Posted on 02/23/2012 10:00:18 PM PST by Altariel
Isn't it funny how we feel the need to describe someone as a "cat person" or a "dog person" when introductions are made? I happily consider myself a "multi-species person," although I admit to favoring cats (apologies to my Scottie, whom I love dearly!)
Cats and dogs have very different skill sets when it comes to fitting into a family. Let's add up the plusses and minuses to see which one makes the better pet...
* Cats are quiet (+1) * Dogs, while loud, make great low-cost home security systems (+1) * Cats are independent (+1) * Dogs are in-your-face creatures (-1) * Cats only come to you when they want something (-1) * Dogs are always glad to see you come home (+1) * Cats are not good travelers (-1) * Dogs love to go for rides and walks on the beach (+1) * Indoor cats require a litter box (-1) * Dogs require "yard duty" (-1) * Cats jump on food prep areas (-1) * Dogs can't reach those areas (+1) * Cats can be left for hours and even overnight on occasion without worry. (+2) * Dogs can't be left alone for long stretches and need to be boarded at times (-2) * Cats eat much less than dogs (+1) * Dogs are less finicky when it comes to food (+1)
Well, it's a tie and I'm still confused. Both animals offer unconditional love and companionship so personal preference is the way to go. Oftentimes you won't even get to choose as the pet picks you.
For some odd reason, dogs are considered more adoptable than cats, although there are more felines in homes in the U.S. than canines, according to the Humane Society of the United States This is probably due to the fact that 52 percent of cat owners have more than one cat, while only 28 percent of dog owners have more than one dog. (Another "plus" here for cats?)
Whatever you decide to bring into your own home as a family member, please consider your lifestyle and the requirements of the pet. We, of course, encourage you to consider a cat or two as 10 percent more of them are euthanized each year than dogs in the shelters, according to the ASPCA.
Kitten season is beginning and soon there will be scores to choose from. Please help us stem the tide of overpopulation by having your pets spayed and neutered this month. And call us if there are free-roaming feral cats in your neighborhood so we can TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) them before they breed.
Marci Kladnik is a board member of Catalyst for Cats, a Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of feral cats. For more information, call 685-1563 or visit www.catalystforcats.org.
Spelin Natzies need a permit. I demand ta see yur parmit.
Talk-to-Da-Hand! :)
OMG! What a funny cat!
Where can I get one?
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.
I knew my cat was trying to kill me!
Thanks for the link.
That was a great story about your cat Pablo. I sympathize, I really don’t think we’ll ever have a better cat than Holly, certainly she’ll always be hubby’s fave cat of all time.
I had two cats when I was about the same age. The first one wandered into our yard and I shared my burger. She quickly adopted me. She was huge, about knee high at her shoulders with tufted ears. She was also pregnant and had one kitten.
Both were outdoor cats and never tried to enter the house, in the winter they slept in the basement. They both had a strong dislike for dogs and would attack any that entered the yard. In summer theyd both walk with me to the lake several blocks away for a swim, they loved the water. They elicited some strange looks from tourists.
Dogs have owners. Cats have staff,
Yes, it is, so lets drop in a wild card. Snakes!
Gotta love them. No barking at night, don’t chew up your shoes, no fur everywhere, drooling, etc.
Quiet, pretty, easy and cheap to feed ( 1+ yrs food $165 delivered).
It won't work.
Oooh, what a pretty kitty....
We have both and both have their charms. I love that the dog protects the home and that (until his injury) he was such a game companion on hikes - even went rock climbing with me. I’d be a very sad lady without my cats though who are my constant companions in the house. The rowdy way of the dog took some adjusting. He learned not to jump and lick. The first kitten I had, my vet told me that they could be trained just like dogs. I took him at his word, so my cats are trained to do many dog-like things: come to their name, sit, beg for treats, speak, etc. They understand what parts of the house are off limits and respect those limits - at least when people are in the house.
I’m sure your pack will love this. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV1mS0s7GJ0
Husky and Elkhound Howling Competition
I’d say who won, but that would give away the ending. ;-)
Dogs hands down.
I don’t like cats because:
1) They have sharp, needle teeth and needle claws.
2) They don’t have bones.
3) Which makes me afraid I’ll break them.
4) Tongue like sandpaper.
5) They’re smarter than me.
6) They’re plotting against me.
I like dogs because:
1) They’re dumb.
2) Lovable.
3) Affectionate.
4) Happy.
5) They’re not plotting against me.
You must have never put Scotch tape on the bottom of your cats feet then. Try it.
Comparing cats and dogs like like comparing apples and oranges or men and women. They all have their appropriate places.
Is that a king fu boxer?
Hmmmmm, now that you mention it, my gray tabby was never all that affectionate.
He had what we called a stuck up air about him but, he was very cute (check out my profile page and see Tucker).
I will say that when he developed Feline Diabetes, he let me poke and prod him several times a day and even sat through me giving him subcutaneous fluids, without scratching, biting, or running away. I miss him still!
Same here. I’ve always been a dog person. At one point, we owned 12 Basenjis. This included a litter of puppies, but still! We got our first cat, Daisy, a couple of years ago and within a few days, she completely bonded to my daughter and has little use for the rest of us. Then, a year ago, along came Chloe and completely stole our hearts. This little one-eyed girl we adopted from the Humane Society, and she is a constant joy. Our two Basenjis, the ones we have left, are getting old. At some point I want a puppy for my son to call his own and for him to have fun with, but I’m not looking forward to the chewing, digging, and training.
the egyptian cat god was called 'bast'
wild desert cats were good rodent catchers but specialized in killing and eating poisonous snakes
the egyptians being residents next to the only water source surrounded by desert, both rats and snakes were serious issues, and when a desert cat condescended to hanging around your hut, it was a blessing
so bast became a protective goddess
also a goddess of perfumes, in egyptian culture bad smells were a sign of evil spirits and perfume was supposed to protect you
sacred perfume was put in ala-bast-er jars (stone sacred to bast)
a few more tidbits
cat in ancient egyptian is 'kutti'
during the alaskan gold rush a housecat was more expensive than a sled dog because during the winter every field mouse figured out there was food and heat inside your cabin (see the movie 'Never Cry Wolf' and theres a scene you'll never forget)
the chinese are well known for their tiger and leopard kung fu styles, but there is also a rare housecat style, interestingly it is often held as a counter to the snake style
and the chinese hold the tiger to be the 'emperor' of cats because tigers are regularly seen with stripes on the forehead that form the chinese pictograph meaning 'emperor'
i love dogs and cats, but i live on a boat, so i've become the local stray cats benefactor...and i love tiger kung fu (huquan)
my brain loves weird information but its kinda disinterested by anything practical ;^)
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