I think there is something to be said about using the term "feline" for cats ... the etymology is close to female. I think that cats have many female characteristics ... they're moody, sensitive, enjoy a healthy dose of luxury every now and then, chase fleeting shadows or laser beams (or straight women - to no avail) ... they're smart, independent, and are above being "trained" or dupped into stupid situations like holiday costumes. If a cat doesn't want to do something, there's a snow ball's chance in hell you'll ever get them half way there. And I don't know about you, but I know quite a few women like that myself.

I don't think this is universal for ALL lesbians though. Remember there's a high contingency that prefers dogs. Then there's another contingency that just loves ALL animals. even the ones you're not supposed to love, like rats and possums.

wouldn't it be interesting to conduct a not-so-scientific research about the factions of lesbians and their preferred animal choices?

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
It's always our self we find in the sea

So I'm not surprised this is no different. oh wait.... that second part. that's familiar.

i think there may be a high number of rescue cats and dogs (possums and rats) within our community as well (at least in my circle and own situation).  Maybe it has to do with having a better understanding of what it means to be in need of appreciation, love, and security; as well a willingness and ability to balance roles to also be a strong leader and provider. 

I dunno, one could argue just about any (stereotypical or otherwise) personality trait into the question.  For example, there could be some parallels drawn between a lesbian's willingness/eagerness to take in a new cat with her willingness/eagerness to help unpack a U-Haul driven by a new lover in need of a place to crash...with all of her things.  I also wonder whether there's a distinction or relation between the cat lady spinster (what an interesting character in our culture), and the house full of rescues and queers. 

...about 7 years ago. An ex who wasn't an ex at the time she lived with me wanted a cat, so she got a shelter-cat, then found a kitten in a dumpster. When it was time for her to go, she left them with me. The "kitten" was and still is unadoptable and likely would be "euthanized," so she stays here. I chose my dog, however, from the Humane Society a year ago. He was nine then, and I have to say, it was the best move I ever made. He's in great health, and bounces around the yard like a puppy would. He's the biggest baby, but has my back every minute. I don't know that shelter animals are a "gay thing," though, because almost every pet-owner I know has at least one shelter- or rescued-animal. As for U-Hauls, I don't do those, either, in either direction. I don't know what anything means. I'll hush up now.

~Talk Derby to me.~

I'm a dog person. But I can't get one at the mo as garden not big enough. So I thought about getting a cat. Three weeks ago I went to the RSPCA to check out two black cats who needed rehoming. They were fairly sweet ,but the one had half an ear missing and a receeding hairline. Seriously, bald patches by it's ears. I couldn't do it. In fact I feel nauseous just thinking about the mange. Yep, I'm definitely a dog person. 

And then there is this little fact: Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

xx 

Yeah, I've heard the sterotype and I have a few lesbian friends with cats. One of them adopted one with her live-in girlfriend (wife) at the time. She is tottally into her cat, she treats it like her baby. Of course she openly admits it's because a cat is far less trouble than a kid. She's gotten a second cat since, a girl (her first was a boy). The boy, Zion, unfortunatly became "shared" custody after my friend and her "wife" broke up. I think that's why she adopted Sassy. Sassy was just hers. Then there was my other friend, who pretty much hated her girlfriends cat, but her girfriend simply adored the pretty white cat. The relationship holds to this day despite much adversity, but the cat is gone. Then there's another friend of mine who owns a cat, she's a lesbian and says she likes having a compainion in the house that mostly isn't underfoot unless it actually wants something (like food) where as dogs tend to want constant and consistent attention. The cat is pretty independant. So I've seen the cat-lesbian thing happen more than a few times.

But give me my doggies any day. 

Dogs and cats can sort of take the place of kids, or fill a hole left by not having kids...and it's easier to be a gay pet owner than a gay parent.

But thinking about the reasons for the stereotype kind of ruins the humor in it.

[/pet-loving vegetarian hippie who enjoys folk music and women's health]

Ok so I have a very odd household here.  We have a dog, a fishtank (with 3 goldfish), and a cat.  But this is where things get really odd.  The dog loves the fish...I mean really really loves the fish.  She has no interest in doing dog sorts of things, she just sits and stares at the fish.  The cat on the other hand loves to fetch, sits on command and rolls over for treats.  The fish well I think they are the only thing not confused, but the other two are definately role reversed.

Our straight friends have laughed very hard in seeing this and joked saying that it must only happen in a gay household and have threatened to call the republicans...if they knew any to call.

So we are sort of "cat like dog" and "dog like cat" people with a fish tank in the middle.  I don't get it either.  :-)

OK, I don't actually think there's a huge difference because I'm sure some of the lesbians at the dog park are also cat owners.  But it does seem like you have to be a dog owner if you don't have a cat!

... I like cats but I'm mildly allergic so I have a hypoallergenic poodle-mix. 

My observation is that many lesbians tend to have shelter-rescued lab- or shepherd-mix dogs.  I feel like I'm decidedly in the minority with a femme-style tiny fluffy fluffdog.  I wouldn't trade my adorable pup for the world though.

i have 3 cats, 2 of them are manx (born with no tail). they are the most insane creatures on earth and i love just enjoying their presence in my house and witnessing the random display of bizarre behaviours. my cats tend to think pretty highly of themselves and rightly so because ive been outwitted on numerous occasions. i like their attitude. they seem to have quite a finely tuned sense of humour at times.

we have 2 dogs, they are yappie little things, but still loved and very much a part of the family. although im not sure the same sentiment is shared among the feline population of our household. all the cats want to be top dog.  

I dont have any cats right now, although I'd love one, we had two strays that we fed and let them in, but they both disapered so I'm catless now! Anyway my mum doesnt like them so it looks like I wont be getting one for a while. I have a hamster though, got him for my birthday.. He's a hyper little thing, had alot of them when I was younger..But we didnt get along.. Well, maybe I wasnt the greatest pet owner as a child!

I have four cats. I always say that I love cats and like dogs--we had both when I was growing up. The truth is that I'd be too lazy to walk a dog. No way would I get up early in the morning in the winter when it's freezing outside to take Rover out for a piddle. Not gonna happen.

And yeah, lots of lesbians love dogs. Some of the most rabid dog lovers (no pun intended) I've ever known were lesbians.

I still, and will always, love my bitchy, gay, pedophile, s&m maniac cat. No, I'm not lying. He once went home from an escapade/sexcapade with blood all over his fur, and it wasn't his blood. He also raped my aunt's boy-kitten right in front of my own eyes. I couldnt do anything that time cuz I was too shocked...

But he's still a sweet, fur-licking, super lazy cat, and I luv him!

I'm a huge dog lover. I'm not really fond of cats - but will make an effort to get along with the cat if my friends have one. My ex has 2. My current gf is a dog lover like me but hates cats!

I swear I could've shot one that kept meowing outside my window (on the 2nd storey btw) for hours while I was trying to sleep. The day after, I couldn't function at work due to the lack of sleep.

but my lesbian aunt has almost always had a cat...

here's my theory (step by step):

1) Cats are dramatic creatures.

2) Lesbians are attracted to drama like moths to a flame.

3) Therefore, Lesbians are attracted to cats.

Also, all lesbians know that I'm allergic to cats, so they get one so that we always have to hang out at my house and eat the food from my fridge and watch my tv and steal my clothes.

i can´t really stand cats.

really.

 I´m much more of a pup-loving person.

does that make me 1/4 lesbian?

LOL

I love all animals, exept for icky spiders...ahh!  I love my dog and my adopted kitty. 

I like my cats personality and the way she acts.  She's totally crazy; she plays in my sink and also likes water, my dog on the other hand, I have to pick him up and carry him to the bathtub just to give him a bath, and that fat boy wieghs almost 70 lbs. 

My cat also chases balls and attacks my stuffed animals, my dog watches them roll right past him, and he only plays with stuffed animals when he's stealing them back from the cat.

I am mostly a dog person, but I gots ta have my kitties.

I really never knew about this gay women love cats rule until.... well, until now, really.

Personally, I quite dislike them. Nothing personal to those who love cats, I just think that dogs smell better, are easier to hug, and in general make superior pets.

I've never really been a fan of cats - mostly because the only cat I knew was my friends' cat who liked to hiss at me everyday when I'd walk by... 

But, there are some definitely some cute kitties, nice, loving kitties and I'd actually love to adopt them someday... as long as it gets along with a puppy. 

I've never had a cat as a pet because my mom was allergic. I have babysat a couple of cats though. I think cats are  crazy,  but for that reason, I want one.

I grew up with dogs, one of which still lives at my parents house. He's the sweetest pound-poochie I've ever met. Whenever I go to visit my parents place, he follows me around and sleeps on my bed (or at least tries...). I find dogs are more expressive of their emotions.

I'm hoping that when I'm not a poor nomadic art student, I'll settle down and get a furry friend or two. 

It probably comes from being scratched as a child, by my aunt's cat (i didn't do anything to provoke it). i love dogs, working on getting one if do excellent in my exams. Also cats bring home birds and mice that are half eaten/half still alive. No definitely prefer dogs and they're more loyal and loving animals.

If i wasn't such a middle-class money lover, i would totally be a professinal dog walker that job would rock!

Personally i think dogs make more sense than cats, i always associate cats with a lonely spinster whose lover died in war or something.

Got both, dogs and cats.  Had birds and fish, too, but you can imagine how well that turned out.

The dogs are great companions, but needy.  They make traveling difficult and don't bother trying to eat dinner without blinders, but they are so much fun to play fetch and tug with.

The cats are wonderful, but their idea of play is trying to hunt and kill something, even if it's only the light reflecting off my watch.  Finding parts of some small critter that was once alive does tend to send me over the edge a bit.  However, nothing on this planet beats the purr of a happy kitty.

I have two female dogs, and yeah, they're a couple. I guess they take after their owner, eh?

I also have one cat, and he's the craziest animal I have ever known. =]

I'm allergic to cats =l

I'm a horrible horrible lesbian.

I have the cutest australian shephard in the world named Sammi though (:

Most of my past girlfriend's have had cats though one of them even had a cat named Cooter. xD

I adore cats, I have one myself and wouldn't want to miss her for the world.

But I also love dogs and I have 2 horses. If my parents would let me, I would have a  zoo at my house.