Our cats excel at being just adorable enough to keep you on the hook, so that when they not infrequently fuck up, you can't really stay mad at them for long. They're basically four-legged urine and feces factories- and my role in to clean up after them. Oh, and to feed them in order that they may keep up their production quotas, which, I must note, are ambitious.
Sure, they're cute, but Fred has hyperthyroidism, so we have to give him a pill with his food twice a day. Sjon looks like he's never pushed himself away from a buffet line and he's on a special (and expensive) diet. So one looks like a concentration camp survivor, and the other like the feline reincarnation of Refrigerator Perry.
Our dog, Magnus, is 20 pounds of pure devotion. He loves us, and he's not afraid to show it. He's the son I never had, and he's responsible for turning me into a dog person. I want four more just like him.
Don't get me wrong. I love our cats, but their love is so...transactional.
This is utter perfection (I resisted the purr.) We are in the process of trying to manage our own little monster's expectations, which at the moment would put any Diva's I have ever worked with, so far to shame it isn't funny.
Hmmm... I don't seem to be able to attach photos of our pride (the panthers, the cougars and Blarney) so you'll have to trust my description.
Boo, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a bundle of uncatlike quivering need and requires continuous reassurance. She actually asks to be held and shoots out a paw to catch your attention when you're within snagging distance.
Inky-the- near-comatose has perfected the dead-bug pose, usually in the middle of the kitchen traffic pattern between fridge and sink and stove.
Pumpkin (aka Zucca) is adept at sleeping in soup dishes and pasta plates, usually in the cupboard, but also frequents the dishwasher.
Peanut (her near-identical twin brother) has gone to work as the household's golden retriever and regularly gifts us with dog toys nicked from the neighbor's black labrador, purloined socks and scavenged rags in addition to a growing collection of cast-off pet collars.
Then there's Blarney, who adopted us a year ago St Patrick's Eve, hasn't stopped yowling since, and lives to pester everyone. Especially at 2AM.
Some time in the future, when you're bored and have no deadlines to meet, ask me about the cat herd we had when we lived off the Via Cassia near La Storta. Dozens. Seriously.
HOLY CATNIP, that isn't just a few pets--that's an official cattery! You make it sound absolutely adorable. I like how Blarney stands by your door at 2AM and sings the song of his people. And how Pumpkin lives in the dishwasher. And Peanut thinks he's a dog. And Boo is a "bundle of uncatlike quivering need."
I sincerely think we people are getting it wrong with pets or more likely domestic animals
We are treating dogs and cats at our needs
I love animals don't get me wrong but I'm starting to unlike pet owners
I've seen pets with coats scarves shoes ribbons ,I've seen female dogs to which the reproductive system has been removed to not have the monthly period or avoiding the trouble of getting pregnant but without considering tha this surgery makes the dog go to early menopause with all the trouble it takes such as osteoporosis arthritis ect.ect. also removing cats claws to avoid the cat to scratch home furniture !!(these are only some examples)
but who cares we love our pets !
So really more than love it seems that we are using animals to our egoistic comfort!
I absolutely understand what you're saying. And I am not the type of person who rips the claws off cats or gets its reproductive system yanked. Like I said at the beginning of the article, what I wrote was intended to be lighthearted and funny.
Wasn't addressing my comment to anyone in particular but I have friends with a female dog that doesn't have its reproductive system anymore but they love the dog and my sister got her self a dog that is a crossing of breeds to obtain a dog that doesn't loose hair
There are three types of cat people. These types are not mutually exclusive.
1. People who like cats.
2. People whom cats like.
3. People who are like cats.
I'm all three. #3 is not because of any tragic excess of athletic ability or grace, but entirely attitude. I think, feel, and react like a cat. About 4 weeks ago Jazzy, the enormous 25+lb pretty sure Maine Coon gened moose, went on a bigger than normal frenzy that ended up with his mouth on my wrist. He was holding me hard and I reacted like a cat. I yelled and bapped him on top of his head. He let go and I discovered that one of his teeth had penetrated enough to draw blood. He came back to see if we were OK, and I agreed we were but thought it bad manners that he bit my hard enough to draw blood.
Now, he did not technically bite me; if he had, there'd have been four deep punctures rather than one shallow one. But the difference between dogs and cats is that dogs tear, whereas cats simply penetrate. And their teeth are so needle sharp that the wound seals up behind them, closing all the bacteria in without any chance for the wound to bleed it out.
So that was a trip to the VA "emergency" room. (Took me two days to go there because I hate the name. "Emergency" to me means arterial spray, or bone sticking through the skin, not "Gary got a widdo boo-boo on his wrist.") Can't fault the VA for lack of thoroughness: they ran about a dozen blood tests and CT-scanned my arm for possible cyst. No problems beyond the redness around the wound (about 10 cm X 10 cm.) So 10 days of Amoxicillin and a follow up with my primary.
But nobody's angry or resentful. Cats don't hold grudges against anyone who does not hold a grudge against them. They understand anger, but won't suffer malevolence.
Eh, wasn't quite, "I'm not wearing any pants. Film at 11:00" newsworthy. Wasn't the first time, either. A friend's (deaf) cat freaked out and chomped be good some years back. No idea what got into the cat then, or Jazzy this recent time. Cat teeth are so needle sharp that, with Jazzy, all I felt at first was the pressure of his grip on my wrist. I knew from previous experience that I needed to go in immediately, but (for reasons stated) I hate going into the "emergency" room.
Our cats excel at being just adorable enough to keep you on the hook, so that when they not infrequently fuck up, you can't really stay mad at them for long. They're basically four-legged urine and feces factories- and my role in to clean up after them. Oh, and to feed them in order that they may keep up their production quotas, which, I must note, are ambitious.
Sure, they're cute, but Fred has hyperthyroidism, so we have to give him a pill with his food twice a day. Sjon looks like he's never pushed himself away from a buffet line and he's on a special (and expensive) diet. So one looks like a concentration camp survivor, and the other like the feline reincarnation of Refrigerator Perry.
Our dog, Magnus, is 20 pounds of pure devotion. He loves us, and he's not afraid to show it. He's the son I never had, and he's responsible for turning me into a dog person. I want four more just like him.
Don't get me wrong. I love our cats, but their love is so...transactional.
You get a CAT to take a PILL? R U A WIZARD.
I gotz skillz 😝
This is utter perfection (I resisted the purr.) We are in the process of trying to manage our own little monster's expectations, which at the moment would put any Diva's I have ever worked with, so far to shame it isn't funny.
CONFESS: you spoil that cat something rotten! Hey, it takes one to know one. Only the best for your baby princess.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.... :)
Hmmm... I don't seem to be able to attach photos of our pride (the panthers, the cougars and Blarney) so you'll have to trust my description.
Boo, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a bundle of uncatlike quivering need and requires continuous reassurance. She actually asks to be held and shoots out a paw to catch your attention when you're within snagging distance.
Inky-the- near-comatose has perfected the dead-bug pose, usually in the middle of the kitchen traffic pattern between fridge and sink and stove.
Pumpkin (aka Zucca) is adept at sleeping in soup dishes and pasta plates, usually in the cupboard, but also frequents the dishwasher.
Peanut (her near-identical twin brother) has gone to work as the household's golden retriever and regularly gifts us with dog toys nicked from the neighbor's black labrador, purloined socks and scavenged rags in addition to a growing collection of cast-off pet collars.
Then there's Blarney, who adopted us a year ago St Patrick's Eve, hasn't stopped yowling since, and lives to pester everyone. Especially at 2AM.
Some time in the future, when you're bored and have no deadlines to meet, ask me about the cat herd we had when we lived off the Via Cassia near La Storta. Dozens. Seriously.
HOLY CATNIP, that isn't just a few pets--that's an official cattery! You make it sound absolutely adorable. I like how Blarney stands by your door at 2AM and sings the song of his people. And how Pumpkin lives in the dishwasher. And Peanut thinks he's a dog. And Boo is a "bundle of uncatlike quivering need."
You've got a potential calendar of cats there.
I sincerely think we people are getting it wrong with pets or more likely domestic animals
We are treating dogs and cats at our needs
I love animals don't get me wrong but I'm starting to unlike pet owners
I've seen pets with coats scarves shoes ribbons ,I've seen female dogs to which the reproductive system has been removed to not have the monthly period or avoiding the trouble of getting pregnant but without considering tha this surgery makes the dog go to early menopause with all the trouble it takes such as osteoporosis arthritis ect.ect. also removing cats claws to avoid the cat to scratch home furniture !!(these are only some examples)
but who cares we love our pets !
So really more than love it seems that we are using animals to our egoistic comfort!
I absolutely understand what you're saying. And I am not the type of person who rips the claws off cats or gets its reproductive system yanked. Like I said at the beginning of the article, what I wrote was intended to be lighthearted and funny.
Wasn't addressing my comment to anyone in particular but I have friends with a female dog that doesn't have its reproductive system anymore but they love the dog and my sister got her self a dog that is a crossing of breeds to obtain a dog that doesn't loose hair
That's the market for pets nowadays
So as I said I think we lost control here
Pet owners are confused
To love is to give
Respect is a must to me
Well, I certainly agree with you.
There are three types of cat people. These types are not mutually exclusive.
1. People who like cats.
2. People whom cats like.
3. People who are like cats.
I'm all three. #3 is not because of any tragic excess of athletic ability or grace, but entirely attitude. I think, feel, and react like a cat. About 4 weeks ago Jazzy, the enormous 25+lb pretty sure Maine Coon gened moose, went on a bigger than normal frenzy that ended up with his mouth on my wrist. He was holding me hard and I reacted like a cat. I yelled and bapped him on top of his head. He let go and I discovered that one of his teeth had penetrated enough to draw blood. He came back to see if we were OK, and I agreed we were but thought it bad manners that he bit my hard enough to draw blood.
Now, he did not technically bite me; if he had, there'd have been four deep punctures rather than one shallow one. But the difference between dogs and cats is that dogs tear, whereas cats simply penetrate. And their teeth are so needle sharp that the wound seals up behind them, closing all the bacteria in without any chance for the wound to bleed it out.
So that was a trip to the VA "emergency" room. (Took me two days to go there because I hate the name. "Emergency" to me means arterial spray, or bone sticking through the skin, not "Gary got a widdo boo-boo on his wrist.") Can't fault the VA for lack of thoroughness: they ran about a dozen blood tests and CT-scanned my arm for possible cyst. No problems beyond the redness around the wound (about 10 cm X 10 cm.) So 10 days of Amoxicillin and a follow up with my primary.
But nobody's angry or resentful. Cats don't hold grudges against anyone who does not hold a grudge against them. They understand anger, but won't suffer malevolence.
I had no idea you’d been bitten, Gares! You poor thing! But the way you described it was funny AF. You’re quite the raconteur ;-)
Eh, wasn't quite, "I'm not wearing any pants. Film at 11:00" newsworthy. Wasn't the first time, either. A friend's (deaf) cat freaked out and chomped be good some years back. No idea what got into the cat then, or Jazzy this recent time. Cat teeth are so needle sharp that, with Jazzy, all I felt at first was the pressure of his grip on my wrist. I knew from previous experience that I needed to go in immediately, but (for reasons stated) I hate going into the "emergency" room.