Answer 2

I see it to. Dogs have all sorts of neat stuff, but cats no.

I started to make mine toys. The store boughten ones are destroyed within a day or so lol

Answer 3

Yes.

I mean, cats have needs too! Some of them need special cat food, and some stores don't have what they need. And yet they'll have any selection of dog food.

I was at a store once looking for a type of cat food that my cat's need, and they didn't have it. So I had to get a differnet brand. And any cat person knows that you shouldn't switch their food like that.

It really bothers me.

Answer 4

some places I think do discriminate, I see all kinds of c**p for dogs, and very little for cats, and is angers me as well, the store was probably owned by a man, LOL  

Answer 5

yes, dogs are too messy, yet no one complains about them.

Cats use the litter box and they're clean and people say they are useless rodents.

Answer 6

Cats don't need all that junk that dogs love

Answer 7

lolz, I see the same thing whenever I go to Petmenu to buy stuff for my cat. I think since dogs are more playful and active while cats are lazy and sleep a lot (not to be prejudice) So they feel that dogs play with their toys a lot and cats don't. Same applies with food, dogs eat a lot after they play and cats don't really do anything and don't eat as much, but cats CAN eat a lot!! My cat was skinny when I adopted it and after 2 weeks it became one fat cat! But I still want a dog though, I didn't really want a cat!

Answer 8

Having gone to my local Tractor Supply for bird seed, etc. I do agree that they seem to have a lot of stuff for dogs and very little for cats.  But, cats don't need as much "stuff" as dogs.  Have you tried asking TSC if they would be willing to order special food or cat litter for you?  You may be surprised and they will do it.  I have 3 very nice pet stores around me, one about 3 minutes from my home and the other 2 about 15 minutes away.....so I don't have the same problems you do.  Have you tried ordering stuff on-line for your cat?  PetSmart and PetCo both have very nice web sites.  I know that its much easier to just run to the store, but with a little pre-planning, ordering on-line might be the answer.  

Answer 9

Well, I guess I would have to say they're mostly misunderstood.

Not sure why I'm giving cat-haters the benefit of the doubt, but they're just ignorant.  

I love dogs too, but come on--they just don't compare to cats.

Answer 10

I've noticed this too, like even at Wal mart.

Answer 11

Yes, I do, but it has been gradually improving.  

The sample at Tractor Supply is probably more geared toward dogs than cats because it's marketed toward a rural customer base.  Generally (certainly not always), dogs tend to get more attention than cats in rural areas, while in cities, where space is more at a premium and more people keep cats as indoor pets, cats are getting a better share of attention than they used to.

I moved to a large city about 18 years ago, and over that time have seen the cat section of pet stores expand from a tiny few shelves to an area that's much larger (though still not yet equal to the area devoted to dogs).  Petsmart and Petco have much better selections of cat items, and there are online stores devoted purely to cat stuff, so it may be worthwhile for you to go to the city or shop online for your cat.

BTW, the same applies to vet care - more people tend to do more for their dogs than for cats, but things are improving, thankfully!