How to Say "Cat Person" in Japanese

猫派

nekoha

In Japanese, the phrase for cat person is 猫派 (nekoha).

The term is used to express a preference or a tendency toward cats rather than a professional or biological classification.

Which one should you use?

猫派 is most commonly used in direct contrast with 犬派, which means dog person.

To say "I am a cat person," you add the copula です to the end of the phrase, resulting in 猫派です.

nekoha

The character 派 in 猫派 originally referred to a political or religious faction. It treats your preference for cats as if you belong to a dedicated school of thought or a formal movement.
In Japan, the concept of being a 猫派 is often linked to the 'cat cafe' culture, where people who cannot own pets due to strict apartment rules visit cafes to satisfy their preference.
Japanese pop culture often stereotypes 猫派 individuals as more introverted or independent, contrasting them with the perceived extroversion of 犬派 people.

トムは犬派？猫派？
Tom, are you a dog person or a cat person?
This sentence is useful for asking someone if they are a dog person or a cat person using 猫派.
Tatoeba #4166921 by tommy_san, translation #4197707 by Tigrin
あなたは犬派？それとも猫派？
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Tatoeba #8749702 by bunbuku, translation #2539597 by CK
犬と共に育ち、今でも犬は大好きなんですが、このところ猫派ですね。
I grew up with dogs and I still love them, but nowadays I'm a cat person.
This sentence shows how to express a change in preference toward being a cat person using 猫派.
Tatoeba #10791507 by small_snow, translation #10228588 by shekitten
彼女はネコ好きです。
She is a cat person.
彼は本当のネコ愛好者です。
He is a true cat person.
わたしはネコ好きだよ。
I'm a cat person.
彼は完全にネコマニアだ。
He is a total cat person.

Misaki and Ren are talking about their favorite pets.

美咲 Misaki

蓮は犬が好き？
Ren wa inu ga suki?
Do you like dogs, Ren?
蓮 Ren

いや、実は僕、猫派なんだ。
Iya, jitsu wa boku, neko-ha nanda.
No, actually, I'm a cat person.
美咲 Misaki

そうなの？私は犬派だよ。
Sou nano? Watashi wa inu-ha dayo.
Really? I'm a dog person.
蓮 Ren

猫の方が自由でいいよね。
Neko no hou ga jiyuu de ii yo ne.
Cats are better because they are independent.

Sources

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