User Reviews

One thing that immediately becomes abundantly clear about 'Cat people' is that this is a passion project of, by, and for ailurophiles. It's not the work of amateurs; filmmaker Asako Ushio has quite a few credits to her name as a film editor - this is, however, her first full-length feature as writer, director, or producer. This does come across to some extent in the very forthright pacing of these sixty minutes, and in the directness of each scene to greet us. To that point as well, the footage from one moment to the next is pointedly unfiltered, and those in front of the camera are unmistakably normal people and not actors; their language and demeanor in the camera's eye reflects how they are unused to it. In every regard the presentation is marginally stilted throughout its length, conveying that for whatever experience those involved may have in one capacity or another, the intent here is less to make a grand documentary to stand the test of time, and more to communicate the love and appreciation for felines.

With all this in mind, 'Cat people' is above all a picture for those who already admire Felis catus, and who perhaps hope to illustrate to others the species' value, and how they must be treated. The intent is accentuated by substantial discussion of TNR (trap, neuter release) for strays and the need to manage the cat population; the importance of actively providing attention and enrichment for cats in homes; and the declination of shying away from the less photogenic and happy-go-lucky aspects of living with animals. Accordingly, content warnings should be noted for depictions of cats having (sterilization) surgery or suffering from illness or injuries; imagery of cats playing or being social is adjoined with heartbreaking discussion of death and grief. 'Cat people' is NOT for those who are especially sensitive to talk or portrayal of the harm or loss of animals.

Ushio attempts to give a well-rounded overview of cats. I admire the effort, though it's emphatically difficult, because there are so many topics to cover when discussing Cats as a broad subject. For those matters 'Cat people' does cover, it never feels like we're getting any more than an extra-abbreviated Spark Notes rendition; in fairness it would require countless more hours to thoroughly address every last facet, but the shortcoming is notable all the same. Just as much to the point, it feels like the documentary is ever on the cusp of saying something substantial and profound, but never gets there because it doesn't know exactly what to impart. Cats are lovely and should be loved; humans owe street cats their stewardship and must manage populations; cats should be outdoors; cat should be indoors; as society has changed over time so has humans' relationship with cats, and this has been to felines' detriment; cats are good for people; guilt, regret, and grief make living with cats difficult. A shower of sparks of ideas pervades this movie, but it struggles to find earnest focus.

I don't altogether dislike 'Cat people.' It's suitably well made from a technical standpoint, and the contributions of artists who provide simple illustrations and animations are an unexpected highlight. Would that the feature were more articulate, because it does have important things it tries to say. There's a lot of delightful footage of cats herein - only, that footage is also accompanied with what feels like an equal amount that doesn't just tug at the heartstrings, but snaps them apart. I would love to say that I like this more than do, but it's not just that 'Cat people' is depressing, but that it never finds its voice, or the exact tone it wants to strike. For that matter, there is nothing here that we can't find elsewhere. Fine work went into it, and I wish Ushio and all involved the best of luck in their future endeavors, but the fact remains that this is wanting. There are worse movies you could watch than 'Cat people,' by all means, yet unfortunately this also is nothing that demands viewership, and merely by virtue of some of the content I almost have to recommend against it for any but the most hard-boiled of cat lovers.