OK, try this one on for size. Do you have a bias against cats? We know that you have Emmy, and therefore you like dogs, but is there a reason you don't also have a cat?
Well, the main reason we don't have a cat is that we have Emmy. She divides the world of furry quadrupeds into two categories: "Prey" and "Terrifying." She can't quite make up her mind which category cats belong in, but neither is conducive to having a cat in the house.
In general, I'm not a Cat Person, though Kate is. I prefer my pets to be willing to acknowledge my existence at all times, not just when they happen to feel like attention. You get that with dogs-- Emmy is very human-focused, and always wants to know where we are and what we're doing-- but cats, not so much.
I don't hate cats, and if the Queen of Niskayuna were a less jealous monarch, we'd probably have a cat, too, because Kate would like one. As it is, though, it just wouldn't work.
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Just admit it Chad, you got a little pet-God complex!
I don't get where the "cats don't like people" concept came from. My cat thinks I'm the greatest thing since lunch, and I don't have to go outside everytime she wants to take a dump.
mollishka, I agree. My cat loves being in the same room as I am, for the most part. Sure, sometimes not -- but hey, every relationship needs some space now and then :)
Asad
I have three cats on me right now: one on my shoulder, one on my lap, one on the desk on the side of the computer. And the dog is under the chair. All four are asleep.
When I go to bed, all four animals jump on me and jockey for position, who is going to nest with which of my bodyparts.
All four like each other and play. When I take the dog for a walk, the orange cat comes along as well, following without a leash, wherever we go.
I have both a dog and cat back home. It's hilarious when they interact. The cat will just lie on the ground while the dog runs around in circles, trying to get as close as possible while avoiding the cat's claws.
Cats have widely differing personalities - but they haven't been bred for millennia to respond to people the way dogs have. So even the most affectionate cat is a long way from the average dog. That said, my current cat is generally in the same room as me, often on me but by no means always. My previous cat was always in the same room but rarely wanted to be held. The cat before that was affectionate in spurts, but spent lots of time in her favorite spot, regardless of where I was... Different. The cat before that was when I could have a dog (in all fairness to a dog, an apartment and a ten-hour work day are a not the right environment), and they got along great.
Our cat follows me around when I'm home alone, but if both my wife and I are both home, he follows her. And he loves to lick anyone's hand.
My cat has a very antisocial personality. If anyone is in my apartment she hides under my covers until they leave or until they are there long enough and she can't hold off eating or going to the bathroom. Even after living with someone for a year she would only let me pet and hold her. Not all my cats have been like this, but they seem to show affection. That being said, she'll never play 'fetch' with me no matter how hard a try (but boy does she love that laser-pointer-red-dot).
The cats that people tend to like the best are the ones that are most like dogs. So why not just get a dog? True, I have to take my dog outside for him to do his business, but my wife's cat does his business inside, and then my wife has to clean it up. I'll take a short stroll outside over that.
But despite all that, we still have four cats and only one dog. And none of the cats is very much like a dog.
1) I have four feline furr-persons in my house:
one "cat", one bean-bag with fangs, one companion
for the bean-bag, one cocker-spaniel in a cat suit.
2) Remember: Dogs have "owners." Cats have "staff".
As any good employer, they [except the "cat suit"]
acknowledge the hired-help on major holidays and at
week ends.
Grinning,
~~~ Dan 0;-D
Austin, TX