Cats = term for likeable male persons, which I irrationally find extremely f'ing annoying

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So, should I blame California for this one?

I could never understand why, but anyone who uses the term "cat" to describe a noteworthy someone, usually a male person, just BUGS THE LIVING FUCKSKULL OUT OF ME. Whether it's aging-punk-rockers-cum-boogie-rock-groovie-dudes, swing pricks, or Hollywood/L.A. art types.

Who first started using the word "cat" in this manner? And where could I find this person's estate so I could put my arson degree to good use?

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

it's been used since at least the bebop days, no? And yes, I find it irrationally annoying too.

― buttch (Oops), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Chuck E Weiss to thread!

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Here ya go.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, I know Chuck E. - he has a cat named "Hep"

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

(which I think is the coolest cat name ever)

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know about you guys, but I blame hstencil. He's a jazz-type, after all.

luna - you know Chuck personally?

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Yessir - he's my boss' best friend and she has lots of parties, so I hang out with him from time to time. And he calls and leaves me weird voicemail messages.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

*AWE* Does that mean you've m-m-m-m-met

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/staff/tardif/perso/tom_waits.jpg???

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I would like to speak up in defense of "cat." It's a piece of jazz lingo (pre-bop, I'm pretty sure; see "Who Put the Benzedrine in Mrs. Murphy's Ovaltine" for a swing-era use of the term) that my father used to use all the time (my father was a jazz pianist before old age made him too conservative to enjoy much jazz at all). When I was five years old or so maybe I'd bring home a new friend from school - Edmund, say. After Edmund goes home for dinner, here's my dad: "Edmund seems like a good cat." I get all weepy-nostalgic thinking about it

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Friday, 2 May 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Do people still use this term much though? I have never heard it used in any conversations I've had.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 2 May 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

>>>Hey, I know Chuck E. - he has a cat named "Hep" <<<

No I don't -- I'm allergic!!!

― Chuck E., Friday, 2 May 2003 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

tell it to Laurie, bub.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 2 May 2003 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard this word often. Hip-hoppers use it too.
I don't mind it.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Sunday, 4 May 2003 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I like that people say "cats", it sounds so much better than "guys".

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Sunday, 4 May 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

The kinds of tea that male cats like ...

― Tad (llamasfur), Sunday, 4 May 2003 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

DB, I will make it a point of calling you Dat Crazy Cat in Seattle from here on out, just to see that special twinkle in your eye.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Do people still use this term much though? I have never heard it used in any conversations I've had.

Heh, that's what I thought until I started spending time with my jazz prof cousin and his friends.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Mick Farren to thread!

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 4 May 2003 23:06 (twenty-two years ago)

One of my best mates says it often, ie "yeah, I'm going to a club with those cats tonight". I find it really cute. Mind you, this guy is a big jazz fiend, which may have something to do with it.

A cat called Hep is a great idea incidentally.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 5 May 2003 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

That cat's something I can't explain!

― man, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think LA, Hollywood art types use this?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

oh but sanfernando valley jazz students do!

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't believe I forgot my pledge from this thread! BAD DAN.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

but Chaki, those are 'jazz' people, they have to use that term!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

also, they have to listen to 'jazz'.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think LA, Hollywood art types use this?

Haha, I guess you never met anyone associated with Perry Farrell then. (trust me on this one, i have first hand experience)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

And Dan, use the pledgehammer, i use my sledgehammer.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:17 (twenty-one years ago)

..or anyone who's jammed with Mike Watt, for that matter.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

(last was x-post to spencer)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually like it a lot as an endearment term, 'cause it causes my cartoon mind to melt by going into overdrive and imagining the 'cat' in question as a cast member in Disney's The Aristocats.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll allow one exception... MC Skat Kat

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll allow one exception... MC Skat Kat

He's considered to be art?

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I take two steps.. back.

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I was at a Sun Ra Arkestra performance at a club near me, and I ran into someone else who lives in my building, along with some of his friends. There was someone there from Boston, named Sid, short for Sidhartha (his given name, apparently). When some women he was talking to asked for a sort of who's who of who he was sitting with, he said, about me, "And I just met this cat tonight. . ." or something like that. I couldn't stand that guy. To me he reeked of pretention, but maybe there was a little class hostility on my part, since he seemed to come from some sort of upper class bohemian background. Is this what Boston is like?

I have heard other people use it though and it has sounded okay.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)

(I hope he doesn't lurk/post here.)

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Why, you fucker!!

― Sidhartha, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Now, if i were called a catfucker, that would be acceptable.

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 01:40 (twenty-one years ago)

its mostly through exposure to you cats that i feel...inadequate at times. sadly (?) i still do feel mentally superior to the vast hordes of feebs, tools, and morons who i wade through in any given day, so no worries!

-- jess (dubplatestyl...) (webmail), November 5th, 2001 7:00 PM.

(i assume he was using it in a tongue-in-cheek manner)

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd think it was bad if it wasn't for U Krazy Katz by PJ & Duncan.

Actually I had a massive dream about PJ & Duncan last night.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

i say "kits" rather than cats.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I use this term, often reflexively. I like it. Certain friends can't stand it or think it's adorably anachronistic.

But then again, I'm a 'jazz' musician.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

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