i am a meat eater, why do i feel repulsed by the idea of eating cats and dogs?

It is because of their places as pets in our families. As a pet they are actually a member of the family and if you would not eat your spouse, mother, father, brother, sister or children - you would not eat a "pet animal" whether it was your pet or it belonged to someone else. This is also why most Americans will not eat horse meat, horses used to be close members of a person's family (until replaced by cars) but we still do not think of them as food animals. If we lived in a country where meat was in short supply, that would probably be different.

It is only what you are accustomed to. If you were brought up eating cats and dogs, you wouldnt know any different.

I think its cause they are pets and considered part of the family by most people, how ever there are some countries that do use cats and dogs as meat

because cats and dogs are tame, like horses and dolphins (to an exdtent) it's different eating a wild animal compared to a tame one. I eat meat but have trouble eating pig ever since I heard that they were as smart as dogs and as easy to train.

I think because cats and dogs are pets and of course its not natural to invision eating pets.I have both cats and dogs and could never eat them, if I had a pet cow,I would probably feel the same.

I am also a meat eater, and I feel and get repulsed by the idea of eating cats and dogs. I think it has to do with the fact of how you are raised, and what is acceptable. In this country, we don't eat cats and dogs, and so it is repulsive. We pretty much were brought up on cows, sheep, pigs, and other range animals, as well as fish, and foul. I don't think I could even eat dog or cat, if someone paid me. I know i would barf before it even reaching my mouth.

Because they're pets for us, we're used to think about them as friends and so we wouldn't ever eat them. In England they don't eat horse meat because many of them have a horse and think of them as friends as well.

We do not eat cats and dogs because we like them, they are our pets. We think that they have souls and we love them.

It is a mental thing. Eating a pet is like cannibalism to us. You may have a pet rabbit while eating rabbits... but you will never eat your pet rabbit. Farmers don't get attach to their animal. They are there for one purpose only. To make them money. It is pretty much a question of numbers. When you have one thousand sheeps... it is pretty much impossible to regard them as pet. Life is cruel. But the reality is that man needs meat to survive. And so does a lot of other animals. If the farmers did not spend thousand of dollars feeding their sheep and cattle in Australia right now... they would die from starvation. What's the difference?

I think because we think of our pets as members of our family. I certainly would never even think of eating a dog or a cat. But then, I don't eat most animals. Just cows, pigs & chickens. I don't like fish a lot and I don't eat deer, elk, etc. Although a lot of my family members hunt them and do like the meat. I think a lot of it is how we are raised as to what is acceptable. It is just not acceptable in our society for this type of animal to be eaten. To me they are too much like family and I love them too much.

I think it's because cows, sheep and pigs don't act like they have feelings, lol. I could never eat something that rubbed up against my leg to get petted or wagged their tail at me!

I was thinking abou tthis and yes I agree I think its because we have the pets in our home and theyre interactive. I was also thinking ,not sure if it has anything to do with it, but the animals we eat dont eat meat? they seem to be grass and hay and gran etc., maybe that also has something to do with it? Good discussion though, got me thinking :)

because we've been brought up to believe that they are pets and not food. Pigs are actually just as, if not more intelligent than dogs and pork/ham/bacon is extremely popular, as we know. my friend visited a small village in indonesia in which her family originated. she ate a meal there, but did not know what it was. after she'd left, she asked her mother what they'd just eaten and her mother said 'it was dog'. my friend felt instantly sick but i asked her how it tasted and she said just like normal meat..so i'm sure it tastes fine, it's just the thought of eating man's best friend...

Because cats and dogs are pets . They become part of the family. Would you eat a family member? Humans could be considered food to some too. But most of us wouldnt eat them. I have a hard time eating any meat because I think of the poor animal who had to die because of it. But i am not a vegan. I just have to not think about the animal and think of it as food.

bleah... i think it is disgusting...:)) I think that belongs to history because pigs and other animals were hunted by people for a long time ago and the dog helped him to do that. if they eat the dog who will help them. And i think you don`t make profit if you grow dogs or cats for eating. they eat a lot and will have 10-20 kg. And where is the profit... i think these could be some explanations.

I believe this is because we have been trained that cats and dogs are only for pets and never as food...

Because we keep cats and dogs as pets. And we love them and care for them much like we do our children. We generally don't do that for sheep, pigs and cows. These animals are raised specifically for eating, where as cats and dogs are not. Also, cats and dogs are carnivores, and we generally don't eat meat eaters.

Well in the western world, dogs and cats are considered part of the family. They 're in our houses and our apartments, but in other countries like dogs and cats are scavenger. That could be the reason. Also in those countries, when one gets very hungry, they'll eat anything.

dont eat cats and dogs! have mercy with them, they are our companion in every day life, like dogs it serves as our guard when we are not around, and we should love them not eat them...

I dont think I would want to eat dog meat only because it doesnt sound very good. I like dogs and enjoy owning them and training them and wouldnt want to eat one that was domesticated. But I would like to try wild cat meat, like mountain lion. I know People that eat mountain lion and says its pretty good. Any wild animal would be ok, but not some domesticated animals like dogs and cats.