--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A computer and a cat are somewhat alike…" description: "\"A computer and a cat are somewhat alike - they both purr, and like to be stroked, and spend a lot of the day motionless. They also have secrets they do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/john-updike-396_cat_a-computer-and-a-cat-are-somewhat-alike_2097071.png" --- # A computer and a cat are somewhat alike - they both purr… ![“A computer and a cat are somewhat alike - they both purr, and like to be stroked, and spend a lot of the day motionless. They also have secrets they don't necessarily share.” quote by John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/john-updike-396_cat_a-computer-and-a-cat-are-somewhat-alike_2097071.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/john-updike-396_cat_a-computer-and-a-cat-are-somewhat-alike_2097071.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/john-updike-396_cat_a-computer-and-a-cat-are-somewhat-alike_2097071.png) > “A computer and a cat are somewhat alike - they both purr, and like to be stroked, and spend a lot of the day motionless. They also have secrets they don't necessarily share.” [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author draws a playful analogy between cats and computers, highlighting their idle behavior, need for affection, and hidden complexities. **In simple terms:** Cats and computers share similar traits. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden depths in everyday things. Themes technology animals analogy Mood playful thoughtful Type literary observational When to use this quote - design thinking - user experience - pet care - office ergonomics Key Concepts anthropomorphism human‑computer interaction behavioral observation Questions to Reflect On - What other everyday objects mirror technology? - How does anthropomorphizing affect our interaction with machines? A Different Perspective Analogy may oversimplify technical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alike Purr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alike-purr-4172132/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Somewhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-somewhat-1840582/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-cat-4172131/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Purr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purr/) [Purr Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purr-like-1343465/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) ## Related quotes > [When the car's going well, I purr like a kitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-rice/when-the-car-s-going-well-i-purr-like-a-kitten/) [Buddy Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-rice/) > [“It's not that I think that computers don't have their place, but surely their place is not in bed, which is my favorite place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fadiman/it-s-not-that-i-think-that-computers-don-t-have-their-place-but/) [Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fadiman/) > [“...And the behaviour of the cat was somewhat peculiar. It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-the-behaviour-of-the-cat-was-somewhat-peculiar-it-was-soon/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“No one has ever been able to discover how they make this subtle sound, and what is more, no one ever will. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/no-one-has-ever-been-able-to-discover-how-they-make-this-subtle-sound/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [Consider the situation. There you are, forehead like a set of balconies, worrying about the long-term effects of all this new 'fire' stuff on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/consider-the-situation-there-you-are-forehead-like-a-set-of-balconies/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Just a kiss, Kitten.” “Kitten?” No one called her that. His mouth curved. “You’re skittish, wanting my touch, but afraid. Deciding if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lyon/just-a-kiss-kitten-kitten-no-one-called-her-that-his-mouth-curved-you-2/) [Jennifer Lyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lyon/) > [“Your voice started to get all low and sexy at the end. You practically purr like a tiger when you're about to get off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/your-voice-started-to-get-all-low-and-sexy-at-the-end-you-practically/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [“...you have to get rid of my wings!" I plead "But, I like your wings," he says, smiling sweetly while stroking them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-a-bartol/you-have-to-get-rid-of-my-wings-i-plead-but-i-like-your-wings-he-says/) [Amy A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-a-bartol/) > [His head is busy moving between my parted thighs. He makes low purr-like sounds between my legs and is so surprisingly ravenous I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/his-head-is-busy-moving-between-my-parted-thighs-he-makes-low-purr/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“I know you’re a … cute little kitten … when my daughter is around, but you should still make sure you don’t startle them.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-harper-hart/i-know-you-re-a-cute-little-kitten-when-my-daughter-is-around-but-you/) [Lily Harper Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-harper-hart/) > [“Just a kiss, Kitten.” “Kitten?” No one called her that. His mouth curved. “You’re skittish, wanting my touch, but afraid. Deciding if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lyon/just-a-kiss-kitten-kitten-no-one-called-her-that-his-mouth-curved-you/) [Jennifer Lyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lyon/) > [Dead I am the rat, feast upon the cat. Tender is the fur, dying as you purr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/dead-i-am-the-rat-feast-upon-the-cat-tender-is-the-fur-dying-as-you/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [“You’re a talking cat?” Endora asked with a look of disbelief on her face. “My, my, my, aren’t you the bright bulb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-palmer/you-re-a-talking-cat-endora-asked-with-a-look-of-disbelief-on-her/) [Sophie Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-palmer/) > [I've got my warrior name, too!" Crookedjaw?" How did you guess?" A purr rumbled in his throat. Beacuse your tail's still straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/i-ve-got-my-warrior-name-too-crookedjaw-how-did-you-guess-a-purr/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [“I feed the damn thing and clean the shit out of her litterbox. 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Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-owens/) ## More by John Updike > [Life is a roller coaster, you have your ups and downs unless you fall off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/life-is-a-roller-coaster-you-have-your-ups-and-downs-unless-you-fall/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I assume my stance, and take back the club, low, slowly; at the top, my eyes fog over, and my joints dip and swirl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-assume-my-stance-and-take-back-the-club-low-slowly-at-the-top-my/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The New England spirit does not seek solutions in a crowd; raw light and solitariness are less dreaded than welcomed as enhancers of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-new-england-spirit-does-not-seek-solutions-in-a-crowd-raw-light/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I imagine most of that stuff on the information highway is roadkill anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-imagine-most-of-that-stuff-on-the-information-highway-is-roadkill/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Families, doing everything for each other out of imagined obligation and always getting in each other's way, what a tangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/families-doing-everything-for-each-other-out-of-imagined-obligation/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“The fucking world is running out of gas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-fucking-world-is-running-out-of-gas/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The theme of old age doesn't seem to fascinate Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-theme-of-old-age-doesn-t-seem-to-fascinate-hollywood/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“The mind cannot fall asleep as long as it watches itself. Only when the mind moves unwatched and becomes absorbed in images that tug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-mind-cannot-fall-asleep-as-long-as-it-watches-itself-only-when/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“it was somehow wonderful of her to be, in every detail, herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/it-was-somehow-wonderful-of-her-to-be-in-every-detail-herself/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [In fiction, imaginary people become realer to us than any named celebrity glimpsed in a series of rumored events, whose causes and subtler ramifications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/in-fiction-imaginary-people-become-realer-to-us-than-any-named/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Her hair had been going gray as long as he could remember; she bundled it behind in a bun held with hairpins that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/her-hair-had-been-going-gray-as-long-as-he-could-remember-she-bundled/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Possession diminishes perception of value, immediately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/possession-diminishes-perception-of-value-immediately/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I can't bear to finish things, beyond a certain point they get heavy. 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The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. 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