Cats and Dogs

by H.P. Lovecraft

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Horror, Humor, Essays, Cats

Unknown Binding

About the author

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.

Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.

Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

— Wikipedia

Reviews

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

It took me a while to go through this. I won't rate it lower since it is a interesting glimpse into one of the things Lovecraft really loved. And I mean really.
Cats and Dogs is an essay where he goes overboard in trashing dogs. Well, that's not quite correct. A lot of time he spends praising cats in whatever imaginary situation he puts them.
After reading many of his stories you could see that Lovecraft was no dog lover even without this childish rant. 'Children, old crones, peasants, and dogs ramble; cats and philosophers stick to their point.'

It all depends on who is reading this. The thing is, dog lovers won't see certain things Lovecraft lists as examples of dogs being inferior as bad (dog's willingness to protect and put his master first and loyalty being some of them). They simply won't agree with the inferior part.
Next, Lovecraft pretty much manages to insult a whole bunch of people (and animals while he's at it).

Recommended for Lovecraft completists.

[Michael Kress · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most pretentious thing I've ever read, and I love it. It should be essential reading for cat-lovers. But dog-lovers need to have some thick skin, or they might get triggered! I just thought it was hilarious; It made my day. I'm going to tell all my cat-owning friends to read this gem of an essay. I'm so glad that I decided to check out H.P. Lovecraft's non-fiction because it's vastly different from his fiction. It gives you a perspective into what kind of brain it takes to come up with those bizarre stories.

As I hinted at earlier, Lovecraft prefers cats over dogs. I knew he was a cat-lover before reading this but had no idea he was this passionate about it. He has a pious view of the virtues of cats and cat-owners while making a mockery of dogs and dog owners. I'm not sure Lovecraft's intention was to be funny, so you could say I was laughing at him. He may not have been completely self-aware while writing this. He has an impressive vocabulary and uses a lot of big words (as he always does) to convince the reader that cats are better than dogs. But, you know, I still like dogs.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fond enough of dogs - I like all animals - that I could have presented a few counterpoints to this if I ever had met Howard, and I might also disagree with some of his aesthetic points, but on the whole it's a good and interesting read, gives a great insight to the man's life (he spent so much more time talking about things he hated or feared, after all, than things he loved), and is of course as well written as anything else he ever did.

[house targaryen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the grandiose vocabulary, Lovecraft's main points are timeless and true. The dog is a groveling, salivating pitiful fool, without any concept of personal boundaries. The cat is a beautiful, self-sufficient aristocrat. The dog is your slave, the cat is your peer.

You can read the essay here: http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/t...

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovecraft has some fun describing his love of cats and pits them against dogs. He argues that cats are independent and for aristocratic gentlemen with high IQs and dogs are needy sycophants, fit only for stupid, conformist peasants. I’m surprised John Gray didn’t cite this essay in his book Feline Philosophy, he does reference HPL in his most recent book (The New Leviathans) however.

I actually think that the dependency we have bred into dogs is very sad and so many languish in our homes unhappy and craving our attention as a result. Ultimately, may all sentient beings be free from suffering.

"The dog gives, but the cat is."

[Matthew Rogers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful writing. I appreciate his value of aesthetics. Most of his "argument" is the literary equivalent of masturbation. Reminiscent of people who like and share articles about the superiority of introverts.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The dog gives, but the cat is."

[M●13RA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I llove all animals, dogs are wonderful, but cats...they rule the world and Lovecraft, crafted an unusual loving cat essential reading. Unparalleled, little piece of reading!

[Norman Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant essay, which proves that cats, and therefore cat owners, are better than dogs.

[Aaron Ayers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dude loves cats.

[Tsikalakis Spyros · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read many Lovecraft written or Lovecraft inspired horror novels in the past, but I have never read before any written text from him other than horror themed. In this text, Lovecraft goes a little too far, concerning dogs and dog lovers. But he praises the virtue of a cat's nature, being free untamed and independent, which is all so evident in a avid cat lover such us myself. For example: "...whilst cat reigns among those more contemplative and imaginative spirits who ask of the universe only the objective sight of poignant, ethereal beauty and the animate symbolisation of Nature's bland, relentless, reposeful, unhurried and impersonal order and sufficiency." On the other hand, as an animal-loving person additionally, I think also that he completely undermines the existing virtues of a dog: pure friendship, affection, and loyalty. It was an interesting viewpoint of Lovecraft' s personal way of thinking though... Interesting

[Leandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand cats. Their superiority is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of philosophy and anthropology most of their appeal will go over a typical dog person's head. Cat people understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these animals, to realize that they're not just pretty - they say something deep about LIFE. As a consequence people who dislike cats truly ARE idiots - of course they wouldn't appreciate, for instance, the aesthetic appeal in a cat stretching themselves after a long nap. I'm smirking right now just imagining one of those addlepated simpletons scratching their heads in confusion as Lovecraft's genius unfolds itself before their eyes. What fools... how I pity them.

[Lincoln Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

A very interesting look at Lovecrafts ideas about cats and dogs. I own a dog, I have had cats when I was very young, and I'd say I prefer cats but I love my dog. Lovecraft gets a bit rude in this one which is kind of funny, and he ignores a lot of the similar qualities that cats and dogs can have. My dog is like basically half cat. Anyway, this is a pretty good and kind of funny thesis on why Lovecraft was a cat person.

[Niklas Zenius Jespersen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Glimrende at læse hvis man ønsker en indføring i hvor racistisk, antidemokratisk, snobbet og dybt reaktionær Lovecraft var, selv for sin samtid...

[Yazuri C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un ensayo que no sabía que necesitaba leer.

[Lucas Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written by a cat

[Christian Fernández de solis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the first essay I've read of Lovecraft, as a matter of fact, the first Lovecraft's work I've ever read, and it wasn't a bad start.
Despite of the racist tendency that I could perceive (let's put it just as a minimum detail, considering the social context in which Lovecraft wrote most of his work), as a cat lover I've quite liked it.
However, his overwhelming expressions about cats and their devotes, perhaps put us under similar clichéd situation that a normal lover of dogs.
In any case, a great essay for an afternoon train ride...recommended