Kirsten, I don't know this man and I agree that what he said it's awful, but maybe he was just trying to tease you (in the stupid way)? Or maybe, I am trying to see him as a better person than he really is?
Anyway, don't pay attention to such comments. I met a guy once and he liked me very much, well, I liked hime too, but when he said - I hate cats! and wanted to tell me a story of what they were doing to cats when they were kids, I said - I am not interested in a cruel, stupid man. If you can hurt a cat, you can do that to a person too. And I just walked away.