Contrary to the typical cliches that portray cats as the companions of choice of writers, night owls and single women, most cat owners are families with two children, a house and a yard. In France, the rate of cat ownership is 66% among people who live in houses (62% with a yard) and only 25% among apartment dwellers. Sixty-six percent of cats live in cities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. In France, there are 8.4 million cats and 1 out of every 4 households has at least one cat. Cats are essentially taken in out of a love for animals. In rare cases, cats are acquired in order to chase mice, but much more often, they are acquired as company for the children. More than 85% of farmers own a cat, followed by merchants, craftsmen and business owners. Only 36% of executives, professional people and unemployed persons share this happiness.

Whereas dog owners tend to limit themselves to the canine species, cat owners often own several different species, mixing birds or dogs with cats in their singular love for animals.

Although cats have all too often been the poor cousins of veterinary medicine, more attention is being paid to their health in this end of the century, although they still do not receive a lot of medical treatment. In Europe as in the United States, veterinarians are now specializing in feline medicine and opening up feline clinics. Entire scientific journals are now devoted to this species.

Cats are becoming more strongly attached to people, something thought to be impossible a few centuries ago. Consequently, they are taking on a status similar to dogs: man's faithful friend and first among pets. In that respect, however, the question remains as to whether cats will ever be truly domesticated. Domestication, in fact, involves controlling reproduction. Herein lies one more paradox with cats. It remains difficult to control the reproduction of thoroughbred cats, who never give birth when the breeders want them to, and yet free-roaming alley and neighborhood cats give birth to litters without a second thought! Thus the domestication of cats is a work in progress in which we as owners all have the privilege of participating every day.