Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? – Part 7
“I’m gonna buy me a dog / ’cause I need a friend now
I’m gonna buy me a dog / my girl, my girl, don’t love me no how”
All the best pet songs, including the above Monkees tune, are about dogs. You’ve never heard a singer ask: “How much is that kitty in the window?” In fact, at this moment I can think of just one hit song that mentions a feline: “I’m going to Cat-mandu,” by Bob Seager. OK, that was just a joke to bolster my point. We all know the place is Katmandu. But try to list as many songs about pets as you can off the top of your head, and you’ll see which critter wins paws-down.
In the 1970s, Henry Gross sent an entire Top-40 world into doggie depression with “Shannon.”
“Shannon is gone / I hope she’s drifting out to sea
She always loved to swim away/
I’m not sure how wise it was to want that pet swimming out to sea alone, but the emotion in the singer’s voice was genuine. I’m still waiting to hear the same type of crooning for a pet cat.
Dogs are called man’s best friend for a reason. That will never change. They are more interactive. They, mostly, come when they are called. They are expressive, what with all that tail-wagging and licking. They are clearly more trainable. Yes, we’ve all heard the stories about cats’ amazing feats, but those are exceptions, not the rule. Dogs hear those stories and say: “Big deal. Done that.”
Dogs go for walks with you and help you clear your head. I don’t even want to hear about cats on leashes. Please!
Cats have their place. And that’s second to dogs as far as give-and-take companionship. I like cats. We have two. They get props for that litter box thing. They are cool to have around the house, but in a more subtle way. Sometimes I truly appreciate that they keep their distance much of the time. It’s better than having them walking across my keyboard as I try to type. My dogs stay happily at my feet. They are glad to serve there, snoozing and dreaming of the next doggie treat.
A dog will help keep you safe in your home. The only effective guard cats that I know of work for Ringling Bros. Your 10-pound Fluffy is never going to growl real loudly when it notices an unusual sound outside. And, should an intruder enter your house, well, it would be the dogs rushing to the front lines while the cats cut and run.
Dogs were domesticated to help man thousands of years ago. Cats were domesticated to intrigue man. Dogs help farmers tend their flocks. I would enjoy seeing the first herding cat, but that’s not going to happen. When we talk to our dogs, there seems to be a genuine semantic connection. He or she pricks up their ears, cocks their heads, opens their mouths, widens their eyes. (My Australian shepherd is the most expressive canine I have ever witnessed.) This heightens the companionship aspect. When you talk to a cat, you’re never quite sure whether there’s a there there. And they have attitude. It’s true. Real or perceived, that ‘tude holds cats back in the popularity contest.
Me: “Hey, Shadow.”
Shadow, instantly alert: “Yeah, Dad, do you need something? Anything? Are we going somewhere? A walk? The ball? What? What? Oh, what joy are you wanting to share with me at this moment in time. Please, oh, please, just let me be with you when you go, even if it’s just into the other room! You rock my world!”
Me: “Here, Kitty, Kitty.”
Kitty: “What this time? Can’t you see I’m washing?”
Humorous cat behavior – Part 1
As cats age they seem to forget, more than ever before, that they are not human. Oddly, it may seem that they are, in some sense, human. It is a fact that animals are much more plugged into we humans than we are rationally able to admit. A fascinating treatise on this subject is Rupert Sheldrake’s book, “Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home.” The book chronicles stories of owners who have noticed this uncanny ability in their pets, even at times when they themselves had no way of knowing of a household member’s imminent return. The writer’s extensive research into this phenomenon suggests that pets employ a sixth sense, akin to reading the minds of their owners, as opposed to the preferred explanation that they must sense it somehow with their usual five senses.
I believe that not only are pets telepathic, but they may even understand what we are saying, somehow. My now long deceased pet cat, “Moose”, as my mother named him in frustration at my continued reference to him as “Kitty”, despite his large frame and noteworthy killing abilities, exhibited this possibility to me late in his life. My brother and I were sitting on the deck with the cat at our feet, discussing his descent into old age and its likely ramifications, one fine day. We laughingly suggested that his days of exceptional prowess with rodents must certainly be over and wondered whether he might still be capable of catching a mouse, even. Moose did not seem in any obvious way to be perturbed at that time.
However, not a week or two later, I was upstairs with the window open and heard him persistently meowing from the deck below. I looked out and saw him there, but there was no apparent provocation of his distress in sight. I questioned aloud what had gotten into the cat, but no one answered. So, I made my way to the door to the deck to see more closely what might be the matter with him. Moose, who never exhibited his kills to us throughout his life (instead we often found them in their grotesque forms in the woods nearby the house), sat there with a dead mouse under his paw. It hit me that he was crying out for recognition of his then still evident capabilities. I laughed aloud at this and told everyone, as there was no other explanation to my mind for his most unusual behavior.
There were other times, as well, when Moose astounded me later in his life. Once, after being dumped over the phone by a particularly brutish boyfriend, I sat and wept openly. Moose was at my feet and he quite uncharacteristically leapt up onto my lap, put his paws to either side of my throat, and rubbed his head against my chin. It was such an obvious and seemingly human attempt to console me that it shocked me out of my crying! Perhaps most human was his insistence, complete with paw stamping, that he get some food from the refrigerator at times when I was too lazy or disinterested in finding something for him. Very funny! I miss old Moose and hope to see him in heaven one day as some folks say that we will. Until then, Moose!
Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? – Part 73
Dogs have masters, cats have staff.
Independent. Self reliant. Beautiful. Timeless. Classic. This list could describe many things, from cars to popular actresses. However, in this instance, it describes cats.
Cats are wonderful pets and loving companions. Anyone who has one or two cats would gladly agree that watching their animals play is a daily highlight. Anyone who is a cat owner will also tell how wonderful it feels when their animal curls up into a lap and purr. These four legged fur babies offer their owners unconditional love and amusement.
In comparing cats to dogs, we must compare the animals to the owners. Dogs are great companions to the physically active. Many dogs enjoy a good run, they often can play tirelessly games of fetch ball or Frisbee. It is highly unlikely a cat would partake in these forms of rigorous activity, though some cats will, and do, play fetch!
A dog lives to please. They wake up each morning, look at the owner, and put great efforts to do so. A dog can learn to bring items like a newspaper or slippers; others will learn activities such as retrieving ducks for their hunting master or herding creatures such as sheep. Many dogs have fun loving, open personalities which will accept anyone the master allows. These outgoing, friendly creatures will happily smile from a pat of any hand.
Cats please to live. These animals typically choose one or two people they accept and love beyond reason. Faithfully, cats might shy away from new people rather than cozy up with them, saving their affections for those limited few. Cats restrict their affection to only those they deem fitting to have it.
Cats are clean creatures. They groom and wash themselves to maintain a pristine appearance. Dogs tend to engage in less self grooming. In most cases, cats do not need to be taken to a groomer because of massive amounts of fur. Cats smell better. One does not have to worry, should they pet a cat, if they will smell of cat. It is a different story when it comes to dogs. There are few things that smell worse than a wet dog.
Litter boxes are a definite unconvinced for any cat owner. It is a hassle to scoop out the litter once or twice a day. However, because cats have an indoor bathroom, the need to walk the animal is not an issue. Rain, sleet, snow, or amazingly hot weather~ the cat does not need to be let outside or walked. Dogs do not have this luxury. A dog must be walked or accidents will undoubtedly occur. The bathroom
The benefits of cat ownership
Having a pet could surely help you live a better life. In even the simplest effect, it could not be denied that pets bring this different aura to lives of people and it brightens a home. Any pet may be that secret stepping stone in achieving a certain amusement or comforter but there is something that sets up all these benefits higher, and that is if you choose cats as pets.
What is with cats? What makes them so special?
Cats would really be great companions and friends.
Research shows that having cats as pets could really lighten up a person’s physiological, emotional and psychological side. This is very true. These benefits would really heal the wounds of solitude, age, stress and depression. In addition, cats are affectionate but less demanding, low maintenance and it would surely be very suitable for those who have a modern lifestyle.
Cats are confidence boosters.
It is believed that people who take care of pets are more likely to be caring than those who are not. When old or sick people have pet cats, it would surely give rise to their esteem they will not feel useless or unworthy. When a person feels being needed, it radiates a very optimistic mind. Kids or young people, when being entrusted to do the care for pets, they would feel confident and responsible as well. Another thing is that by taking care of cats and other animals, people learn how to take care of others too.
Cats as pets do also relieve you from stress
According to Medical studies, sitting on a chair, placing a cat on your lap and stroking its hair would let you feel comfortable and at peace. This would make you feel relaxed and would make you feel relieved from stress caused by whatever endeavor.
Cats as health angels
According to the Society for Companion Animal Studies, patients recover or live longer through animals. It has been discovered that having pets would definitely ease the cases of physiological or psychological impairment in people.
Cats as social catalysts
Cats as pets could let you drop your hesitations and shyness. It would tech you what the essence of being with others and exploring the world is. When you go with you cat, people would be interested and as a cat-lover, you would not hesitate to show your pet off.
Bengal cats as pets – Part 4
Bengal cats as pets
The Bengal Cat (name derived from the Latin name for the Asian Leopard Cat, felis bengalensis) is one of the latest cats domesticated by human beings. Credit goes to Jean Mill who has registered the first Bengal Cat with the International Cat Association (TICA) in 1983. She has been successful to combine the stunning beauty and unique coat markings of the wild Asian Leopard Cat with the gentle and loving temperament of the domestic cat.
F1, F2, and F3 Bengals, that is, the first three generations of Bengals, are leopard/domestic cat hybrids. Females of these Foundation generations are usually owned by breeders and males are sterile and may be placed in select pet homes. F3 among them may be domesticated, and that too, with much care and attention. This wild beauty needs sufficient patience from the owners to be trained and trained gradually. Bengals or “SBT” Bengals are the fourth generation hybrids and are gentler and dynamic cats. The domestic Bengals of the fourth generation have been segregated skillfully from the wild ancestors and have been accepted as the true pet Bengal.
Bengal Cats spotted or marbled with black/brown spot or rosettes and with the color combination of brown tabby/seal lynx point/seal sepia tabby/seal mink tabby are really brilliant. The dark brown at the pads of the feet and black at the edge of the tail appear soothing to the viewers. Strangely, their belly is with the obvious spots. The soothing touch of the tender and glittering fur over their rosy epidermis appeals to all. Bengals are normally medium-sized. Some of the males may attain a weight of 16 pounds.
Bengals are quite hyperactive and always vocal and shouting cats and you will have to train your cat and he does learn and after some training he will not meow at night. He is most demanding and he wants that he is the one only to be attended. He will initially favors to bond just with you. But he may be socialized and will feel happy with others of the family in course of time. With another pet of your family he will maintain good terms and will play with him/her. But in case of his/her sickness Bengals will start hostility. Probably he does not realize that his playmate is sick. Actually he demands importance and attention all the time.
Your Bengal is very territorial. If a stray cat reaches near your house the Bengal will go on spraying for one full day. You will be highly pleased as this cat is very active, sometimes chasing with a lazer pointer
Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? – Part 27
Both cats and dogs are wonderful loyal animals to have as pets. I think you can be a dog and a cat person but maybe just a little partial to one or the other. I personally love all animals, but cats to me are easier! My lifestyle and living in an apartment, makes it hard to provide a dog with the necessary attention. Cats need love and attention, but don’t have to walked, can manage with a cat box, and food and water for the day. If I am away from home for hours I don’t have to worry about poor fido, home alone, and needing to be walked.
Some people think cats are too independent, and somehow turned off by that. I think it is a misconception, as my cat is waiting at the door, when he hears my car pull in. Mr. Chang, my cat loves to get up on my husband’s lap at night and relax.
Cats like dogs will take to one person more than another. If your pet doesn’t favor you and that is what you want, maybe an addition to your pet family is what you need.
I think Cats are superb pets, with just as much personality as a dog. Each cat I have ever had was unique and very different from the other.
Miss Muffin we had for 14 years out of her 18 and was always compared to a spinster lady. She was reserved, never a mean streak, but had no use for another cat as a friend or companion. She would totally just ignore the other cat in the house.
A cat like a dog has to recognized that they have a distinct personality of their own, but more subtle than a dog.
Enjoy your pet whether it a cat or dog, they are dependent on you for love and attention. Like children, our pets need attention and love to flourish and be happy.
Is Better Cat Care Worth It?
Adequate cat care is an important part of keeping your cat healthy on the physical and emotional levels, and basic cat care tasks like feeding your pet and making sure it is spayed and vaccinated are familiar to nearly every cat owner. However, there is more to cat care than just routine maintenance. The more you learn about cat care, the more you will begin to understand that cat care is as much about making your cat happy as it is about keeping your cat healthy. There are many benefits to offering your pet cat care that goes beyond mere maintenance. By giving your pet the best possible cat care, you are giving yourself the chance to learn about your cat’s unique personality, revel in greater understanding of the wants and needs of your pet, and increase your own personal happiness.
Cats can seem very mysterious and enigmatic, even to their owners. Many cat fans feel that this is part of feline appeal, but it can also be frustrating not to know what is motivating your cat at certain times, like when it is mewling loudly at your bedroom door at four in the morning. When you gain a greater understanding of cat care, you will also get a much stronger insight into how and why your cat functions the way that it does. The more you know about what motivates a cat to engage in the behaviors that can be inconvenient hassles in your daily life, the better equipped you will be to create a situation where those behaviors will be diminished or even rendered completely unnecessary. The study of cat care is the study of cat’s desires and demands, so the better you understand cat care the better you will be able to give your cat what it needs so that you and your pet can live together in harmony.
When you give your cat the best possible cat care rather than settling for a basic, run of the mill cat care routine, you are showing your animal companion how much you care for and appreciate its unique temperament. This process helps you and your cat bond more fully so that you can have a rich, enduringly affectionate relationship. As any cat owner who has rubbed a purring cat behind the ears will be glad to profess, the happier your cat is, the happier it will make you. By giving your pet the ideal cat care, you are sowing the seeds for your own satisfaction and joy. Going the extra mile to learn a bit more about cat care than you do today can translate into a better relationship with your pet that is a more than ample reward for a little additional effort on your part. If you can learn to provide the best possible cat care, you can help to forge a more peaceful, mutually beneficial future for you and your feline friend.
Get the Best Value From Your Pet Cat Insurance
You have probably already realised that having pet cat insurance is part of being a responsible cat owner.
But at the same time, you’re only too well aware that it’s an expense, especially if you have more than one cat. If money is tight, insurance is the most tempting expense to do without. After all, it’s only of any use if something goes wrong. And nothing is going to go wrong, is it?
Unfortunately, it’s not for nothing that cats have been called the most accident-prone of pets. Doing without pet cat insurance could prove a false economy and an expensive mistake. So rather than doing without, it’s much more sensible to make sure you get the most out of your pet cat insurance and that you avoid being faced with an emergency for which the insurance won’t pay out.
So here are some precautions you can take to make sure you get the most effect from your pet cat insurance.
1. Get your cat vaccinated. Your insurance won’t pay for this. But without being vaccinated your cat is vulnerable to some of the most unpleasant and painful diseases in existence, and the insurance may well not cover diseases that result from failure to vaccinate.
2. You should also have your cat neutered, which again the insurance won’t pay for. But unless you are a professional cat breeder there is no excuse for not having your cat neutered, whether it’s male or female. One good reason is that there are far too many kittens without homes. But apart from this, un-neutered males are much more likely to have accidents, and there are many diseases to which un-neutered males and females are more susceptible.
3. Have the cat micro-chipped. If you’ve had a cat before, you will know how much a cat likes to wander and explore, and how prone he is to get into scrapes. Some pet cat insurance policies actually insist on micro-chipping, so if you don’t have it done you won’t be covered for loss of your cat or if he has an accident through wandering off. Other poliicies give a discount if the cat is micro-chipped.
4. Take out your pet cat insurance as early in your cat’s life as possible. With most policies, the younger your cat is when you insure him, the lower your premiums will be. What’s more, the earlier you take out the policy, the less chance there is of your cat having a pre-existing condition, which of course won’t be covered.
5. Think carefully about whether you want a pedigree cat. There are lots of “no particular breed” moggies wanting homes and these will give you as much pleasure and enjoyment as a posh puss, as well as being cheaper and easier to care for. Premiums are usually higher on pedigree cats, and they tend to be more prone to expensive medical conditions.
6. Before you purchase any policy, check it very carefully. Look at the small print with a magnifying glass to make sure there aren’t any exclusions which might affect you and your cat. Check too for excesses, age limits, and caps on payouts.
There is certainly no point in paying out more than you need to. But the answer is not to skimp on pet cat insurance. This could involve you in far more expense than you ever expected. There are all sorts of things you can do to make sure you get the best possible value from your insurance, and the best possible protection for your pet.
Cat breeds: Ragdoll
Ragdolls are one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world, where the males can often tip the scales at a whopping 25 pounds. Imagine that landing directly on your lap. They are a distinctly American breed, developed in the early 1960’s, in Riverside, California. The breed was developed by one woman, Ann Baker, who even copyrighted the name Ragdoll. This is now one of the most sought after breeds of cat in America by serious cat breeders, showers and lovers of beautiful, pedigreed pet cats.
Appearance
Normally, Ragdolls are only about fifteen to twenty pounds, which is still almost twice as heavy as the average alley cat. They have a very serene expression with baby blue eyes. They look like a cross between a Maine Coon and a Siamese, although the original Ragdolls were crosses between Persians, longhaired alley cats and Birmans (another longhaired breed similar to a Himalayan).
Despite the presence of Persians in the original breeding stock, Ragdolls have straight noses very much like that of a Maine Coon. This means they are not prone to the many breathing disorders that Pug-faced cats are susceptible to. These are big, solid cats with tufts of fur coming out of their ears. Their paws are often large for a cat.
One of the big draws of the Ragdoll is that it has Siamese colorations with a light colored body and dark face, legs and tail. There are also bi-colored Ragdolls with a darker color of a mosty white body. Some Ragdolls are called “mitted” because they will have dark legs but bright white feet.
Ragdolls do not have the incredibly rebellious coats of Persians or Himalayans, but the coat is long and required daily grooming. Their coats are not as thick as a Maine Coon’s, but not as short as a Siamese. The feel of the coat should be, according to the breed standard, “plush and silky”.
Temperament
Ragdolls are more than just a pretty face. Although no two cats are alike, for the most part, Ragdolls are placid and largely unflappable. They are also friendly and like people. They often follow their people around like a puppy would. Professional photographers love Ragdolls as they are not only beautiful, but cooperative.
Many Ragdolls love to please and play with their people and are quite capable of learning tricks, certain behaviors (like sitting still for grooming or a vet check up) and fetch. Many owners of Ragdolls report that they often play with people with their claws sheathed instead of extended.
Ragdolls are affectionate and bold, which means they can get beat up very quickly by the local alley cats, stray dogs or wildlife. Ragdolls should not be allowed outside unless they can be closely supervised.
Interesting cat facts – Part 1
There are several interesting cat facts that a large proportion of the human race simply choose to ignore. As a result many cats suffer. If only cats could talk.
Most pet owners don’t realize that a kitten doesn’t stay a kitten . The cute little kitten in the pet shop window has a nasty habit of growing into an adult cat. At least that is the intention if the kitten survives to adulthood. When little Jamie or Doreen made such a fuss at the pet shop for the purchase of a kitten surely they must realize that a kitten is not just a toy they just have to have and one day will want to become a cat.
Little Jamie with his kitten after he tired of playing with his kitten locked it up in the toy box. No one explained to little Jamie that a kitten is an animal that needs a kitty litter if you intend to keep it housebound. Little Jamie got so cross with his kitten when it messed all over his best toys that he picked his kitten up by the tail and flung it into his bedroom wall. Little Jamie was not pleased either when his parents deducted the veterinarian bill from his allowance and took the kitten to an animal shelter. Little Jamie will probably grow up now being cruel to animals ,especially cats.
Little Doreen was different to Jamie. She knew that a kitten needed a kitty litter and that a kitten was not a toy when it clawed her when she picked it up by the tail. No one told little Doreen that it was her job to clean the kitty litter and feed the kitten. Little Doreen did not like it one bit. It was left to her mother to clean the kitty litter and feed the kitten.
When the kitten got sick the veterinarian bill came as a shock to Doreen’s mother who had to struggle to pay the bill. Neither little Doreen nor Doreen’s mother realized that a cat needs regular check ups by a veterinary to maintain its health. In the end it was a win ,win situation for both of them when the kitten ended up in the animal shelter. Little Doreen will probably grow up knowing that if you don’t want something you simply get rid of it. Let’s hope when Doreen becomes an adult she doesn’t apply that lesson to her children.
Beverly on the other hand loved cats. She had several cats while she owned her own home but now in the nursing home she wasn’t allowed to have pets. The nursing home people did not know that cats can provide much needed company for the elderly. Elderly people seem to perk up when they have a cat ,unlike a relative, who only wants a feed and a drink instead of piles of money when visiting.Fortunately for Beverly cats are relatively independent. Ever since Beverly fed a stray cat one day the cat makes regular visits and leaves when Beverly decides to go to bed . Beverly is now looking for a nursing home which will allow pets. Unfortunately she isn’t having much luck but doesn’t really mind. Unofficially she has a pet that she would be loathe to desert. Goldie as she calls her cat ,short for goldmine, is her treasure.
There are many interesting cat facts. Apparently in ancient Egypt it was a crime to injure a cat and cats were mummified. I have several books on cats ranging from cat care to the history of the cat. No doubt you could buy several books yourself and become really intrigued with cat facts.On the other hand I am a cat lover simply concerned with the basic facts. Cats are not stuffed toys. Cats do require an expense both in time and money. Cats make wonderful companions.
What I do detest in this world is the low life who would inflict pain not only on a cat but any animal . The fact that a cat cannot speak in it’s defense or hire a lawyer is no excuse for animal cruelty.
