Cat Daddies: Doc Celebrating Males and Their Fur Babies Sweet but Shallow

By Kim Hughes

Rating: B-

If you believe the filmmakers behind the new documentary Cat Daddies, cat ownership is the final frontier in gender equality.

Men who own cats are suspect and perceived by the broader public as less masculine, even weird. That theme is implied throughout the film though not stated explicitly until near the end, when one of the many cat-loving protagonists profiled proclaims, “Masculinity is caring for others. That’s the foundation of strength.”

Good to know. Still, that may be a tough buy-in for some, perhaps a given for others. To its discredit, Cat Daddies doesn’t explore historical norms or traditions around cat ownership; why these elegant and mysterious creatures are seen as, if not inherently feminine, then companions better suited to women.

Is there a psychological or cultural reason for that? Aren’t predatory cats obvious sidekicks for game-hunting males? Are Chihuahua- and Pomeranian-fancying males also sketchy? We’ll never know.

Instead, director Mye Hoang takes the, ahem, fluffier route, introducing us to a series of men across the United States who love their fur babies regardless of what anyone thinks, damnit. There’s Nathan, an actor in California who playfully poses with his cats Pickles, Ginger, Annie and Princess to propel his social media. (The image of him playing Twister with his cats is pretty awesome).

There’s Jordan, the firefighter from South Carolina, whose cat Flame helps soothe the often-jangled nerves of his colleagues. Arizona-based trucker David takes the frequently (and fashionably) clothed Tora, pictured above, on hikes. Oakland software engineer Jeff is bonkers about Zulu, and bonds with his roommate over her cat, Mr. Fitzsby.

Lucky, meanwhile, proves to be a spiritual salve for David, a now homeless former construction worker and immigrant from Georgia who falls on hard times in New York City. “That little creature,” David says of Lucky, “just saved my life.”

All the stories presented in Cat Daddies are very sweet and endlessly charming, with David’s taking on particular resonance as he battles serious illness. Cat Daddies also explores how cats (OK, OK, cat caretakers) have leveraged Instagram and TikTok to exalt their appeal, reinforcing the truism that dog lovers congregate in parks while cat lovers congregate online.

But, with the notable exception of a spotlight on cat rescue org Flatbush Cats and its founder Will Zweigart — who spearheads essential sterilization efforts to reduce the homeless cat population in Brooklyn — there is a striking lack of depth to the film. There is also a troubling underlying reverse sexism that’s uncomfortable to anyone who sees companion animals as just that: companionable, full-stop. Cats are also not in need of further stigmatization, thanks very much.

One wonders if the film’s intended audience isn’t so much other cat-worshipping men seeking approval as cat-worshipping women not above checking out beefcake-y dudes showing their sensitive sides while cuddling kitties. The filmic equivalent of something shiny.

Cat Daddies. Directed by Mye Hoang. With Nathan Kehn, David Durst, Jordan Lide and Will Zweigart. Available for streaming February 17.