Cat lady

For other uses, see Cat lady (disambiguation).

A cat lady is a woman, usually a spinster, who dotes upon her cat.

Cat Ladies

The 2009 Documentary "Cat Ladies" tells the stories of four women whose lives have become dedicated to their cats. The film was directed by Christie Callan-Jones, and Produced by Chocolate Box Entertainment. Most natably, the film was an official selection at the 2009 Hot Docs Festival, Silverdocs Festival, and San Francisco's DocFest. The film was originally produced for TVO (Television Ontario.) Naftali Berrill, Ph.D., Director of the New York Center for Neuropsychology and Forensic Behavioral Science told AOL Health that "These may be people who have a very hard time expressing themselves to other people," he explains. "They may find the human need for affection is met most easily through a relationship with a pet." This devotion can sometimes signal mental or emotional issues such as depression.

Synopsis

CAT LADIES is a one hour verité documentary that unravels the real story behind the oft-ridiculed 'cat lady' - a cultural stereotype and figure of ridicule for women of a certain age with too many furry companions. Through the intimate portrait of four unique 'cat ladies' we create a sensitive and emotionally honest portrait of women whose lives and self-worth have become intractably linked to cats.

It's not the number of cats that defines someone as a 'cat lady', but rather their attachment, or non-attachment, to human beings. They create a world with their cats in which they are accepted and in control - a world where they ultimately have value.

In fiction

Examples of the stereotype in fictional works include Eleanor Abernathy in The Simpsons and the Crazy Old Cat Lady in Codename: Kids Next Door.

See also

• Catgirl
• Catwoman
• Werecat