A cat lady is a cultural archetype or stock character, most often depicted as a middle-aged or elderly spinster or widow, who has many cats. The term may be pejorative, or it may be affectionately embraced.

Jul 27, 2024 · “Cat lady” is usually used to refer to childless women who live alone with their feline companions. Here’s how the stereotype lobbed at Kamala Harris came to be — and how some women are ...

Jul 29, 2024 · Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance’s criticism of prominent Democrats as “childless cat ladies” has unleashed fury among women, with many now reclaiming the age-old sexist...

Mar 6, 2025 · A cat lady is a term often used colloquially to describe a woman who owns and loves cats, often to a significant extent. In our guide we discuss...

May 2, 2024 · The “crazy cat lady” myth portrays single women who own multiple cats as eccentric, neurotic or socially isolated.

May 18, 2024 · Still not convinced being a cat lady is the cat’s meow? Consider these famous fictional characters who helped bring ailurophiles into the limelight along with celebrities who are simply smitten with their kittens — and maybe even reaped the benefits for it.

Apr 17, 2018 · What does cat lady mean? A cat lady is a humorous and occasionally derisive slang term for a single, often older woman who owns many cats.

Mar 6, 2025 · In modern times, it’s more common to use the term playfully or affectionately to describe someone who loves cats, regardless of their social situation. But the "cat lady" stereotype is largely...

Mar 17, 2025 · At its core, a cat lady is simply someone with a profound love and affinity for cats. This affection often manifests in a deep bond, attentive care, and a willingness to prioritize feline needs, sometimes above their own.

Feb 8, 2021 · It was in the mid-20th century that concerted efforts to subvert and reclaim the cat lady began in earnest. In the 1960s, Carolee Schneemann flipped the stereotype on its head with performance art that juxtaposed footage of her cat with her own raw sexuality.