Do you let your cat see you naked?
October 24, 2018 1:35 AM Subscribe
I did not realise this was a thing, or an issue, until an emotive debate in the pub between cat-owning friends (in rural England). Some don't see it as an issue, some think it too weird, some say yes but not in the bedroom during intimacy, or yes but no pet-to-human contact, while some think it permanently changes the relationship between you and cat e.g. cannot be unseen. What are the reasons and concerns - either for or against - over letting your cat (or other pet e.g. dog, goat, ferret, horse) seeing you naked?
I feel the same way about being naked in front of my (previous and hypothetical) pets as I do about being naked in front of my house plants. I don't find it weird at all. I'd feel uncomfortable letting an animal sit on my lape while I'm butt naked , but nornal petting would be ok.
Regarding intimacy, I'd be wary of having a dog in the room (for fear that it wants to join in on the "wrestling"), but if my cat wants to watch me do dirty things, he can go right ahead.
posted by hasna at 1:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
Regarding intimacy, I'd be wary of having a dog in the room (for fear that it wants to join in on the "wrestling"), but if my cat wants to watch me do dirty things, he can go right ahead.
posted by hasna at 1:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
Much as I love the idea of primly disapproving cats tut-tutting their freewheeling nude owners, I have never ever thought of this as a thing to worry about. The cat’s not wearing clothes, why is it weird if the human is also not? Cats, in my experience, are not prudes. Agree on the no touching though. Because that would feel... unhygienic.
posted by t0astie at 1:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by t0astie at 1:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm fine with nudity and interactions while nude with animals, and frankly think that it's weird and prudish to be put off by it. One of the nicest things about animals is how nonjudgmental they are, and I see no reason to start second guessing that now.
That said, all it took was one cold nose in my...er, an unexpected place, and now I do feel rather strongly that dogs shouldn't be on the bed during any sort of sexual activity.
posted by mishafletch at 2:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [41 favorites]
That said, all it took was one cold nose in my...er, an unexpected place, and now I do feel rather strongly that dogs shouldn't be on the bed during any sort of sexual activity.
posted by mishafletch at 2:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [41 favorites]
Wat? My pets see me naked with no problem. Except that my dog is blind.
But even before she was blind she regularly barged into the bathroom to make sure I wasn't dying or something.
It would never occur to me to worry about it.
posted by frumiousb at 2:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
But even before she was blind she regularly barged into the bathroom to make sure I wasn't dying or something.
It would never occur to me to worry about it.
posted by frumiousb at 2:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
I don’t avoid it — they’re not wearing clothes, and give zero cares when i’m not. My biggest problem with this is their lack of boundaries and the lack of physical protection (armour!) clothes provide me from rouge cat claws. Me being on the toilet is apparently my cats favorite thing — look free unmoving lap!! and my legs have the scars of them trying to claim what they feel is rightly theirs and me frantically trying to prevent this before eventually conceding defeat. Once you’ve given in to crapping with your cat, mere nakedness is no longer an issue.
Unless one of your cats also has the bad habit of randomly jumping on your back. Without clothes ... this is not good. And results in lots of yelling and a naked human swiftly tossing a cat out of the room.
posted by cgg at 2:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
Unless one of your cats also has the bad habit of randomly jumping on your back. Without clothes ... this is not good. And results in lots of yelling and a naked human swiftly tossing a cat out of the room.
posted by cgg at 2:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
"I ask myself here: Why cat?
To be sure, you say, cat looks at you. You look at cat. You say everything
about the scene and the event. But why cat? And why not dog, for example?
Would the same unfurling of questions be produced if it were an ape and
you naked?
My hypothesis—perhaps mad: (what causes you to see yourself seen naked)
you see yourself seen by cat as if by no one. You see that cat sees you.
Cat sees you, thus sees you naked. If you are naked cat sees you even more
naked. You are not alone in being naked. You see the naked look of Cat. Cat
has a naked eye. Cat has what you call the fathomless look, the eyes of the
other. You interest Cat. Dog may have fur, a visor. Dark eyes. You see yourself
seen for a long time, the time it takes to be seen and not just glimpsed. You
see yourself seen by a look that does not turn away. Cat is neither waiting
for food nor lying in wait. Cat looks at you with a love that doesn’t judge
you, doesn’t ask you, leaves you free. (When Cat is hungry, then yes, he
looks at you to ask you.) Cat gives you all the time. Cat lives. Cat takes the
time to live. Cat gives time to live. Cat wants if you want. Does not obligate
you. Cat has the absolute eye. Like god.
Cat knows how to love well.
Cat introduces to the matter of love, naturally."
-Hélène Cixous
posted by mymbleth at 2:13 AM on October 24, 2018 [49 favorites]
To be sure, you say, cat looks at you. You look at cat. You say everything
about the scene and the event. But why cat? And why not dog, for example?
Would the same unfurling of questions be produced if it were an ape and
you naked?
My hypothesis—perhaps mad: (what causes you to see yourself seen naked)
you see yourself seen by cat as if by no one. You see that cat sees you.
Cat sees you, thus sees you naked. If you are naked cat sees you even more
naked. You are not alone in being naked. You see the naked look of Cat. Cat
has a naked eye. Cat has what you call the fathomless look, the eyes of the
other. You interest Cat. Dog may have fur, a visor. Dark eyes. You see yourself
seen for a long time, the time it takes to be seen and not just glimpsed. You
see yourself seen by a look that does not turn away. Cat is neither waiting
for food nor lying in wait. Cat looks at you with a love that doesn’t judge
you, doesn’t ask you, leaves you free. (When Cat is hungry, then yes, he
looks at you to ask you.) Cat gives you all the time. Cat lives. Cat takes the
time to live. Cat gives time to live. Cat wants if you want. Does not obligate
you. Cat has the absolute eye. Like god.
Cat knows how to love well.
Cat introduces to the matter of love, naturally."
-Hélène Cixous
posted by mymbleth at 2:13 AM on October 24, 2018 [49 favorites]
When I was dogsitting my friend's lovely but anxious spaniel he would insist on sitting on my feet when I was on the toilet. I found this solidarity quite comforting. And his only reaction to any form of nakedness was when you'd reach for the socks and he'd freak out at the prospect of WALK. Even if the rest of you was nude.
He was firmly barred from the room when I and my then boyfriend were getting down to business in the guest bedroom, though the whining from outside the door put us off our stride, so to speak.
Cats? So long as they get fed and fussed regularly, what do they care about nudity?
posted by doornoise at 2:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
He was firmly barred from the room when I and my then boyfriend were getting down to business in the guest bedroom, though the whining from outside the door put us off our stride, so to speak.
Cats? So long as they get fed and fussed regularly, what do they care about nudity?
posted by doornoise at 2:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
One of my cats hangs out in the bathroom with me while I shower. It has never seemed weird to me!
posted by joan_holloway at 2:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by joan_holloway at 2:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
What? Cats don't care, why should I? We're both just animals over here. The idea that it's weird to be naked around your cat feels like it's somehow projecting a sexual dynamic into the relationship, which to me is much weirder than being naked in front of a housecat. Might as well ask if it's weird for my cat to be naked around me.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Response by poster: I am neutral on this issue, and was an observer to the debate rather than a participant.
Two (overlapping) arguments I heard in favor of hurriedly covering up when your cat entered the same room were:
1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
On the other hand, one lady who owned a chihuahua and a cat said she had no problem at all with nudity in front of either of her pets, and enjoyed the sensation of the dog eating treats off her (the owner's) tummy.
posted by Wordshore at 3:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Two (overlapping) arguments I heard in favor of hurriedly covering up when your cat entered the same room were:
1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
On the other hand, one lady who owned a chihuahua and a cat said she had no problem at all with nudity in front of either of her pets, and enjoyed the sensation of the dog eating treats off her (the owner's) tummy.
posted by Wordshore at 3:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
My cats don't care at all. Frankly they think it's weird I wear clothes - keeps us from important breakfast time. They'll be waiting for me to head for the stairs and I'll tell them to slow down, I have to get dressed. They are all "hoomin, let's go!" while I'm explaining silly humans have no fur and so wear clothes (which I'm sure they hear as blah blah blah but I like to explain things to them).
I might feel more weird in front of a dog. I don't know.
I think I'd feel really weird having sex in front of them but there's like zero chance of that happening. The three of us are spinsters.
posted by kitten magic at 3:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I might feel more weird in front of a dog. I don't know.
I think I'd feel really weird having sex in front of them but there's like zero chance of that happening. The three of us are spinsters.
posted by kitten magic at 3:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I agree with the first argument but they aren't judgemental about clothes or lack thereof. They are judgemental about the time I spend on the iPad, my faffing around when I should be serving kitty meals and my inability to speak fluent meowese (meowish?).
2..... I would suggest therapy. For the human initially, then possibly couples therapy with the cat.
posted by kitten magic at 3:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
2..... I would suggest therapy. For the human initially, then possibly couples therapy with the cat.
posted by kitten magic at 3:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
I don't care if the cats see me naked - although they do know the difference between naked and clothes, because they know they're not allowed to knead on my bare skin. We've cuddled almost naked when its hot in the summer. They really don't care, although they do prefer me with "fur".
We can't have sex with them in the room though. They stare. It's weird. And they only need to jump on your back once before you decide that there's only space for one pussy in this bed right now and the cats need to wait outside.
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
We can't have sex with them in the room though. They stare. It's weird. And they only need to jump on your back once before you decide that there's only space for one pussy in this bed right now and the cats need to wait outside.
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Those conjectures just don't sound realistic to me. Cats are not actually judgmental. Most human behavior is both unintelligible and uninteresting to cats. The things that do interest them are quite different from the things that interest humans. My cat has never evinced the least interest or frankly even awareness of my state of dress. She just wants me to feed and/ir cuddle her regardless. Total indifference.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:17 AM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:17 AM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
One of my cats hangs out in the bathroom with me while I shower. It has never seemed weird to me!
Oh, I forgot, one of my cats seems deeply disturbed by the fact I take baths/ showers and will insist on sitting in the room the whole time, staring at me and meowing pitifully. I don't think it's the naked part she objects to though.
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
Oh, I forgot, one of my cats seems deeply disturbed by the fact I take baths/ showers and will insist on sitting in the room the whole time, staring at me and meowing pitifully. I don't think it's the naked part she objects to though.
posted by stillnocturnal at 3:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
My mother's old cat used to like to get in the shower with her and splash about at the edge of the spray.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:27 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:27 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
Our cats hang out in the bedroom all the time. It would take a lot of catwrangling to remove them before getting naked. I fail to see the point; they don't care and neither do we.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't find this odd at all. Our older male cat will often get up with me in the morning, and when I go to the bathroom to do #2, he'll hop into the litter box and do his business while I'm doing mine - I guess he sees it as a form of male bonding (cats are weird, what can I say?)
posted by Roger Pittman at 3:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Roger Pittman at 3:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I can only think of one situation where letting your cat have 100% access to you would be detrimental.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Sounds to me as if the person putting those arguments has some unaddressed self-loathing. Speaking as a man whose body bulges and sags in all kinds of desperately unfashionable places, I've never lived with a dog or cat who has given the slightest sign of caring about my state of dress or undress apart from Putting On The Shorts With The Jingly Belt Buckle always being an occasion for running-in-circles joy since it sometimes means We Are About To Walk Down The Street.
posted by flabdablet at 3:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Sounds to me as if the person putting those arguments has some unaddressed self-loathing. Speaking as a man whose body bulges and sags in all kinds of desperately unfashionable places, I've never lived with a dog or cat who has given the slightest sign of caring about my state of dress or undress apart from Putting On The Shorts With The Jingly Belt Buckle always being an occasion for running-in-circles joy since it sometimes means We Are About To Walk Down The Street.
posted by flabdablet at 3:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
I figure if my cat sees me naked it is because the cat has trained me to be naked around them on the schedule they demand.
posted by nikaspark at 3:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by nikaspark at 3:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Arguments against:
Cats are moderately intelligent, as you would expect of predators. I worry about the calibre of people you're spending your time with if, compared to them, a cat is highly intelligent!
Cats are not "judgemental" Cats are not only less judgemental than dogs, as descendants of solitary hunters their machinery for judgement of other creatures in a social sense and their "theory of mind" is much less developed.
Cats display behaviour that we anthropomorphise as being analogous to intelligent humans - solitary and independent, discerning - but that does not mean they actually are.
Since cats have no concept of clothes - how would they tell the difference between wearing two different coloured shirts or a coat vs being naked? Not having eaten of the apple in the garden, they know nothing of sin, and nothing of nudity.
posted by atrazine at 3:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Arguments against:
Cats are moderately intelligent, as you would expect of predators. I worry about the calibre of people you're spending your time with if, compared to them, a cat is highly intelligent!
Cats are not "judgemental" Cats are not only less judgemental than dogs, as descendants of solitary hunters their machinery for judgement of other creatures in a social sense and their "theory of mind" is much less developed.
Cats display behaviour that we anthropomorphise as being analogous to intelligent humans - solitary and independent, discerning - but that does not mean they actually are.
Since cats have no concept of clothes - how would they tell the difference between wearing two different coloured shirts or a coat vs being naked? Not having eaten of the apple in the garden, they know nothing of sin, and nothing of nudity.
posted by atrazine at 3:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
I don’t avoid it — they’re not wearing clothes, and give zero cares when i’m not.
One of mine regularly wears shirts (like this Hawaiian that he has had on for the past few days) and he doesn't care, even then.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
One of mine regularly wears shirts (like this Hawaiian that he has had on for the past few days) and he doesn't care, even then.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Cats...don't have the kind of subjectivity to understand "naked" versus "clothed". They presumably understand that different states exist, but more like they understand that today the fluffy coat is on the favorite chair but tomorrow it may not be. Cats may or may not have a kind of "morality", I feel like I've seen research about animal morality sort of, but they don't have the kind of social narratives that humans do. Only humans - and only some humans in some parts of history - think that "naked" is vulnerable, shameful, embarrassing, ipso facto sexual, etc. Only humans have either the history or the type of brain to think this.
In any case, if they did, wouldn't it be totally culturally subjective? If you lived in a society where everyone wore a lot, would cats get upset if you showed a flash of ankle? The best argument you could possibly make would be that change upsets cats.
My cat is disturbed when I take off my glasses, presumably because it changes the appearance of my eyes. This isn't a moral judgement on her part.
Also, how could cats judge human bodies even if they had the right kind of brain? Do you look at kittens, for instance, and say "that kitten should work out more"?
At my house, we like to pretend that the cat is always complaining about how dumb humans are because we are not self-cleaning. If we were self-cleaning like cats, we wouldn't have to wear clothes, but we're too lazy and stupid.
posted by Frowner at 4:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
In any case, if they did, wouldn't it be totally culturally subjective? If you lived in a society where everyone wore a lot, would cats get upset if you showed a flash of ankle? The best argument you could possibly make would be that change upsets cats.
My cat is disturbed when I take off my glasses, presumably because it changes the appearance of my eyes. This isn't a moral judgement on her part.
Also, how could cats judge human bodies even if they had the right kind of brain? Do you look at kittens, for instance, and say "that kitten should work out more"?
At my house, we like to pretend that the cat is always complaining about how dumb humans are because we are not self-cleaning. If we were self-cleaning like cats, we wouldn't have to wear clothes, but we're too lazy and stupid.
posted by Frowner at 4:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Having just moved to the UK from the US I feel as though this is an argument that could only happen in Britain. But why on earth would I feel uncomfortable unclothed in front of a cat when:
a.) most cats have NEVER worn clothes (and when one tries to put something funny or cute on one it nearly always ends in tears)
b.) they regularly try to get you to admire their buttholes
c.) your relationship consists of cleaning up their poop on the regular
No sir, there is no reason at all to be self conscious around kitty when in the altogether.
posted by pazazygeek at 4:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
a.) most cats have NEVER worn clothes (and when one tries to put something funny or cute on one it nearly always ends in tears)
b.) they regularly try to get you to admire their buttholes
c.) your relationship consists of cleaning up their poop on the regular
No sir, there is no reason at all to be self conscious around kitty when in the altogether.
posted by pazazygeek at 4:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Our cat, naked as the day he was born, regularly makes casual eye contact with us while he is vacating his bowels. Like, “hey what’s up guys.” Cats super do not care.
posted by sacchan at 4:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by sacchan at 4:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
A long time ago at a German cat owners’ forum a (male) poster imparted to us the following hard won nugget of wisdom:
„Never crouch down naked infront of your cat with your dangly bits hanging free.“
posted by Omnomnom at 4:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
„Never crouch down naked infront of your cat with your dangly bits hanging free.“
posted by Omnomnom at 4:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Oh no, I never do it with the cats I sit! Because they're not actually _my_ cats, even if I'm temporarily in loco parentis. I feel like it's one of those things that become super creepy when the sitter does them.
I will use the toilet if a cat is present, if the cat was there first and will not leave. As cats are wont to do.
posted by Vesihiisi at 4:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I will use the toilet if a cat is present, if the cat was there first and will not leave. As cats are wont to do.
posted by Vesihiisi at 4:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
My dog and I shower together. Not because it's fun or either of us are really into it, just because it's more efficient.
Also life pro tip if you have a dog who doesn't do well with baths emotionally, switch to a shower and get in there with it. They're much more chill when their pack leader is doing the thing, too.
posted by phunniemee at 4:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Also life pro tip if you have a dog who doesn't do well with baths emotionally, switch to a shower and get in there with it. They're much more chill when their pack leader is doing the thing, too.
posted by phunniemee at 4:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
most cats have NEVER worn clothes (and when one tries to put something funny or cute on one it nearly always ends in tears)
And to be perfectly clear, that's "tears" as in "shreds". Though there are notable exceptions.
posted by flabdablet at 4:47 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
And to be perfectly clear, that's "tears" as in "shreds". Though there are notable exceptions.
(spoiler)
the duck is nakedposted by flabdablet at 4:47 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Lolllll I have a bachelor apartment, cat sees everything. Her litter box is in my bathroom and she likes to co-poop. Cat also likes the person with whom I currently share nudity from time to time, and the last time we were sharing said nudity, she didn't even bother getting off the bed.
*shrug*
posted by wellred at 5:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
*shrug*
posted by wellred at 5:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
It has literally never crossed my mind that I should be the least bit concerned whether any non-human animal might see my naked body. Animals don't have a nudity taboo. They're naked all the time.
The idea of a person hurrying to put on a bathrobe because "cats are so judgmental" or thinking that the cat seeing their owner naked might "put them off their food"(?!) just makes me very sad about that person's self-image.
posted by ook at 5:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
The idea of a person hurrying to put on a bathrobe because "cats are so judgmental" or thinking that the cat seeing their owner naked might "put them off their food"(?!) just makes me very sad about that person's self-image.
posted by ook at 5:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Beatrix T. Cattenborough gets into the shower with us, or stares down at us from the top of the étagère while we shower, most every day. Always the first person to shower; never the second. Once the first person has showered she transitions to agitating for breakfast.
She doesn't tend to be around during sexytimes, which is fine with me. I once had a girlfriend whose cat would attempt to curl up on my back during moments of intimacy and that was... unnerving to say the least.
posted by slkinsey at 5:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
She doesn't tend to be around during sexytimes, which is fine with me. I once had a girlfriend whose cat would attempt to curl up on my back during moments of intimacy and that was... unnerving to say the least.
posted by slkinsey at 5:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
This is one of the weirdest asks I've ever seen and it makes me wonder what's up with the people who have this issue.
My cats follow me into the bathroom, because to a cat when you're passing waste you're vulnerable to predators and they want to protect me. They'll often come in and use the litterbox while I'm showering. I had a cat for a bit who would climb into my underwear whenever I sat on the toilet. I found that a little aggravating because then I had to move him to pull my pants up, but it was super cute. In the summer I'll sleep naked and sometimes walk around naked and have no issues with this with the cats - they don't care.
When I used to visit a former partner, his cat kindly let me sleep on her pillow with her, which was awesome because I love cats who sleep on my head. However, at least once this turned into her jumping up and parking herself right next to my head while we were fucking. She didn't seem at all bothered and she wasn't holding up score cards or anything, so we just went on with what we were doing and had a good laugh about it later.
Cats don't care if you're naked, and if they're bothered, they'll go do Important Cat Things elsewhere.
Some cat pics, because this thread is sadly lacking in kitty pictures:
My boy Rembrandt who makes sure I never pee alone
My tiny princess Zatanna who wakes me up for snuggles
Stitch, the sweet boy who used to climb into my underpants when I was on the toilet
posted by bile and syntax at 5:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
My cats follow me into the bathroom, because to a cat when you're passing waste you're vulnerable to predators and they want to protect me. They'll often come in and use the litterbox while I'm showering. I had a cat for a bit who would climb into my underwear whenever I sat on the toilet. I found that a little aggravating because then I had to move him to pull my pants up, but it was super cute. In the summer I'll sleep naked and sometimes walk around naked and have no issues with this with the cats - they don't care.
When I used to visit a former partner, his cat kindly let me sleep on her pillow with her, which was awesome because I love cats who sleep on my head. However, at least once this turned into her jumping up and parking herself right next to my head while we were fucking. She didn't seem at all bothered and she wasn't holding up score cards or anything, so we just went on with what we were doing and had a good laugh about it later.
Cats don't care if you're naked, and if they're bothered, they'll go do Important Cat Things elsewhere.
Some cat pics, because this thread is sadly lacking in kitty pictures:
My boy Rembrandt who makes sure I never pee alone
My tiny princess Zatanna who wakes me up for snuggles
Stitch, the sweet boy who used to climb into my underpants when I was on the toilet
posted by bile and syntax at 5:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
All of the animals have followed me into the bathroom at one point or another, including Kid Ruki's surly cat, and they all regularly see me naked. We would just shoo the Gatsby cat off the bed when it was sexy times but the dog has to be shut out of the room because... look, she gets jealous if she's not the one getting skritchies. The mister was rubbing my arm one night in bed and the dog just shoved her way between us. You don't want that happening while sensitive areas are involved.
posted by Ruki at 6:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 6:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Until reading these comments, I was sure your friends were trolling you. I can usually stretch my perspective, but I cannot on any level relate to giving one single thought to nakedness around an animal. Wut.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 6:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 6:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Geez Wordshore, where do you hang out that you get to hear interesting conversations like this? Seems like most of the people around me just want to talk about boring crap on television.
I've never had a cat that seemed to understand the difference between my being naked and my being clothed (although I must be clothed for them to sit on my lap, because claws). And when I'm gettin' busy I honestly don't know what they do because I'm not paying attention to them.
posted by JanetLand at 6:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've never had a cat that seemed to understand the difference between my being naked and my being clothed (although I must be clothed for them to sit on my lap, because claws). And when I'm gettin' busy I honestly don't know what they do because I'm not paying attention to them.
posted by JanetLand at 6:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I figure I see them naked, so they might as well see me naked, too.
posted by spindrifter at 6:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by spindrifter at 6:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Um... They’re naked all the time. And they lick their buttholes. I’m really not concerned about what they think of me.
posted by amro at 6:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by amro at 6:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
It has never occurred to me to worry about the cat seeing me naked. I would, however, worry about the hypothetical situation where you and your partner lay a towel on the living room just before things might get messy and the cat immediately comes to sit on it because, omg, rectangles on the floor!
posted by carolr at 6:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by carolr at 6:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
My pets see me and my husband naked on the regular. They don't care. We kick them out of the bedroom for sexy times, but that's most because the dog would want to be involved in the "fun game" if she was around, which would kill the mood.
posted by Kurichina at 7:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Kurichina at 7:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't care if my cat or any other pet sees me naked, but we don't allow our cats into the bedroom (in the interest of having one cat hair-free room in the house). If we did, I'd definitely shoo them out of the room before sexytimes because they'd probably make themselves a distraction at an inconvenient moment, as cats are wont to do.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I do sometimes wonder what cats make of humans shedding their fur, so to speak, and voluntarily subjecting themselves to being doused with water every day.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:26 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:26 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
One of the nicest things about animals is how nonjudgmental they are
This is not at all my experience with cats. My now-husband's cat was judgy AF and expressed her opinion of me by defecating on my pillow at his house. An acquaintance had his gf's cat sneak up under the covers after they (he and his gf, not the cat) were done having sex, and dig its claws HARD into his scrotum.
No problem with nudity (they're not wearing clothes either!) but there are consequences to letting the animals see you in flagrante. Proceed with caution!
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is not at all my experience with cats. My now-husband's cat was judgy AF and expressed her opinion of me by defecating on my pillow at his house. An acquaintance had his gf's cat sneak up under the covers after they (he and his gf, not the cat) were done having sex, and dig its claws HARD into his scrotum.
No problem with nudity (they're not wearing clothes either!) but there are consequences to letting the animals see you in flagrante. Proceed with caution!
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.These sound more like projection from owners than actual facts.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Any concern about nudity in front of pets is LOADED with all sorts of related projection. They don't care.
I could see sex being a Thing that they're either interested enough in to make YOU feel weird, or interested enough in to parse as play or otherwise interfere. Neither has come up for me, but a friend dated a girl whose cat would pounce on the moving shapes under the covers, which was deleterious to the mood.
For me, bedrumpus has generally just resulted in cats leaving until the rumpusing subsides.
posted by uberchet at 7:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Plenty of cats have seen me naked and judged me not. I do know of a few cats that think that naked men have hanging cat toys and have gotten flying lessons as a result.
The cats have always been evicted from the bedroom before sex because they've gotten curious and either in the way or planted a cold nose on the butt, both of which are disruptive to the mood.
I'm less likely to be naked around a dog because at least some will be very interesting in licking the nether regions if given access. If they're chill about that, I don't care.
posted by Candleman at 7:59 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
The cats have always been evicted from the bedroom before sex because they've gotten curious and either in the way or planted a cold nose on the butt, both of which are disruptive to the mood.
I'm less likely to be naked around a dog because at least some will be very interesting in licking the nether regions if given access. If they're chill about that, I don't care.
posted by Candleman at 7:59 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
The only way I could see it messing up your relationship with the cat is if, upon realizing the cat has seen you in the altogether, you shriek and run past the cat and grab a big scary rectangle to wrap around yourself as you toss the cat out of the room. The cat may then consider you an Unreliable Creature and be a little tentative.
I don't mind if a cat is around for nude activities. I do get kind of weirded out if she comes in to watch. I'd shut the door on a dog, but I have absolutely no logical reason for doing so, I just ascribe more humanity to them I guess.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't mind if a cat is around for nude activities. I do get kind of weirded out if she comes in to watch. I'd shut the door on a dog, but I have absolutely no logical reason for doing so, I just ascribe more humanity to them I guess.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Post-showercat likes to attack wet toes. Annoying, but not unsettling.
WHAT
THE
F***,
CAT?
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
WHAT
THE
F***,
CAT?
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Shoving the cat off the bed during sex, and listening to their complaints, is an expected part of engaging in sexual interactions in a house with cats. This is an astonishing question.
posted by eotvos at 9:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by eotvos at 9:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm baffled by the idea that cats would give a shit, and quite frankly furious about what this is doing to further mefi's perception of the English as bonkers twee freaks.
With that out of the way, our new cat is a toilet perv who will aggressively try to bash the door open to hang out whenever either of us sit on the loo, and sit patiently outside if he is denied, so what do I know
posted by ominous_paws at 10:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
With that out of the way, our new cat is a toilet perv who will aggressively try to bash the door open to hang out whenever either of us sit on the loo, and sit patiently outside if he is denied, so what do I know
posted by ominous_paws at 10:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Based on the existence of the Tumblr (nsfw!) Indifferent Cats in Amateur Porn, I think cats are ok with all levels of clothing.
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:03 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:03 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'd sympathise with people feeling weirder about dogs purely on their much greater tendency to start humping you at the drop of a hat
posted by ominous_paws at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ominous_paws at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just yesterday while I was drying off after a shower I wondered if my cat thinks I’m weird for wearing clothes while he is able to go anywhere instantly, unencumbered by the need to dress. He was gazing at me balefully and yes I felt a little—disapproved of. But not for my fat lumpy old body! For my human need to clothe myself while he looks perenially awesome in his fat lumpy old body and tuxedo coat. I’m sure our dogs see clothing as something that slows down daily walks, they’re always ready to go while we have to put all this crap on first. I agree dogs and cats are shut out of the bedroom when its time for H and I to get our frisky on.
Animals most definitely do not judge us or our bodies, that’s some serious anthropomorphism there.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 10:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Animals most definitely do not judge us or our bodies, that’s some serious anthropomorphism there.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 10:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
> 2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Cats are not upset by nudity; they're upset by what's not normal. If they're accustomed to both nude and clothed humans, then they aren't likely to be upset by the sight of a nude human.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Cats are not upset by nudity; they're upset by what's not normal. If they're accustomed to both nude and clothed humans, then they aren't likely to be upset by the sight of a nude human.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
We have a cat bed shaped like a house that sits at the head of the bed on my side (and another that sits at the foot of the bed, because otherwise the two cats attempt to share the same space and get into fights in the middle of the night). It stays on the bed during, er, activities, and often the older cat, who just really wants to be in the same room as us, will go into it. The younger cat thinks anything the slightest bit off of normal routine is Weird and Scary and will run out of the room and hide.
Neither of us cares if the cats see us naked. We see them naked 100% of the time, after all!
Our only problem is that the younger cat is highly offended by closed doors and will open any closed doors he finds, like the bathroom. There is no privacy in this house for the residents. (Younger Cat is scared of guests and hides when they're around, so no worries there.)
posted by telophase at 10:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Neither of us cares if the cats see us naked. We see them naked 100% of the time, after all!
Our only problem is that the younger cat is highly offended by closed doors and will open any closed doors he finds, like the bathroom. There is no privacy in this house for the residents. (Younger Cat is scared of guests and hides when they're around, so no worries there.)
posted by telophase at 10:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I figure my cats run around nekkid in front of me all day and lick their butts with no shame whatsoever, so my Maine Coon jumping into the shower with me for a few minutes is no problem.
Their total lack of judgment is also pretty refreshing, really.
posted by fraula at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Their total lack of judgment is also pretty refreshing, really.
posted by fraula at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I came across a PDF of a talk Derrida gave about animals, consciousness, cats and nudity:
http://users.clas.ufl.edu/burt/Chaucer%27swake/Animal.pdf
posted by Dmenet at 12:03 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
http://users.clas.ufl.edu/burt/Chaucer%27swake/Animal.pdf
posted by Dmenet at 12:03 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I just try not to dangle anything important within reach of a cat, but other than that if you share a home with me, you're gonna see me naked sooner or later.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
If I'm in my own room, I'm not going to cover up for any animal, cat, dog, human, insect, the government, google. If you're seeing in my room, that is your deal. Who cares, a body is a body. Like, I'm not going to get all twisted up because I seen someone's guts wrapper without clothes on, why would a cat?
posted by GoblinHoney at 12:54 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 12:54 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
The only reaction from a cat that I've ever seen was when my partner accidentally dropped an undergarment on a hypersensitive cat's head. For the next few months, the cat was anxious about that specific piece of clothing, but not identical garments in different colors.
So my word of wisdom is don't freak out the cat by dropping your clothes on top of them, unless they're the kind of cat who likes to play kitty cave and jumps on the bed as you're about to put things on it.
I've anecdotally heard about dogs and chickens who are offended by changes in beards, hair, and hats. Some cats might have a similar reaction. Also while cats have excellent night vision, they're also nearsighted and have reduced color acuity, so I wouldn't consider them competent fashion judges from across the room.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
So my word of wisdom is don't freak out the cat by dropping your clothes on top of them, unless they're the kind of cat who likes to play kitty cave and jumps on the bed as you're about to put things on it.
I've anecdotally heard about dogs and chickens who are offended by changes in beards, hair, and hats. Some cats might have a similar reaction. Also while cats have excellent night vision, they're also nearsighted and have reduced color acuity, so I wouldn't consider them competent fashion judges from across the room.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
My handsome little Wisakedjak (SFW) almost always follows me into the bathroom. This is only a problem because he's a perv and is enthusiastic about watersports and curling up in my underwear.
posted by jackbishop at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jackbishop at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
My cat loves to help me get dried off right after I come out of the shower - she licks the water off my arms before I towel-dry myself. My previous cat loved to sit on the edge of the bathtub when I was taking a bath and watch the water.
posted by silverandlilac at 1:07 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by silverandlilac at 1:07 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
If it bothered my cat he would look away.
And if my cat didn't see me on the toilet (naked before a shower), I'd see a lot less of him. Seems his favorite time to spend with me is to come and play with my drawstrings or get some head scritches.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
And if my cat didn't see me on the toilet (naked before a shower), I'd see a lot less of him. Seems his favorite time to spend with me is to come and play with my drawstrings or get some head scritches.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'll nth the, 'What? This is a thing???' response and add that while I don't think anything of our pets seeing me naked I do kick our one cat out of the bedroom during sexytime because turning your head at inopportune moment and seeing her coldly evaluating eyes is a bit of a buzzkill.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:09 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:09 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
> 1. Cats are both highly intelligent and highly judgemental.
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Nthing that this is some whoaaa level of projection.
Cats are fussy about their food and the condition of their litterbox and how often their human is home. They are not fussy about, like, what their human is or is not wearing.
posted by desuetude at 2:24 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
2. Some cats are quite fussy and/or sensitive, and the experience and sight/memory of their owner now being naked may result in changes in behavior e.g. being put off their food, or relieving themselves in places other than their litter tray.
Nthing that this is some whoaaa level of projection.
Cats are fussy about their food and the condition of their litterbox and how often their human is home. They are not fussy about, like, what their human is or is not wearing.
posted by desuetude at 2:24 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
That anyone would be bothered by this is making me giggle.
When it's warm, I shower with my bird. He's naked too. He waits while I wash up and then I hold him under the shower spray; when he's done, he flies back to the towel rack. It has never occurred to me in a whole life of every kind of petkeeping that any of them would have Thoughts about my nakedity.
I will nth those in the thread who speak from experience about shutting dogs out of the room during sexytimes, though.
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:05 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
When it's warm, I shower with my bird. He's naked too. He waits while I wash up and then I hold him under the shower spray; when he's done, he flies back to the towel rack. It has never occurred to me in a whole life of every kind of petkeeping that any of them would have Thoughts about my nakedity.
I will nth those in the thread who speak from experience about shutting dogs out of the room during sexytimes, though.
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:05 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Once at a girlfriend's house, while we were being intimate, her cat started licking my backside. I found that disturbing because it was too close to having the cat as an active participant in the festivities, but I'm sure the cat experienced it in a totally different way and couldn't have cared less.
posted by willnot at 3:15 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by willnot at 3:15 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I have never even thought twice about the cat seeing me naked before. I did spend a little bit of time considering whether I really wanted to pick her up and cuddle her while naked, the first time she came into the bathroom demanding attention while I was drying off after a shower. But my thought process was entirely about claws near naked sensitive parts of my body, and cat fur on wet skin. Not about anything else. I do shut her out of the bedroom during sexytimes, but that's not about nakedness so much as distraction. (And she would totally have no qualms about walking across someone's body, or loudly demanding attention, when we have better things to do.)
posted by lollusc at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lollusc at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is not at all my experience with cats. My now-husband's cat was judgy AF and expressed her opinion of me by defecating on my pillow at his house. An acquaintance had his gf's cat sneak up under the covers after they (he and his gf, not the cat) were done having sex, and dig its claws HARD into his scrotum.
Surely this is more evidence of jealousy than jundgment? Unless the cat has opposing politcal views or is racist (which may be a thing)
posted by some loser at 3:27 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Surely this is more evidence of jealousy than jundgment? Unless the cat has opposing politcal views or is racist (which may be a thing)
posted by some loser at 3:27 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yeah, my cat abolutely loves to barge into the bathroom whenever I'm in there doing my business because he hopes there are drawstrings to play with while I'm largely captive and have to let him. He's a very jumpy cat in every part of the house except my bathroom or bedroom. Go figure.
posted by TwoStride at 4:55 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 4:55 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ceiling Cat is watching you, Wordshore.
Not a proper answer. But I do wonder if the meme may have informed/affected some of the reactions you have encountered.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 5:29 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Not a proper answer. But I do wonder if the meme may have informed/affected some of the reactions you have encountered.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 5:29 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
One of mine hates hats, and neither will sit on us unless we're wearing stuff like trousers. As for nakedness, they are indifferent to showers but freak out about baths. It's the immense amount of water and our lack of fear sitting in it.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:03 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fiercekitten at 8:03 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well, I see my cat naked, so . . .
posted by SLC Mom at 9:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by SLC Mom at 9:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I slept with a guy a few times who has a young dog with frenetic energy who gets out of his crate long before I ever wanted to wake up. The dog was a licker - if your feet were hanging out of the sheets you got your toes licked.
One morning in his room, guy was walking around naked. Guess who had their wiener licked?
posted by bendy at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
One morning in his room, guy was walking around naked. Guess who had their wiener licked?
posted by bendy at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
If the cats I've lived with gave one whit about naked I might have a different story. Try having a cat that begs to get into the shower with you. Cats at least are too weird to be concerned with naked.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by zengargoyle at 2:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
My cats have no objection to seeing me naked - there's usually at least one volunteer to help dry me off post-shower... small tongue licking at legs, etc.
However, I have noticed that one of my little cat dudes definitely refuses to lay on my bare chest when we're falling asleep... On the whole, everyone seems to prefer that I'm wearing clothing if they plan to sit on my lap, or be cuddled to my chest. Might have something to do with grip?
But yeah, looking at naked people doesn't seem to bother them.
posted by NorthernAutumn at 12:02 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
However, I have noticed that one of my little cat dudes definitely refuses to lay on my bare chest when we're falling asleep... On the whole, everyone seems to prefer that I'm wearing clothing if they plan to sit on my lap, or be cuddled to my chest. Might have something to do with grip?
But yeah, looking at naked people doesn't seem to bother them.
posted by NorthernAutumn at 12:02 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Gatsby cat would happily sleep on my chest, but only if my (clad) chest was covered by a blanket. She needed several layers of protection for snuggles. She was weird.
posted by Ruki at 1:35 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 1:35 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by hawthorne at 1:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]