Why Are Dogs Considered Masculine And Cats Feminine?

Stereotypes are silly, oversimplified and annoying beliefs that are mostly not true. Stereotypes do not spare anyone, not even our adorable pets. You might be annoyed when says, “what is her name?” when your feline is a male, or how people generally use the phrase “good boy” to encourage and adore dogs, despite their genders. So who started this, and why are there gender stereotypes for cats and dogs?

Dogs are considered male and cats female simply because of their body structure and behaviour differences. It is a silly stereotype that should not be taken seriously. Regardless, read on to find out more!

Dogs, Cats, and Social Stereotypes / Why are Dog Masculine and Cat Feminine?

Social stereotypes put people (and even our pets) in rigid, subconscious beliefs. For example, engineers and mathematicians are always considered male, while elementary school teaching and nursing are considered professions for females. Stereotypes affect us at a subconscious level, to the point that we are not even aware during conversation or thought, and we can easily use the wrong pronoun to address a person or a pet.

Also Read: Male Cats Vs Female Cats Pros and Cons

Do We Have a Gender Stereotype for Our Domestic Pets?

When it comes to gender stereotypes in our beloved pets, dogs are considered male, and cats are considered female, regardless of their gender. Why is this so? 

Some people believe that it comes down to the difference in behaviour and body structure between both house pets.

Dogs are generally loud, full of energy, strong and huge. In contrast, felines are more laid back, relatively quieter and more petite and flexible. Dogs have a low-pitched, deep and loud voice, while cats have a high-pitched meow. Dogs are always ready for a fight or rough play, while felines only fight when triggered. Also, cats are more particular about their food, hygiene and toilet habits. So a lot of masculine traits match up with dogs, while a lot of feminine traits are similar to cats. 

Dogs are also stereotypically believed to be pets for boys, whereas cats are thought to be pets for girls. Again, this is a silly stereotype, so there is nothing wrong with being a female dog person or a man that prefers cats as pets.

Intresting Reading: Cat Myths And Misconceptions: Know The Truth

Domestic Pets and the English Language:

If nothing else, it is conventional in the American language to call a dog “he” and a cat “she”. So much so that you may notice your vet subconsciously misusing your pet’s pronouns. It is interesting to know that in Russian, it is the other way around. Dogs are considered feminine, whereas cats are considered masculine. In many other languages, domestic pets are gender-neutral.

Check Out: Why Are Cats Called Pussy Cats?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on Why Are Dogs Considered Masculine And Cats Feminine

While dogs are considered masculine, and cats are considered feminine in English, these are just silly (and sometimes annoying) stereotypes and sometimes just the way of the language. Your pet is male or female, according to its gender. A male cat or a female dog will be considered their respective gender, regardless of stereotypes.