Posted on 08/04/2006 1:58:31 PM PDT by libstripper
Before Mother, I was never much drawn to cats. They seemed slithery and remote. I have a farm, and cats didn't appear to be useful.
I am partial to working dogs—especially border collies and Labradors—that can herd sheep, fetch sticks, hike with me, cuddle on the sofa, and swim in nearby streams. I didn't really get having an animal you couldn't herd sheep or take a walk with.
Then the rats came. They invaded my farm last summer, especially the big barns. They were fat—at first, I mistook one for a rabbit—arrogant, and fearless. The farmers told me there was nothing much to be done: Rats, naturally drawn to farms, were smart, hardy, and tough to get rid of, especially with other animals around.
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
I was going to get a new cat and was looking for a large one. The largest I found was the Maine Coon Cat. Is that the largest?
The Maine Coon Cat is the largest 'domestic' cat, but you might be able to get a Bobcat or something if you spend enough money and are sneaky.
A .22 loaded with shorts or rat shot is a lot more useful than a cat, and easier to clean than a litter box.
I'll stick with dogs.
Another Public Skool success story.
I was a steadfast dog man and couldn't stand cats until last summer when a friend and his wife who fell on hard times moved in with their two Siamese cats. They are absolutely the most charming creatures, cute, loving, friendly, gregarious and talkative. One is actually more like a dog than a cat. He gets excited to see me when I come home from work and gives me an exhuberant vocal greeting and follows me throughout the house for a while. The other loves to give leg rubs to show his affection and gives little sweet meows to signal he's glad to see you and even plays fetch with a small ball. He loves when I invent new games for him to play and becomes addicted to whatever new little game I invent for him. That one is scary smart. I always say he's a human in a cat suit.
Anyway, in short. I'm converted. I love these cats. And what's even more strange, I'm no longer allergic which was one of my biggest fears about having my friends move in with their cats.
www.mainecoonalliance.org
These cats are BIG
I'd always heard that cats are mousers, dogs (specifically terriers) are ratters. Glad the cat worked out for him , anyway.
Oh, my gracious! Please tell me that is photoshopped!
And I forgot to add, my friends can stay at my place so long as the cats are around. They've bought themselves a place to stay as long as they want with those two cats.
But they are ALMOST that big.
That one is fake.. but they ARE pretty big
That's a healthy one right there...
Maine Coons are really big, but so are Ragdolls.
Both get to around twenty pounds =/-, and both are great cats, but you can NEVER let a Ragdoll outside.
My first cat was a fantastic mouser and I didn't need to worry about bullet holes where I didn't want them or having to hunt the mice myself. Some snakes make good rodent killers, too.
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