Suppose cat-owners were "out-voted", as you put it.
And you had to dispose of them. Or you couldn't enter a building with the scent of cat on you. Because somebody might be "offended".
After tobacco, what's next? Felines?
Personally, I don't smoke. But I find the intolerance regarding smokers...intolerant.
Having said that, when I was in the Navy we would have training sessions in rooms with no windows or ventilation, and everyone would light up except a few of us, and the room would be blue with smoke. My nose would burn. My eyes would tear. My throat would burn. I didn't complain but one day our Department Head came down, walked in and said, "Oh, no, this is just too much."
And I don't regret it. I don't regret that I can go out to eat in a pleasant atmosphere without the stench. To act like having to step outside for a smoke is some sort of martyrdom is just nonsense. As a matter of fact, there ARE ordinances that say I can't bring my cats into the restaurant where you are eating and I haven't heard you complain about that. I can't bring my cats to work. I can't bring them to the public library and let them curl up on top of the shelves and swat people's heads as they go by. When, oh when will this ridiculous, intolerant attitude toward cat owners be done away with? See how silly that sounds?