Dog-Loving Irish Hate Cats, New Study Reveals

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Nov 2nd 2009 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Cats

"Don't kiss me. Also, I'm not Irish."
Sister72/Flickr

Why do Irish people hate cats?

According to a study by University College Dublin, 36 percent of homes in Ireland have a dog, while just one in 10 has a cat. In the United States, by comparison, 37 percent have dogs and 32 percent have cats.

The researchers suggested that the Emerald Isle's predilection for pooches has to do with the significance of rural life in Irish culture. Also, most Irish people live in houses, which are conducive to owning dogs, while those in mainland Europe live in apartments, possibly explaining the higher number of cats kept as pets. In addition, the study states that the Irish tend to view dogs as pets, and cats as strays.

As reported at IrishCentral.com, "Tony Forshaw of the Siamese and All Breeds Cat Club of Ireland told the Times that there isn't a history of owning cats in Ireland, compared with the U.S. or Britain, and that 'Irish people tend to laugh at cats.'"

Irish people tend to laugh at cats? Do cats laugh at Irish people? So many questions remain.

Tags: ireland

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

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#1 shawpolarbear 11-04-2009 @ 10:27PM

Well I guess the Irish can't get it right all the time.

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#2 shooshmyloved 11-12-2009 @ 11:00AM

Why do the Irish hate cats? Simple explanation: they are generally inebriated, and it's very easy to trip over a cat and injure ones' self while drunk.

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#3 tattler 11-02-2009 @ 8:05PM

you got that right

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#4 penguininpjs007 11-03-2009 @ 8:54AM

you are so ignorant.do you still believe that mexicans are lazy and blacks are inferior mentally? the irish do not drink anymore tham any other european (or american) ethnic group.

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#5 shooshmyloved 11-03-2009 @ 5:23PM

every mick i've ever known liked to drink and fight more than pretty much anything else.

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