How cats are portrayed in film and television: stereotypes and the nature of Olga

By SecretWuff 5 Min Read

Hello, I’m Christopher! To learn more about me and my silly Russian blue cat, Olga, please read my bio.

Until a friend gave me a Siamese cat a few years ago, I knew very little about Siamese cats and had no idea how much they meowed. I have met several people who think they are meaner and more evil than other dog breeds, which is not accurate, but they are not forming their opinions based on personal experience. I think so.

cartoon animals

They must have seen it when they were kids. lady and tramp And I didn’t understand how Am and C treated the dog. Movies and TV shows influence us more than we realize, and Disney in particular has had a huge impact on our understanding of animals.

The writers and producers have good intentions, and the assumptions we make based on the behavior of animated cats and dogs are not their fault. Some people blame 101 Dalmatians Although the film takes issue with overbreeding and increasing deafness in Dalmatians, the film does not contain any subliminal messages encouraging people to adopt and abuse high-energy breeds.

It doesn’t bother me that they make Siamese look like a controlling demon or portray Dalmatians as pets that any family can keep. Cartoonists and writers have artistic license to exaggerate. Not bound by breed standards or veterinary evidence. However, I don’t want to see a live-action movie where a cat drinks milk.

Christopher, what can I do? Trying to relax!

milk and hollywood cats

Most cats are lactose intolerant, but even in today’s TV shows and movies, characters who find or rescue cats usually feed them milk. I understand that cat food is a staple in most households, and it’s unlikely that a new owner will pick up cat food if they’re not prepared. Because of the fat and protein, cats generally like to drink milk until they get abdominal pain or diarrhea.

Most cats don’t get seriously ill from milk, so drinking milk at the movies is better than eating garlic bread or raisin bowls. Olga is not interested in dairy products and will ignore a glass of milk even if she runs away and is rescued by a caring neighbor. She is affectionate and playful, but also exhibits typical behavior of the “evil cat” in the movie.

This is not the time to take photos. Dinner time is precious to me.
This is not the time to take pictures. Dinner time is precious to me.

Similarities between Olga and Church

If she had been revived like the church pet cemetery, Olga would throw a dead rat into my bathtub. Church, played by Seven Cats, was a British Shorthair, one of the few movie cats that bears a slight resemblance to Olga. When he hisses in the movie, I think of her. Olga only hisses when I return from a trip, so I’m privileged to be the only one to see her scary side.

Like the fictional felines in movies, it likes to hide in the dark, surprise me with quick attacks, and hover over me when I’m sleeping late. She makes the stereotypes seem more plausible, but she is also more manipulative and violent than my Siamese cat. Olga is a good cat for horror movies, but she doesn’t like being around strangers or shooting movies away from home.

In movies and TV shows, cats have been portrayed as evil, insane, playful, indifferent, and ignorant, which is fine, but how many people believe what they see on screen? I’m surprised how many there are.

I heard that it's good to sleep with your front legs elevated.
I heard that it’s good to sleep with your front legs elevated.

This article is part of the Christopher and Olga series.

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