The Battle of Cats vs. Dogs

Parade Magazine ^ | July 31, 2011 | Kalee Thompson

[Immerito]

Which of America’s favorite pets is top dog (or the cat’s meow) when it comes to smarts and skills?

We turned to science to put the age-old rivalry to the test.

If you disagree with the results, join the debate at our special Dogs vs. Cats celebration site.

May the best pet win!

Which Have More Stamina? The sled dogs that compete in Alaska’s annual Iditarod run about 1,100 miles in less than two weeks, often in temperatures as low as -40 degrees F. “They use fat as their primary energy source—far better than any other athletic species that’s been studied,” says exercise physiologist Michael Davis, who notes that a 55-pound husky can burn as many as 12,000 calories a day. Davis’s research has also shown that sled dogs have an enormous capacity to process oxygen. Cats are more like sprinters: They’re capable of short bursts of energy but lack the aerobic endurance of ultra-runners like huskies.

Winner: DOGS

[Immerito]

I think you misunderstood my argument.

Muslims have historically revered cats. So did the Egyptians. Some societies and cultures have gone to the other extreme and demonized cats.

But one cannot be honest about the history of the feline without acknowledging all the groups which historically have held cats in high regard.

Some unscrupulous people in history have loved dogs; some unscrupulous people have loved cats.

Islam has historically revered cats and despised dogs. You may not like that fact, but that changes nothing.

[Immerito]

Actually, it’s a compliment.

Because the Jews of that day rejected Jesus’s message, the message went to the despised and disregarded people of his day, and just as dogs will lap up every table scrap they can get, so too did this woman recognize her Master.

I don’t think it was an accident that people and dogs have such a relationship for millennia. I think dogs were given to us to teach us how to respond to our Master; bravely, boldly, lovingly and faithfully, as the Syro-Phoenician woman responded to her Master.

[Fred Nerks]

Cats and dogs banned by Saudi religious police

The decree — which applies to the Red Sea port city of Jiddah and the holy city of Mecca — bans the sale of cats and dogs because “some youths have been buying them and parading them in public,” according to a memo from the Municipal Affairs Ministry to Jiddah’s city government.

The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, urges city authorities to help enforce the ban.

Pet owning is not common in the Arab world, though dogs are kept for hunting and guarding. In large cities around the Middle East, stray dogs often wander the streets and are considered pests. Street cats are also plentiful, and people will often feed them or play with them — but it isn’t a widespread custom to keep one in the home, and many cannot afford it...

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The arabs hatred of dogs stems from their history of raiding and looting neighbouring tribes. The dog, as a guard animal was despised by mohammad BECAUSE DOGS BARK!

[LucyT]

No misunderstanding at all.

There are NO Ancient texts showing muzleems revered Cats.

Only modern essays, written to influence today’s readers.

You probably believe the myth of 72 virgins, too; ancient texts show the reward is 72 Grapes.

Now, stop pinging me. You were asked once before to leave me alone.

If you ping me again, I will hit the abuse button.

[Immerito]

Thank you for further validating my argument that cats have, historically, been revered in Islam.

“Street cats are also plentiful, and people will often feed them or play with them “

Street dog? A pest. Street cat? To be fed, played with and enjoyed.

Why? Because they believe Mohammed commanded it. They may not have the same view of cats as pets as Americans but they do revere cats, in keeping with the views of Mohammed.

[Fred Nerks]

... Thank you for further validating my argument that cats have, historically, been revered in Islam.

CRAP! When the muslims over-ran the region, including Egypt, they co-opted certain local customs. The cat had been a sacred animal in Egypt for thousands of years.

Mohammad patted a cat did he? It's in the hadith is it? I'm totally unimpressed. And I want no more lessons on islam from you - based upon self-serving islamic sources, got that?

[little jeremiah]

Mohammed no doubt ate bread; therefore bread is a revered article of diet in Islam.

Mohammed also drank water, therefore water is a revered liquid in Islam.

What total crap.

The world would be a better place if every person imprisoned in Islam were set free. I’m sure many would be happy to escape from the prison of Islam if they were allowed to; unfortuantely such is not the case. No, the goal of Islam is to turn the entire world into a giant prison.

[Fred Nerks]

LOL! oh...I wish you hadn’t reminded me...but the hadith say that he shook his willy four times after he had a pee, and now everyone with a willy has to do the same!

[little jeremiah]

Do the Vice Police check everyone to make sure?

[Fred Nerks]

...I guess they don’t have to, the followers are so brainwashed from birth it’s become second nature...just like they don’t eat with their left hand; that’s for wiping after xxx with a stone or a hand full of sand...there’s lots more, but don’t get me started!

[Immerito]

Which doesn’t disagree with my argument. I never claimed that the practice originated with Islam; Muslims are famous for co-opting a lot of practices and beliefs of other peoples (and distorting them, but that’s a topic for another thread.)

The information provided in the essay comes from more than Islamic sources. I don’t give a flip whether you believe everything in the essay. I don’t.

However, intellectual honesty compels me to acknowledge that cats are historically revered and beloved in Islam, just as they were historically worshiped as gods in ancient Egypt.

Personally, as a Christian, I am not threatened or bothered by this, any more than I am threatened or bothered by the knowledge that Hitler was a dog lover.

Have a good night.

[Fred Nerks]

International Campaign Against Dog Massacre in Egypt Warning: This story may disturb readers.

Earlier this month, a Canadian tourist had captured pictures of a reported dog massacre in Egypt and started a global campaign to stop what she called the “maddening killing of street animals in Egypt”. Many animal rights organizations in Egypt decided to take action and send letters to the president, the minister of internal affairs, the minister of health and the police force responsible for the killing.

The Secretary General for the Society for the Protection of Animal Rights (SPARE) in Egypt said that this slaughter of animals in Egypt is not an isolated incident and more animals continue to be poisoned or shot to death. He also stated that: “the government says that vaccinations and neutering have a high cost however, that is not true as they spend a lot of hard currency to import the poison used in the killing in addition to the cost of bullets. We are in the 21st century and you (the government) still follow medieval methods in dealing with street animals.”

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So sad. Feral animals are a problem everywhere, but shooting them in the street is just soooo mohammadan. A cat, on the other hand, being far more independant probably stands a better chance of staying alive.

[Fred Nerks]

IMAGES FROM CAIRO

A little less 'reverence' and some FOOD AND LOVE might be in order?

[Fred Nerks]

OFF TOPIC!

WOOF and MEOW wanna know, who brought Mohammad into the discussion? What's islam got to do with us?

[LucyT]

who brought mo - HAM - mad into the discussion?

The faux Christian noob who happens to be using a combination of taqiyya, and Cloward-Piven strategy.

The name mo - Ham - mad is so funny, that every time I see it I laugh at the hypocrisy. Old mo's mom named him after a porcine.

[Fred Nerks]

...did you hear the one about MO and HAM, the two little muslim boys who went to market?

...No, so tell me, what about MO and HAM?

...well, it goes like this...MO and HAM went to the market to buy a pork sandwich, but while they were eating it the Protection of Vice and Prevention of Virtue squad caught them and made them spit it out

And that's how the name MO-HAM-MAD came about!

...and the pig on the right goes HAHAHAHA!

[little jeremiah]

A cultural standard of cruelty to animals is evidence of a barbaric society. It’s quite simple.

[mel]

Oh that is funny, i tried to find out who did the video.

[mojitojoe]

Who gives a rats a$$ what ragheads like? Why would you post that on a thread like this?

[TexasRepublic]

Despite the graphic barbarity of killing dogs in the street, I would wager that far more dogs are killed in our own country. Millions of them, only behind closed doors. That is the main difference.