Of all the silly disagreements on this list, this has to be the top. (But loving cats was one of the most charming things about Eliot--at least one that produced warmth and humor--so) "Familiarity" does not mean lack of affection or loyalty or companionability: it means the cat resents disrespect or rudeness, as in "b. an unduly informal act or expression: IMPROPRIETY." (Webster's)

That whole poem is about respecting the cat's sense of itself:

 

I bow, and taking off my hat,

Ad-dress him in this form: o CAT!

But if he is the Cat next door,

Whom I have often met before

(He comes to see me in my flat)

I greet him with an OOPSA CAT!

...

A Cat's entitled to expect

These evidences of respect.

 

As for Eliot and dogs: "So first, your memory I'll jog. And say: A CAT IS NOT A DOG."

 

Read the whole poem; it's not enthusiastic on a dog, who is "'What you would call a simple soul" and "an easy-going lout."

 

 

Cats do prefer some propriety; it's not a lack of affection.

N

 

>>> Chanan Mittal 10/07/15 1:54 PM >>>

"I say, you should ad-dress a Cat.

But always keep in mind that he

Resents familiarity."

-- TS Eliot on 'The Ad-dressing of Cats' 

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, P <[log in to unmask]');" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Since when we're cats loyal?
P.

On 7 Oct 2015 6:08 am, Ken Armstrong <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

So much for loyal companions. ;->

On October 7, 2015 6:58:49 AM EDT, "Rickard A. Parker" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

On Tue, 6 Oct 2015 23:50:18 -0400, Chanan Mittal <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

T.S. Eliot really liked cats according to his wife - NY Daily News
http://m.nydailynews.com/entertainment/cats-premieres-broadway-1982-article-1.2383482

"Cats are fine," says Valerie Eliot. "But actually, I think I prefer dogs."