It's not just movies. I have a Big Humorless Rant about this, but basically, there's this belief in a lot of Western cultures that cats are standoffish and mean and unaffectionate; they are more likely than dogs to be taken to shelters, more likely to be abandoned on the street, and more likely to abused. There has been less research into their medical treatment, so veterinary care is not as good for cats as for dogs. And people are less likely to spend the money on that care for their cats as they would for dogs.

Movies just reflect and reinforce that belief. About the only good thing I can see about the atrocious-looking upcoming Marmaduke movie is that the cat seems to be Marmaduke's buddy.

Pet dragons cannot get here soon enough.

OMG, I know! Sadly, real reptiles aren't much like cats. *sigh*