If I see a feral cat, there's no human gatekeeping involved. No one misinterprets why I'm greeting them with a "hey buddy" in a voice too affectionate for a stranger or a man generally speaking - not that I care to correct the matter. It's not about you bro. Your dog knew what's what.
I've always had a few feral feline friends at every property I've ever worked at that I checked in on and shared lunches with. But now that I float between 5 or so properties I've aquired a great number of allies all over town. I've found the only one who gatekeeps those friendships are the cats themselves.
Whereas a dog's love is sacred because it is given unconditionally with enthusiasm - your dog thinks you hung the moon when it feels like the sky is falling down and fast.
What makes the love of cats special is when they decide your love is worthy of them by choosing to accept it from you and rewarding again when reciprocating it back on their own terms.
They may or may not let you pick them up but some of the sweetest cats are the feral ones who let you in. Most of them are not even so much interested in food, but rather long to be seen but only by someone they trust when it may have been some time since the last time they had.
