Ace of Spades HQ

January 18, 2014

Your Cat Thinks You're Just A Big Stupid Cat
— Open Blogger

So sayeth a scientist who is selling a book.

He notes that cats were never bred for companionship they way that dogs were.
Cats sort of adopted us and got used to hunting the rats and vermin that fed on the discarded food of early humans.
Bradshaw says cats live in a partly feral state and are not quite domesticated.
But just what is that builds those powerful bonds between cat owners and their furry friends?
It turns out cats treat humans as though they were the mama cat.
When a cat rubs against you with its tail straight in the air, it is checking to make sure you are not hostile.

I don't have an opinion on the matter. I hate cats.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:33 AM | Comments (372)
Post contains 141 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Barrel

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 10:34 AM (TE35l)

2 That's right!

Posted by: Meowth at January 18, 2014 10:35 AM (qiXMt)

3 NM nice catch...

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 10:35 AM (TE35l)

4 I lovez my kittehs. They lovez me.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 18, 2014 10:35 AM (olDqf)

5 All cats assume humans are a food factory.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at January 18, 2014 10:36 AM (T2V/1)

6 My rescue kitty just sneezed man-sized bogeys on me. What the hell does that mean?

Posted by: moki at January 18, 2014 10:38 AM (EvHC8)

7 My American shorthair rest her soul, probably thought I was a natural event...I rolled her up in a knit afghan and my brother and I would spin her around generating static electricity in a dark room.... She was impressed...

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 10:39 AM (TE35l)

8 Dogs are pack animals, thus naturally social. They regard their human as their pack leader. Cats are solitary predators . They view you as prey.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:39 AM (P6QsQ)

9 At least they can't be hacked like the refrigerator.

Although it may be a cat that was part of that hack.

People who buy appliances that have more brains than they do, shouldn't be surprised when they turn out to be fickle.

Like a cat come to think of it.

*Hey! You cats get away from the laptop. I already fed you*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:39 AM (LSDdO)

10 I love my kittehs too-- and they love me. Apropos of the difference between cats and dogs, my vet says dogs assume their human is the alpha dog; cats assume their human is an overgrown retarded kitten who has to be taught the ways of the kitteh. I guess I've passed their training course!

Posted by: Basement Cat at January 18, 2014 10:40 AM (53cD3)

11 So, cats shit in their mother's shoe? I'm not buying it.

A dog sees you as a big, smart, generous dog.
To a cat, every other thing is The Other. And, potentially, dinner and/or litterbox.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at January 18, 2014 10:41 AM (xq1UY)

12 Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 02:39 PM (P6QsQ)

But very BIG prey. So they give you a pass.

Especially since you know how to work the can opener.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:41 AM (LSDdO)

13 Cats are great pets, as are dogs. Hard to believe anyone hates either one of them.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 10:41 AM (ZshNr)

14 No, they don't think we are cats. It's just like when a human sees some animal that looks like it is smiling (dolphin, dog, whatever). Since a smile means friendly to us, our brain want to put it in the friendly category, even though that isn't what it means to the animal. It doesn't mean that we thinks dogs or dolphins are humans, but on an instinctive level, we think that the behaviors that work with other humans should also apply to our interactions with animals. We have to remember to engage our intellect to override the instinctual thinking to remember that we should be paying attention to what the dog is doing with his tail instead of trying to make sense of his smile.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at January 18, 2014 10:41 AM (IN7k+)

15 8 Grammie Winger, Amen....if your cat were 800 pounds she'd eat you.

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 10:42 AM (TE35l)

16 Cats suck.

Posted by: garrett at January 18, 2014 10:43 AM (ZKqbB)

17 You know what's ironic? Khrushchev said the Russkies would bury us and they are but us is not the same us and them are not the same them.

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 18, 2014 10:44 AM (E+uky)

18 I have a rescue cat. He always wants to go outside, but I keep him inside so the boys next door won't shoot him arrows, which they like to do.

Yesterday he made a break for it. Up the chimney. Came down later all covered in soot, totally nonplussed, like nothing was amiss.

Posted by: navybrat at January 18, 2014 10:44 AM (AW7Gr)

19 I have, in my time, met quite a few psychotic cats, and not a single psychotic dog. I have met exceptionally smart dogs, and not a single intelligent cat. It is not that cats are bad, or evil, or any of those things. It is just that humans have very little in common with cats and a great deal in common with dogs.

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:44 AM (fwcEs)

20 Cats suck.

Better that than doggie drool and bad breath.

Posted by: Basement Cat at January 18, 2014 10:44 AM (53cD3)

21 Of course, if you are psychotic and stupid, then perhaps you and the cat have a great deal in common, too. Just sayin'.

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:45 AM (fwcEs)

22 If it weren't for cats, half of the collected knowledge of humanity would have been devoured by rodents. Cats saved Civilization. Discuss.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 10:45 AM (ZshNr)

23 Posted by: Regular Moron at January 18, 2014 02:42 PM (oGrEy)

But most could still get dinner if left outside on their own.

Maybe not in a really rough neighborhood or a jungle but they can go toe to toe with the tree rats and skunks for a meal.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:45 AM (LSDdO)

24 I don't have an opinion on the matter. I hate cats.

You've just never had one prepared the right way.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at January 18, 2014 10:45 AM (wSrLR)

25 What's with all the cat hate?

The problem with you cat haters is you've never marinated a cat long enough.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at January 18, 2014 10:46 AM (pgQxn)

26 25

beat me.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at January 18, 2014 10:46 AM (pgQxn)

27 My cat is an asshole.

Posted by: real joe at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (xXhgd)

28 Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 02:45 PM (fwcEs)

So it's not enough for you to insult all the cats, you're going to start with all cat lovers too?

Who's the psycho again?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (LSDdO)

29 You know who loves dogs? Obama. Braised or broiled.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (ZshNr)

30 I'm not overly fond of cats. Mainly, it's because they jump up on the countertops. It grosses me out. We did have a great cat when I was in college. He would sleep in my gym bag when I wasn't home. My brother rescued him from a wall.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (vBhbc)

31 Not related, but some good Drudgeposition today. Article cold winters coincide with lulls in solar activity, followed by Scientists baffled. I love the way Ace put it. Why it would have to be enormous....

Posted by: blaster at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (4+AaH)

32 Better that than doggie drool and bad breath. I'll take bad breath over a box of shit in the house and the constant threat of cat piss on everything.

Posted by: garrett at January 18, 2014 10:47 AM (ZKqbB)

33 As for rodents, none of the cats I have ever known has done a damned thing about mice coming in, but I have had terrier dogs who have cleared the house, the yard, and all neighboring fields of rats, mice, rabbits, and the occasional squirrel, just for show.

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:48 AM (fwcEs)

34 Over the course of my lifetime, I've had over a hundred cats. Only two were what you would call trainable. That is, able to be taught behaviors that they would reliable repeat, like fetch or rollover. Both were exotic breeds. One a Siamese and the other a Cornish Rex. I've never had any luck training your average domestic cat. On the other hand, I had a dog that was trained to the point where she worked at a hospital and could manage the elevator by here by herself.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:48 AM (P6QsQ)

35 I was bitten by my MIL's psychotic cocker spaniel.

Posted by: real joe at January 18, 2014 10:48 AM (xXhgd)

36 I love the way cats squeeze through a 4" opening in a car window and spray the dashboard on a 103Â° day.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at January 18, 2014 10:48 AM (pgQxn)

37 Cats. Good for fire starting.

Posted by: tangonine at January 18, 2014 10:49 AM (x3YFz)

38 Up the chimney. Came down later all covered in soot, totally nonplussed, like nothing was amiss.

Heh, I guess it will save you from needing a chimney sweeper.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 10:49 AM (vBhbc)

39 So it's not enough for you to insult all the cats, you're going to start with all cat lovers too?

Who's the psycho again?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 02:47 PM (LSDdO)

I didn't insult anyone. If you are psychotic and stupid, I can't help it. I didn't say that all cat lovers are psychotic and stupid. You are a bit touchy on this subject.

I have yet to meet a cat who was much like a human. Didn't you read that part? Or did you just choose to get cheesed off?

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:50 AM (fwcEs)

40 Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 02:48 PM (fwcEs)

That's because the cats you had hated you.

They probably brought mice IN to the house just to fuck with your head.

*and they kicked that terriers ass when you weren't around.*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:50 AM (LSDdO)

41 Ok, we had a siamese cat that would fetch.

It also ate cat food with its paws.

It would pick up the food with its paw, taste it and then shake its paw and fling smelly, stinky cat food all over the kitchen cabinets.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at January 18, 2014 10:50 AM (pgQxn)

42 ..and don't give me the 'But they bury their shit argument.'. They don't use a fucking shovel, they use their paws. Which someone else has noted will end up on your counters, pillow, and face. Cats suck.

Posted by: garrett at January 18, 2014 10:51 AM (Nfdsu)

43 Cicero Kitteh is a mouse-catching machine. He can stay.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at January 18, 2014 10:51 AM (tcK++)

44 That's because the cats you had hated you.

They probably brought mice IN to the house just to fuck with your head.

*and they kicked that terriers ass when you weren't around.*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 02:50 PM (LSDdO)

Nope, the terrier pretty much made sure the yard was cat-free, except for our resident cat, who ate and crapped and did not much else.

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:51 AM (fwcEs)

45 My cats have always been rodent killers, even the most docile, people-friendly ones. The first evidence we've had every time a critter has invaded the house was a clump of puked up fur-guts in the middle of the hallway when we got up in the morning.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 10:51 AM (ZshNr)

46 @20 I've had a psychotic dog. One of our greyhounds we adopted from the track was seriously messed up. We had to put him on a farm where he couldn't harm himself or others. Poor thing. I've also had nutty cats, so ......

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:51 AM (P6QsQ)

47 Cats are a lot less trouble than dogs. Dogs have to be walked 2-3 times a day. They have separation anxiety, which manifests itself as destructive behavior. Cats don't care as long as you come home once a day and open teh canz.

Posted by: navybrat at January 18, 2014 10:52 AM (AW7Gr)

48 Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 02:50 PM (fwcEs)

I was just teasing around which is what I thought YOU were doing.

I guess I was wrong about that but right about who's the psycho.

*you're taking things waaaayyyy too seriously for a f'ing Saturday*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at January 18, 2014 10:52 AM (LSDdO)

49 I have always thought that people who hate cats do so out of some insecurity on their part, either because they think it is "manly" to do so and they are not secure in their masculinity, or because they can't handle an animal that isn't emotionally dependent on them. The vast majority of dogs don't do anything for their owners either, except wag their tail.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 10:52 AM (X+Gav)

50 Calls 'em like I sees 'em. That's all.

Posted by: tcn at January 18, 2014 10:53 AM (fwcEs)

51 You know who loves dogs? Obama. Braised or broiled. Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 02:47 PM

I bet Choom Boy hates kittehs.

An independent thinker that would go to sleep when he's making speeches, piss on his shoes and demand food, door-opening, litterbox-cleaning, etc. without displaying the kind of worshipful gratitude he demands? Definitely An Enemy!

I love kittehs, I despise Choom Boy.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 18, 2014 10:53 AM (ff7/5)

52 Morons and moronettes that hate cats are insecure. So suck it.

Posted by: toliver at January 18, 2014 10:54 AM (fCAbm)

53 That article is the stupidest, most ignorant article I've ever seen regarding cats. It is complete BS.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at January 18, 2014 10:54 AM (IlZPo)

54 i hate people who hate cats...

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 18, 2014 10:55 AM (q+fqH)

55 Also, anyone who says cats and dogs don't get along have clearly never lived in a house with both. Usually the cat prevails. Dogs are all like, "eh, whatever."

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:55 AM (P6QsQ)

56
It never occurred to you to accompany this post with a pic of a cat wearing a lab coat?

Or a CAT WEARING A WIG??

And you call yourself a blogger.

/hmphh

Posted by: soothsayer at January 18, 2014 10:55 AM (gYIst)

57 35-agree with you on dogs vs cats. I mean, I love our kitty, even though he is kinda broken, (that stuff about landing on four feet-not him.) but I am a dog person. Hence the Newfoundland, German shepherd and lab who sleep on the bed. All three are extremely intelligent, and far more loving. He's the last kitty, but we will sign on for more dogs in a heartbeat.

Posted by: moki at January 18, 2014 10:55 AM (EvHC8)

58 The key, in my experience, is to adopt cats when hey are super-young. I know conventional wisdom is like 7-9 weeks, but I disagree. Due to rescue situations, we adopted one of our cats at 6 weeks and two others at 4 weeks. Whether they think I'm a cat or not, they obey, responding to tone, gesture, etc. as well as most dogs.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 10:55 AM (ZshNr)

59 Cats are a great choice for people who are gone from home for hours and hours at a time, or the elderly who can't do the whole walking thing, especially in harsh weather. Each pet has their value. It's just preference.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:57 AM (P6QsQ)

60 I have met exceptionally smart dogs, and not a single intelligent cat

Some cats have a lot of "people" intelligence in that they know when someone needs companionship and comfort. I had a little tuxie who used to go downstairs to my landlady's apartment and visit her father, who was a Holocaust survivor. He had grown up in Poland and hadn't been allowed to have any pets as a boy. He loved my little tuxie because she would come and sit beside him in the couch when he was studying Torah, and he used to say it was wonderful to have a second childhood because now he could have a visiting pet. When he was dying, he asked for my cat and I would take her down to spend time with him. After he died, she would walk around my landlady's apartment looking for her friend and seek out his favorite armchair and his bedroom. So yes, cats can be loving, maybe not in the same way as dogs but they can show genuine affection.

Posted by: Basement Cat at January 18, 2014 10:57 AM (53cD3)

61 It would pick up the food with its paw, taste it and then shake its paw and fling smelly, stinky cat food all over the kitchen cabinets. Rinse, lather, repeat. Posted by: Clutch Cargo okay, that is just gross.

Posted by: moki at January 18, 2014 10:57 AM (EvHC8)

62 Hey cat owners, are you fricking psycho or just stupid? OK, just kidding. I have no opinion on the matter.

Posted by: UWP at January 18, 2014 10:58 AM (2hQRj)

63 50 Grey Fox, You haven't met w/the right dog. My wolf-dog would fetch my tools and bring them up the ladder on job sites. Never seen a cat(& I loved my cat)do that...

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 10:58 AM (TE35l)

64 @59 Lincoln Not too young otherwise they don't learn hygiene habits from mama. 6 weeks is recommended as the earliest.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 10:59 AM (P6QsQ)

65 My suggestion for dog people who think they don't like cats is to get a Maine coon. You will love it. Our Maine coon has changed the mind of more than a few dog people. As for me, I was raised to be both a dog person and a cat person. We have three big dogs and three cats at present. Those are my bone a fidos.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at January 18, 2014 11:00 AM (IlZPo)

66 61-that is a sweet story. I suppose animals are like people-good and bad in every group. I also suppose your personality disposes you to prefer one pet versus another

Posted by: moki at January 18, 2014 11:00 AM (EvHC8)

67 When your cat does something stupid/bad, clap your hands near their ears. Like jumping on a counter/digging in a potted plant, that sort of thing. They hate it, and pretty soon you'll just have to raise your hands as if to clap and they'll quit whatever they're doing.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:01 AM (ZshNr)

68 I lied, I have a couple of opinions. Cats would seem to be better equipped than dogs to live on their own if you kicked them out of the house. I own neither because I choose to live in hassle free peace. But if it came down to it, I'd feel much better about kicking a cat out, because it could live at least for quite a while on its own.

Posted by: UWP at January 18, 2014 11:01 AM (2hQRj)

69 Cats v. Dogs? Shit, they are both animals that mooch off of humans. Dogs are probably smarter, but often act as dumb as a box of hammers. Cats are presumed by many to be intelligent, but that is only because they've got that whole "too cool for school" thing going on, the stuck up fleabags. My wife has three felines. She loves them, they act like they love her, so everybody wins.

Posted by: alex. at January 18, 2014 11:01 AM (Q5MaG)

I like my dogs like I like my cars.

Big, powerful and the one that everyone in the neighborhood knows is yours.

Posted by: Mallamutt at January 18, 2014 11:02 AM (h5cHr)

71 @61 Many nursing homes have cats for just that reason.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:02 AM (P6QsQ)

72 Will a cat defend its master, at the risk of its own life?

Posted by: Man's Best Friend at January 18, 2014 11:02 AM (rn0EN)

73 I've had dogs, all gone to doggie heaven now. I hope to have another some day.
Until then, cats.
I've had dozens, and they all have very differing personalities. My present one, the chimney climber, he just loves me to death, and wherever I am in the house, that is where he is. Always has to be involved with whatever I am doing. Just wants to hang with me at all times. He is a great companion. Except for the sooty chimney climbing thing, which he does when I am not at home.

Posted by: navybrat at January 18, 2014 11:03 AM (AW7Gr)

74 I grew up with dogs and cats, yeah, living together, working and hunting together. The dogs became more catlike- and the other way around....

Posted by: backhoe at January 18, 2014 11:03 AM (ULH4o)

75 @68 Or a water-filled spray bottle.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:03 AM (P6QsQ)

76 I hate cats.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 18, 2014 11:03 AM (ZPrif)

77 I suspected as much. My cats call me "Mama".

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 11:03 AM (DmNpO)

78
Many nursing homes have cats for just that reason.

To secretly drain the souls out of the elderly and infirmed?

Posted by: soothsayer at January 18, 2014 11:04 AM (gYIst)

79 My wolf-dog would fetch my tools and bring them up the ladder on job sites.

Never seen a cat(& I loved my cat)do that... Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 02:58 PM

So you'd tell the doggeh "bring me a 14-millimeter box-end" and get immediate results?

Hell, that's nothing. I had a kitteh who would knock tools and small parts right off my workbench. Never had to ask him to, either.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 18, 2014 11:04 AM (ff7/5)

80 For wacky weekend fun, the cobs should try to get a thread going that simultaneously invokes cats and pot. I suspect it would be epic, as the various combinations square off.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at January 18, 2014 11:05 AM (IlZPo)

81 His cat made him write that.

Posted by: Quint&Jessel, Sea of Azof, Bly, UK at January 18, 2014 11:05 AM (QT9+o)

82 @73 No. But I have a golden retriever who would open the door for the burglar and give him a tour of the house.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:06 AM (P6QsQ)

83 I would hate cats less if they stopped trying to kill me. Sure, they say it's just allergies and not intentional on the cat's part. I say anybody who closes off my airways, intentional or not, is a blood enemy.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 18, 2014 11:06 AM (ZPrif)

84 Soothsayer LOL

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:06 AM (P6QsQ)

85 Will a cat defend its master, at the risk of its own life?

Cat's don't have masters, just staff.

They will, however, defend their friends:

http://tinyurl.com/mtsbwtl

Posted by: Blanco Basura at January 18, 2014 11:07 AM (wSrLR)

86
Meh. Like them both. We have an adopted stray cat who turned out well. He and Spastic Lab are great buddies now.

Maybe if cats would retrieve ducks and stuff they'd be better received.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 18, 2014 11:07 AM (SAMxH)

87 Dogs are not mechanically inclined. It will walk to the end of its chain, then get the chain caught on something, and not know how to easily rectify its situation. Just one of the hassles you get when you choose to have a dog. You have to go out there, say come here dumb shit, back up the way you came. Getting aggravated just thinking about it.

Posted by: UWP at January 18, 2014 11:07 AM (2hQRj)

88 So you'd tell the doggeh "bring me a 14-millimeter box-end" and get immediate results? That reminds me of a running joke on the old Jack Benny radio show. The basic pattern was: "Fido, bring up some wine from the cellar. . .Chardonnay? We're having beef!! STUPID DOG!!"

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at January 18, 2014 11:07 AM (IlZPo)

89 I definitely prefer cats. Dogs are nice, and I like how trainable they are, but I'm a weird quiet person by nature and I like having a weird quiet animal around. Plus, considering the huge drifts of global warming we've got on the sidewalks right now, I would NOT want to be walking a pet. Does my cat see me as his mom, though? Doubtful. And even if he does, you wouldn't catch me acknowledging it. Calling yourself a pet mom is just one step closer to pink sweatshirts and breeders' clubs, and once that happens there's nothing for it but the flamethrower.

Posted by: Rosa E. at January 18, 2014 11:07 AM (ynTYJ)

90 No. But I have a golden retriever who would open the door for the burglar and give him a tour of the house. *** There was comedian a while back, I can't remember who, that talked about what it was like to have a Doberman. He said the same thing... The Dobie would welcome burglars into the house, follow them around, showing them where all the valuables are kept and then as the burglar headed out the door, the dog would grab him by the ass.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 11:08 AM (DmNpO)

91 67-- Thank you for understanding that. When my mother was dying in hospice-- she had Alzheimer's-- the hospice had both therapy dogs and therapy cats. My mother had always been a cat person, and there was an orange tabby who lived on her floor of the hospice and spent a lot of time with her, even after she lost her ability to speak. He was with her when she died-- the nurse told me that her hand was resting on him at the end. I couldn't be there-- I had visited her two days before her death but had to return home (in another state), so I was glad that she at least had the cat to stay beside her when I could not.

Posted by: Basement Cat at January 18, 2014 11:09 AM (53cD3)

92 This thread would benefit from sharp elbows of the more visual sort.

Posted by: MTF at January 18, 2014 11:09 AM (F58x4)

93 Dogs and Cats... http://tinyurl.com/kc4yu36

Posted by: Bill Cosby at January 18, 2014 11:09 AM (rn0EN)

94 @ 88

Elizabeth (my lab) is a genius about getting out of those situations. Nothing I taught her, just comes natural for her.

Fool mutt is smarter than many of the people I know.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 18, 2014 11:10 AM (SAMxH)

95 31 no good deed, what the hell? Your brother rescued him from a wall? Did EA Poe live in your 'hood?

Posted by: Quint&Jessel, Sea of Azof, Bly, UK at January 18, 2014 11:10 AM (QT9+o)

96 Cats can't fend off invaders, that's dog territory. But cats do perform the vermin control duties that have aways made them good human companions. I intend to have a Husky puppy join my Clowder of kitties as soon as practical. That will be informative. I've had cats and/or dogs literally every day of my life, but the way their interactions shake down are always a mystery. Who's the Boss?

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:10 AM (ZshNr)

97 You haven't met w/the right dog. My wolf-dog would fetch my tools and bring them up the ladder on job sites. Working or guard dogs do contribute quite a bit, and circumstances were such that I needed one I would be happy to have one or three. I was just pointing out to those deriding cats as mere parasites that most dogs kept as pets don't actually contribute much more than cats. While I tend to prefer cats, I like both critters. I just don't think that cats are inferior because they don't act like dogs, nor, for that matter, are dogs inferior to cats for following their own natures.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:10 AM (X+Gav)

98 80 MrScribbler, Scrib I swear to the maker, I could say Beau bring me the hammer and up he came. I could give him trash he'd throw it away. My mom's third husband was like a warlock training that dog. He was a gift from some of my grandpa's partners. Anyhow he made it into his 20s.

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 11:10 AM (TE35l)

99 Wow - A lot of armchair experts here.. No offence, the Author is just full of Shit. Cats are smart, smart as dogs. They are just smart in a way that is more feline. Some cultures are more Dog cultures and read the intelligence of dogs better. Same with cats. Been in the cat business for 30 years and have just a little experience with this.. as much or more that this "Biologist." Don't trust the British they drink tea and like to eat kidneys.. Crazy, I tells you..

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:11 AM (gY+CK)

100 Cats are just furry land lamprey.

Posted by: garrett at January 18, 2014 11:11 AM (BM8LX)

101 ...which are a type of Weasel.

Posted by: garrett at January 18, 2014 11:11 AM (BM8LX)

102 Actually dogs are the same way. We are just the A-dogs as part of the pack to them.

Posted by: Starman57 at January 18, 2014 11:12 AM (vKRsl)

103 Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

Posted by: rockmom at January 18, 2014 11:12 AM (vE1mx)

104 I trained my Siamese to walk on a leash. The thing is, she used to like to go to the end of the block, then flip over on her back and have me drag her home along the sidewalk. I think the neighbors thought I was abusing her. She loved it. All I had to say was "you want to go for a drag?" And she'd run to the door.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:12 AM (P6QsQ)

105 Where did my seeing-eye cat run off to this time?

Posted by: Lost Blind Man at January 18, 2014 11:13 AM (rn0EN)

106 There's nothing like a big dog or two to send a burglar on down the street. We have two Malamutes and a coonhound who fill up our bay window nicely and put on quite a show when persons unknown come around. Combine that with a HUGE Maine coon sitting in the window, looking like a small lynx, and the effect is quite striking.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at January 18, 2014 11:13 AM (IlZPo)

107 97 Cats can't fend off invaders, that's dog territory. Tell that to the hundreds of male Siamese that have done just that. Including dogs and intruders that should know better..

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:13 AM (gY+CK)

108 Do you think if I told them, they'd understand me?

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:14 AM (ZshNr)

109 My Mom ended her days in assisted living and in those days we had Taffy- she looked like a 40 pound white wolf. Whenever I could I took her and the old folks always went wild over her- she was very friendly and loving. Lost her in 2007.

Posted by: backhoe at January 18, 2014 11:15 AM (ULH4o)

110 >>No. But I have a golden retriever who would open the door for the burglar and give him a tour of the house. Mine too. My mom raised Goldens, Jack Russells and we also had cats, horses (lots of those), goats, sheep and pigs. Small pigs were by far the smartest animals I have ever been around, goats the meanest and horses and sheep a dead heat for dumbest. A couple feral cats adopted my mom, or more accurately the barn. It was like living with miniature mountain lions. Kept you on your toes.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 11:15 AM (g1DWB)

111 My neighbor had to put down her cat yesterday. Thing was stuck in a rock wall for two whole weeks. Its forearms were nothing but exposed bone and some critter bit her ear off while she was stuck.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 18, 2014 11:15 AM (V4CBV)

112 I like my dogs the way I like my women; doggy style.

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 18, 2014 11:16 AM (E+uky)

113 I had a neighboor (since foreclosed) that had a cat that would run up to people and demand to be petted as they walked by the house. Simply wouldn't let you go by until you payed his toll.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at January 18, 2014 11:16 AM (wSrLR)

114 Our latest enlistee cat is a (altered) male named Mobozer. He is pretty damn smart and when caught in unauthorized part of the house, stops and stands still when his name is called. He waits to be picked up and tossed out and never complains about it. Gun show in town today. Only gonna say one thing. Serial number begins with ARG.

Posted by: Erowmero at January 18, 2014 11:17 AM (OONaw)

115 My mother had always been a cat person, and there was an orange tabby who lived on her floor of the hospice and spent a lot of time with her, even after she lost her ability to speak. He was with her when she died-- the nurse told me that her hand was resting on him at the end.

Posted by: Basement Cat at January 18, 2014 03:09 PM (53cD3)

---------------

Oh my, what a blessing to have something warm and soft and comforting. That makes me cry. Thanks for sharing such a bittersweet part of your mother's story.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:17 AM (P6QsQ)

116 Cats can tell the difference between cats and non cats due to the smell.

Posted by: perdogg at January 18, 2014 11:17 AM (o6/Pl)

117 Anyhow he made it into his 20s. Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 03:10 PM

Okay, that's one smart doggeh. Finest kind.

But damn, man, I could train cats like nobody's business. People would come from miles around to watch when I commanded my cats to "stay asleep," "do nothing" or "eat!"

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 18, 2014 11:18 AM (ff7/5)

118 61-that is a sweet story. I suppose animals are like people-good and bad in every group. I also suppose your personality disposes you to prefer one pet versus another Personality plays a large part, I am sure. I tend to be catlike in my attitude towards other humans - I like being around people as a general thing but don't care for constant interaction - so I tend to like animals which are the same way. More gregarious people might prefer dogs. I think it is fine for folks to prefer dogs to cats, but people who hate them and need to tell the whole world about it are annoying.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:18 AM (X+Gav)

119 Yeah, there are tales of real life guard cats, and cats that like to swim, etc., but that's hardly the norm. I have known one cat that would willingly jump into a swimming pool, by the way. My Aunt Shirley's cat "Motormouth". He'd swim around, doggy-paddling, happy as a clam. Until a person got in and caused waves, then he'd scramble out.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:19 AM (ZshNr)

120 A friend's cat sits out in the yard in the middle of the rain, nonplussed; but then, I think the cat's senile.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 18, 2014 11:21 AM (V4CBV)

121 If you've always had cats but would like to try a dog, think about adopting a Greyhound. They are very cat like in personality, very easy, super quiet. I've always said that the only dog easier than a Greyhound is a cat.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:21 AM (P6QsQ)

122 "I hate cats."

Exactly as all cats feel. Touche.

Posted by: dfbaskwill at January 18, 2014 11:21 AM (ndlFj)

123 My cat is smart. She can speak can-opener in 27 languages.

Posted by: Anchovy at January 18, 2014 11:21 AM (MNxW+)

124 Lot of cat drama in the house right now. Our biggest, heaviest, beefiest cat, who never really got over being bitch slapped by my 20 year old cat-o-don the first time they met. Now he has a serious case of middle child since our new kitten (Clara Christmas, blame my fee-yancy and the Dr. Who marathon) graciously deigned to let us own her..
He's still scared of Potluck but when he tries to bully this fuzzy little meteor ricocheting around the house, she just ignores him. So he's taken to acts of random vandalism.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at January 18, 2014 11:22 AM (yQ2jW)

125 118 MrScribbler, My ex made my cat beg after about 10 minutes effort. Scared the hell out of me. I could feel the cat thinking "HELP Me please boss please?!?" Every thing on the planet has its place I guess...mine was as far from my ex as I could be.

Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 11:23 AM (TE35l)

126 I have two bengals. I was able to clicker train one to sit, sit up, spin left or right. We are working on rolling over. They can be trained.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:23 AM (KU72u)

127 My cat keeps the house mouse-free, thank heavens. He also thinks I'm a reliable food supply, but I don't clean his litter box often enough (at least I think that's what he means). He also sheds something fierce, and since he's a long-hair, well ... Beautiful, extremely friendly especially with Mr. Empire, useful (see above), and I don't have to take him out in nasty weather to run, like I do with the dog.

Posted by: Empire1 at January 18, 2014 11:23 AM (OIjWc)

128 Loved my kittehs. Wife's lungs deteriorated this year and the doc said no more pets. So our Himalayan and Scottish Fold had to go to new homes along with the Yellow Collar mini Macaw. I wept. I love my wife, but we both miss them terribly. I had already done laminate floors, HEPA filtration systems, etc, etc.
These were the first two exotics we had ever paid for and they were marvelous. I would slap the bed covers at night and the Himalayan would run in, jump up and lay at the end of the bed. The Fold was very dog like and had almost no voice.

Posted by: Dave Head at January 18, 2014 11:24 AM (pjdGg)

129 They've translated the Bible into LOL Cat speakÂ… http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Posted by: The Political Hat at January 18, 2014 11:25 AM (AymDN)

130 Control the food, control the animal.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 18, 2014 11:25 AM (Sl1ts)

131 I have two bengals. I was able to clicker train one to sit, sit up, spin left or right. We are working on rolling over. They can be trained.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 03:23 PM (KU72u)

-------------

I wonder if it's something about exotic breeds? I've had good luck with those, but not domestic American shorthairs or other run of the mill kitties.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:25 AM (P6QsQ)

132 Are guard dogs really "the norm" really? Yeah there are dogs that are guard dogs but is the average dog a guard dog or just a big sloppy barker? (I have the sloppy barker type, if you just say Hi he will invite you in and help count the money)

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:25 AM (xZovl)

133 The other cat likes to turn on the bathroom faucets. I have to shut the doors. They will also play in the toilet water. Bengals like water.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:26 AM (KU72u)

134 Felinophiles: Two weeks ago we went with the Electronic Litter Box. 150 bucks for the unit, refills are 10-15 bucks a pop. For 2 1/2 cats ( the older guy still prefers the old school box, which we're removing now that he's adjusted) it lasted 12 days before needing a change. Imagine that. It's a brave new world.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:27 AM (ZshNr)

135 I don't see it in my cat. She was a semi-feral kitteh who had been around for several years until hunger brought her to risk my wrath while crouched next to the food bowl. I began rubbing her head and then that was that. She likes to snuggle up against me at night. She does not like other cats, at all.

Posted by: SFGoth at January 18, 2014 11:28 AM (VGDJR)

136 Every thing on the planet has its place I guess...mine was as far from my ex as I could be. Posted by: sven10077 at January 18, 2014 03:23 PM

One of my cats had a serious case of the angries at my ex, for some reason. One day after we split up, ex came by the house to pick up some of her stuff, but had forgotten her key. She went through the screen, and little Rosie, the tortoise-shell, jumped her. After leaving a few claw marks, Rosie followed ex around the house, hissing and growling, 'til she finally gave up and went out the door.

I miss Rosie. But not my ex.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (ff7/5)

137 The Fold was very dog like and had almost no voice.

Posted by: Dave Head at January 18, 2014 03:24 PM (pjdGg)

============

Scottish Folds are adorable. I've never had one myself. So sorry to hear that your wife's health problems brought you to the point where you could no longer keep your companions.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (P6QsQ)

138 We have had both cats and dogs; cats definitely can be left alone to their own devices for much longer periods of time than dogs. We currently have a little calico cat that greets us in the morning wanting her tummy rubbed. She does that "too cool for school" thing because she will not play with her toys when we can see her but the toys always seem to move around at night.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (sEKS8)

139 Cats are liberals in little fur coats.

Posted by: Country Singer at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (VFbB9)

140 131 Control the food, control the animal. = The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Posted by: m at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (omrQI)

141 132 I trained her to sit in five minutes, the other one won't have it. You have to find a treat that motivates them. I never thought to try with a cat before.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:29 AM (KU72u)

142 Another interesting thing about cats is that they are technically only semi-domesticated: Humans have never been able to control their breeding to the extent of that of dogs and livestock. Housecats are a lot closer to the original wild cats then dogs are to wolves.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:30 AM (X+Gav)

143 Seen on the office of a local vet: Dog's have owners Cats have staff.

Posted by: Fox2! at January 18, 2014 11:32 AM (cHwSy)

144 Terriers: doing the jobs lazy cats won't do.

Posted by: Dogs! at January 18, 2014 11:32 AM (sOtz/)

145

I had a cat that protected me, back when I was a kid. Even beat up dogs--German Shepards, a Great Dane, that horrible mutt that attacked me when I was riding bike.

Didn't have a cat that swam, did have one that would walk into the creek and dip herself on hot summer days.

Had a rescue that had been abused, didn't like people much--I thought. When I got home from the hospital after surgery, the cat launched herself into my arms and frantically licked my face, meowing between licks. I do believe she missed me.

Posted by: Quint&Jessel, Sea of Azof, Bly, UK at January 18, 2014 11:33 AM (QT9+o)

146 Another factoid, cats can carry litters by two different fathers at the same time. Or maybe it's one litter, but two fathers, technically.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:33 AM (ZshNr)

147 My little hairless Rex used to scare the crap out of anyone who came to our house, seriously. I've had grown Army guys in my home who screamed the first time they saw her. Once, the Time Warner guy balked at coming in for a service call because he said "the rat scared him." It was my cat.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:33 AM (P6QsQ)

148 On the subject of the original article, which I skimmed a few days ago and can't be araed to reread: I volunteer at a rescue shelter for cats, and whatever they think we actually ARE, it's clear that they don't necessarily think of us as proper cats. There are cats that come in that wi snuggle right up to any human and demand attention while throwing a fit if they so much as catch sight of another cat - and there are others that act the other way, will happily spend time around other cats but freak at humans, even humans who have been feeding them for weeks! We have two cats at home, the younger we got as a kitten and he's much more friendly as a result. He does sometimes act as if he were interacting with another cat - but that's presumably just because that's the only "language" he really knows. If you met a Frenchman who tried to talk to you but only spoke French, you wouldn't assume that it's necessarily because he thinks you *are* French.

Posted by: GalaKitty at January 18, 2014 11:34 AM (whs5X)

149 Most cat people don't actually hate dogs, but the reverse is nowhere near true. Dogs are slaves; cats are citizens. --- Heinlein

Posted by: ChicagoRefugee who still likes Sam Clovis for Senate at January 18, 2014 11:34 AM (2scyq)

150 All 3 of our cats are mush balls and lap cats. Do they do that for self interest since we feed them and clean the litter, yeah maybe, but my kids kinda act the same way

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 18, 2014 11:34 AM (nzKvP)

151 Another factoid, cats can carry litters by two different fathers at the same time.

Dogs can have multiple sires for one litter as well.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 11:35 AM (vBhbc)

152 I did not know that.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:36 AM (ZshNr)

153 >>Another interesting thing about cats is that they are technically only semi-domesticated: Humans have never been able to control their breeding to the extent of that of dogs and livestock. Housecats are a lot closer to the original wild cats then dogs are to wolves. I'd say its a case of not wanting to try and control the breeding vs not being able to. Dog breeds have historically been bred for specific purposes, some highly specialized. Jack Russell Terriers, for example, were bred for fox hunting. Not just fox hunting but they would ride with the hunt master and then be deployed to go down the hole after the fox once the hounds drove it to ground. What are you going to train a cat to do, shed less? Nice but not exactly a skill.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 11:36 AM (g1DWB)

154 148 Did you have to bathe the hairless Rex? I heard the sphinx? Or another similar breed needs regular baths because they get greasy.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:37 AM (KU72u)

155 My cat is smart. She can speak can-opener in 27 languages.

Posted by: Anchovy at January 18, 2014 03:21 PM (MNxW+)

I once had a cat that knew when I was opening a can of tuna. She ignored the sound when it was soup or veggies, but could make it to the kitchen from two floors away before the lid was off a can of tuna.

Posted by: Retread at January 18, 2014 11:37 AM (cHwk5)

156 Some scientist. Do you know why you're cat acts like a cat when you're around? BECAUSE IT'S A CAT!

Posted by: t-bird at January 18, 2014 11:38 AM (FcR7P)

157 @133 I used to have a huge female shepherd who would guard. But that was my only one. She hated other dogs as well. A handful. Pulled two kamikaze chihuahuas out of her jaws. They would charge her while growling. She was 110 lbs+. Chihuahuas: (making finger circles around ears)

Posted by: Beagle at January 18, 2014 11:38 AM (sOtz/)

158 Cats are liberals in little fur coats. Conservatives - they have never forgotten that they are hunters or that there is a world of danger and opportunity outside, nor are particularly hierarchical by nature. They are still semi-wild and are sufficient unto themselves.

Not that I really classify animals in terms of modern American political ideologies, but still...

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:39 AM (X+Gav)

159 143 Another interesting thing about cats is that they are technically only semi-domesticated: Humans have never been able to control their breeding to the extent of that of dogs and livestock. Housecats are a lot closer to the original wild cats then dogs are to wolves. I hope you won't be too offended when I tell you that this is complete and utter horse shit.. The modern house cat is in no way "semi-domesticated" and the cat has been around in depictions in art as long as dogs.. BTW wolves are not the original "dog".. sheesh

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:39 AM (gY+CK)

160 Dogs are way better companions because they are pack animals and respect you in your role as alpha dog. And in nature, as the alpha dog gets older and weaker, the other dogs do everything they can to support and help that old grey alpha dog until he dies peacefully in his sleep. What could be better than.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:40 AM (GeVLX)

161 My cats know the sound of the "cat only" dishes being clanked around. Get a little clumsy unloading the dishwasher and they think it's dinner time.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:40 AM (ZshNr)

162 It's a matter of personality. I can reach an understanding with any cat that's not completely batshit pretty quickly. Dogs? No connection. Loud, forward, needs constant attention and sees you as the leader or an inferior. Cats are individual and independent, and nearly as lazy as I am.

Posted by: kartoffel at January 18, 2014 11:40 AM (07vvi)

163 Some people like cats and some people like dogs and some people like both, and it's no refection on the personality of anyone as to which animal they prefer. :^) My one cat seems to have nascent religious impulses. It will come and sit beside me on a chair when I play hymns on the computer. The other one is an imp of Satan. ;^) Funny cat video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTasT5h0LEg

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 18, 2014 11:40 AM (7kkQJ)

164 Did you have to bathe the hairless Rex? I heard the sphinx? Or another similar breed needs regular baths because they get greasy.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 03:37 PM (KU72u)

------------

Yes, they do get greasy. They have very fine down, which I just used a warm washcloth on once a week or so.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:41 AM (P6QsQ)

165 Everyone from a species who can use a can opener raise your paw. Who's a big stupid cat now?

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 11:41 AM (hO8IJ)

166 Hatred of cats is strongly correlated with limited intelligence and crude sensibilities.

Posted by: Buddha at January 18, 2014 11:42 AM (s/sIv)

167 My cats are a cross between an asian leopard cat and a domestic.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:42 AM (KU72u)

168 I love my kittehs and they act like they love me back. They're cleaner than doggehs, can take a dump in a box on their own, and don't bark for an hour because a neighbor down the street closed a car door. I love doggehs too, but kittehs are just easier to keep. I think a lot of guys won't admit they love dogs because they really need the attention more than the dog does

Posted by: kbdabear at January 18, 2014 11:42 AM (aTXUx)

169 ;">My cat keeps the house mouse-free, thank heavens. ;">--- ;">So does mouse poison. But it has the added benefit of keeping the house cat shit free.

Posted by: UWP at January 18, 2014 11:42 AM (2hQRj)

170 Garammie winger ..try rubbing the skin with fine oatmeal then a car shammy. works better than a wet cloth! The shammy does a good job all by itself!

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:44 AM (gY+CK)

171 It seems to me from reading the comments on this thread that, ironically enough cat owners are rather dogmatic.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 11:44 AM (g4TxM)

172 Daily reminder: Cats are conservatives. Dogs are liberals.

Posted by: Daily Reminder Guy at January 18, 2014 11:44 AM (6j8ke)

173 23 If it weren't for cats, half of the collected knowledge of humanity would have been devoured by rodents. Cats saved Civilization. Discuss. ..... Ooh! I like this!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 11:46 AM (gljo6)

174 This is silly. I have two cats. (OK, they have me.) They both expect me to feed them and clean their litter boxes. I don't see them nagging each other to do it. Cats do not see us as bigger cats. They see us as their servants.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 11:46 AM (sdi6R)

175 I'm trying to figure out how this is some new study. I thought this was pretty well known. That's the reason that cats tend to leave dead animals for you to find. Its sort of a "look I'm a good hunter. You're shit, learn to kill something like I just did."

Posted by: buzzion at January 18, 2014 11:46 AM (LI48c)

176 Garammie winger ..try rubbing the skin with fine oatmeal then a car shammy. works better than a wet cloth! The shammy does a good job all by itself!

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 03:44 PM (gY+CK)

----------------

Huh, I did not know that! Sadly, I woke up one morning two winters ago, and found my beloved little hairless stretched out on the floor dead. Cardiac myopathy, my vet said.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 11:46 AM (P6QsQ)

177 Wendy: Dolphins are untelligent and friendly. Cartman: Yeah. Intelligent and friendly on whole wheat with mayonnaise....

Posted by: Buddha at January 18, 2014 11:46 AM (s/sIv)

178 175 I agree completely.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:47 AM (KU72u)

179 Animosity toward cats is evidence of pussy envy.

Posted by: Sigmund Freud at January 18, 2014 11:47 AM (JQuNB)

180 177 Oh, I'm so sorry.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:48 AM (KU72u)

181 Grammie.. Sorry that can be a problem with the more exotic breeds.. So sorry!

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 11:48 AM (xZovl)

182 Cats do not see us as bigger cats. They see us as their servants. Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 03:46 PM (sdi6R) Me yes, they see me as a servant or a guy who will do stuff for them, but my wife who is home all the time and feeds them and by hand sometimes, they think she pushed them out is their mother

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 18, 2014 11:49 AM (nzKvP)

183 They're cleaner than doggehs, can take a dump in a box on their own, and don't bark for an hour because a neighbor down the street closed a car door. I love my doggehs but they are convinced that rustling leaves are trying to break into the house. Once the neighborhood dog alert network goes off it goes on for hours. Even after I quiet them down, they'll start up again because they forget that the only reason the other dogs are barking is because they started it. I miss my dear departed kitties.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:49 AM (GeVLX)

184 For the record I have cats but I love dog and cats more than I like most humans, especially relatives

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 18, 2014 11:50 AM (nzKvP)

185 What are you going to train a cat to do, shed less? Nice but not exactly a skill. That is quite possible, since the most useful function of a cat is hunting, which is something Cat 1.0 does quite efficiently on its own. Plus, now that I think about it, there are examples of cat breeds for special purposes - Persians are the knights of the feline world, bred to take on the rats infesting warehouses (that long fur plus small nose and ears make it near invulnerable to rat bites, and they are still pretty bellicose by nature I believe).

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:51 AM (X+Gav)

186 Our Mickey cat, aka Mickey THE Cat (RIP), reacted to my son's birth by appointing herself his guardian kitty. She'd never been much of a hunter, but that summer she brought home mice, birds and cicadas - all neatly deposited on the doorway of his room. She also shared his crib on a regular basis. We had a cat door, and one day it was, for some reason, locked closed while Mickey was out. Our offspring took a tumble and started to wail ... 30 seconds later there was an enormous "THUMP" from the cat door as Mickey ran full speed to the rescue. She died the summer he turned five. We have two great cats now, but I still miss her. She was something special.

Posted by: ChicagoRefugee who still likes Sam Clovis for Senate at January 18, 2014 11:51 AM (2scyq)

187 I always assumed cats leave their kill as a gift. Maybe that was wishful thinking.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:51 AM (KU72u)

188 I predict that manatees will be the Cool Pet of the Third Millenium.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 18, 2014 11:52 AM (7e3KP)

189
My cat flushes the commode and attempts to open the front door. He also humps the bitch neighbor's cat Petunia. Neighbor hates me and Spot! Great, I wouldn't fuck her with Margaret Cho's dick!

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 11:52 AM (pJF+c)

190 I always assumed cats leave their kill as a gift. Maybe that was wishful thinking. yep, it's just a warning.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:52 AM (GeVLX)

191 188 I always assumed cats leave their kill as a gift. Maybe that was wishful thinking.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 03:51 PM (KU72u)

Well sort of. It thinks you must be starving because you're such a crappy hunter.

Posted by: buzzion at January 18, 2014 11:53 AM (LI48c)

192 Maybe one of you could compile a list of all the reasons that cats are superior to dogs. We could call it... ...a catalog!

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 11:53 AM (g4TxM)

193 NDH, full disclosure, the kitties also mucked up some stuff, as cats are prone to do. Check link in name if it works.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 11:54 AM (ZshNr)

194 yep, it's just a warning.

Beware if your cat leaves you a fish wrapped in newspaper.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 18, 2014 11:54 AM (7e3KP)

195 191 Are you a Hole fan by chance

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 11:54 AM (KU72u)

196 Since I have multiple cats, I see how they treat each other and how they treat me. They're not the same.

Posted by: Socratease at January 18, 2014 11:54 AM (1jViy)

197 All cat haters must be annihilated!

Posted by: Null at January 18, 2014 11:55 AM (xjpRj)

198 173 Daily Reminder Guy at January 18, 2014 03:44 PM (6j8ke)

My dog worked his ass off, ran away but came back mostly after getting laid probably...only went to jail a few times and worried over my emotional state some.

My cat was well my cat, after I probably gave her feline PTSD from playing mind games with her she used to chase laser dots that weren't there, acted a bit like a lesbian adoring my wife in place of my mom and mostly worried that I would die and she would be unfed most likely....

I don't think either one was a moonbat BUT they both definitely felt like family...

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 18, 2014 11:55 AM (TE35l)

199 193 Maybe one of you could compile a list of all the reasons that cats are superior to dogs. We could call it... ...a catalog! Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 03:53 PM (g4TxM) My good sir, you spout nothing but doggerel!

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (GeVLX)

200
    Liz is a great watch dog. But the followthrough is non-existent.

   Dog has an enormous voice. Outside the house, when she detonates, it sounds like 110 pounds with an attitude.

    The reality is submission upon greeting. She'd sooner--I think-- be around kids of ALL ages than adults. Oddball dog, to be sure.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (SAMxH)

201
My 10-year old male cat farts a lot, and sometimes grins after the act. Or so I tell myself.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (pJF+c)

202 Once you get the nasty cat hair off cleather is nicer and softer than most other hides.

Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (kxSZr)

203 Which is kinda like doggeral but spelted wrong

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (GeVLX)

204 I hope you won't be too offended when I tell you that this is complete and utter horse shit.. The modern house cat is in no way "semi-domesticated" and the cat has been around in depictions in art as long as dogs.. BTW wolves are not the original "dog".. sheesh Take it up with Juliet Clutton-Brock. It is possible, however, that she is using a different definition of "domesticated" than you are, since she is a historian of animal domestication and is looking at a rather wide spectrum of critters, not just pets. Elephants are also considered "semi-domesticated' since their breeding is uncontrollable, though in their case it is because they just don't breed enough in captivity to influence the species.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 11:56 AM (X+Gav)

205 161 The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 03:40 PM (GeVLX)

Yup...they bond for life....and they have long memories.

My lab-chow I had in Texas was probably abused by one of the local Mexican-American males...he went berzerk when he heard Spanish from a male it was a bit socially awkward.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 18, 2014 11:57 AM (TE35l)

206 I had a male Manx that killed gophers and moles by the bushel. In fact, he killed so many of them that we simply didn't have gopher problems in the vegetable garden for years and years.

Posted by: 13times at January 18, 2014 11:58 AM (fGPLK)

207 196 191 Are you a Hole fan by chance Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 03:54 PM (KU72u) Yes. Yes I am. The shame police shall come for my now.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 11:58 AM (GeVLX)

208 194 NDH, full disclosure, the kitties also mucked up some stuff, as cats are prone to do. Check link in name if it works. ...... Ahhhh. The earliest recorded laptop surfing!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 11:58 AM (gljo6)

209 Kitteh thread I have two large ones I brought home with me from Italy Nothing starts your day like waking up and opening your eyes to a large cats asshole an inch or two from your face Or laying your head on your pillow and finding a nice wet hairball

Posted by: Navypopojoe at January 18, 2014 11:58 AM (PwTLl)

210 Elephants are also considered "semi-domesticated' since their breeding is uncontrollable

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 03:56 PM (X+Gav)

Yeah, I learned that the hard way one night in Pittsburgh. She was sort of gray and weighed in at around 250 wet. Used flour to find the wet spot.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 11:59 AM (pJF+c)

211 Or come for "me now" because I am illiterate.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:00 PM (GeVLX)

212 208 I thought I recognized the lyric in your name. Celebrity skin?

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:00 PM (KU72u)

213 I like my cats like I like my dogs; outside where they're free to shit anywhere but my property.

Posted by: Fritz at January 18, 2014 12:01 PM (TKFmG)

214 The future must not belong to those who slander the Prophet of Islam. (Who liked cats and hated dogs.)

Posted by: Barky I at January 18, 2014 12:01 PM (sOtz/)

215 Dogs have owners; cats have staff.

Posted by: Paladin at January 18, 2014 12:01 PM (4kpbt)

216 213 208 I thought I recognized the lyric in your name. Celebrity skin? Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:00 PM (KU72u) Yes.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:02 PM (GeVLX)

217
A great cat is one who will attack your MIL without provocation. It also shortens her stay.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 12:02 PM (pJF+c)

218 Yay, I didn't misspell "yes". Woohoo!

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (GeVLX)

219 Unless your dogs are knocking out eight hour shifts at the ALPO plant, dog owners are servers/servants, too.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (ZshNr)

220 self-repost My cats are mad at me for letting it rain when they want to go out. I try to explain, I am but a lowly god with gods above me, but since I (with Mrs lowly god) cause fish to appear in their bowls, can remove and change our fur, and do marvelous miracles with those divine thumbs, we must be in charge of the rain, too. -mindful webworker - lord of the pets at November 05, 2013 07:13 AM http://minx.cc/?blog=86&post=344746#c21381973 Addendum: When we use the litter box, it's clean! A view created just for this thread. Because I can. http://mindfulwebworks.com/webworks/cats

Posted by: webworker's cat at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (U13jb)

221 >>If it weren't for cats, half of the collected knowledge of humanity would have been devoured by rodents. Cats saved Civilization. Discuss. ..... >>Ooh! I like this! I give you the Rat Terrier. Dogs of all kinds but particularly terriers will kill the shit out of pest problems which is why you see so many of them on farms. As for catching other things, I was walking my Golden on Boston Common a couple years ago when he nabbed this. http://tinyurl.com/lf5jj9k True, he got all the hugs and kisses and belly rubs but let me know the next time you are walking your cat and he brings in hot blond model.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (g1DWB)

222 New puppy smell > cat box smell

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (g4TxM)

223

I think the real question we need answered is "Do cats also poop while facing magnetic north?"

Posted by: buzzion at January 18, 2014 12:03 PM (LI48c)

224 Lincolntf, this will blow your mind then. People can have children by different fathers at the same time too. All it takes is a woman ovulating multiple eggs and having intercourse with more than one man within her six day fertility window. Voila, you can have fraternal twins with different dads.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 12:04 PM (vBhbc)

225 I was going to try to create a military working cat but imagine trying to give a cat a command ATTACK!!!! ***licks it's sack then takes a nap***

Posted by: Navypopojoe at January 18, 2014 12:04 PM (PwTLl)

226 224 Too funny.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:05 PM (KU72u)

227 154 What are you going to train a cat to do, shed less? Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 03:36 PM (g1DWB) Lotsa luck with that.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 12:05 PM (sdi6R)

228 @222 Terriers are ratting dogs. That is their job.

Posted by: Beagle (can rat in a pinch as well) at January 18, 2014 12:05 PM (sOtz/)

229 LOL i have multiple tame cats along with the fact i manage a feral colony. For the sake of utility when they need to be maintained i have tried to tame as many of the ferals as possible. Some do treat me as their momma. they make the kitten vocalizations when they hear me show up at the vets to pick them up. Some consider me another non hostile cat, with whom they have close relations. and a few i have never managed to tame treat me warily but with enough trust that they come close to the house if i am late with the food and they will remain sitting where they sometimes lay on my porch furniture as i pass, if i dont make eye contact.

they are a spin off colony from a farm down the street, where the owner never fixes anything. One mom dropped kittens in my hay barn because its safe and warm in there, and i fed them when she disappeared, now her boyfriends and her kids live here. I trap Neuter and release. i sure wish the people down the street did. But my farm is free of rats and mice and gophers, and the pidgeons are too much problem, because of them. I call them my 10-99 crew or the free people.

But if they get hurt, i take them to the vet, bring them in the house, and they do kinda treat me like the Big Cat Mommy after that. the three i brought in are amazingly loving and have made surprisingly good housecats. They practically potty trained themselves.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (f858s)

230 My cats are mad at me for letting it rain when they want to go out.

Mine used to grab at my leg when he heard the shower, to keep me from going in it and getting wet.

He gave up on that, but he still cleans my face every now and then, since he's never seen me do it properly.

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (hO8IJ)

231 224 Maybe you can apply for a government grant.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (KU72u)

232 As for catching other things, I was walking my Golden on Boston Common a couple years ago when he nabbed this. http://tinyurl.com/lf5jj9k True, he got all the hugs and kisses and belly rubs but let me know the next time you are walking your cat and he brings in hot blond model. My cat brought me a little grey scorpion once. It's the thought that counts, you know.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (GeVLX)

233 The rodent/document protection difference with cats is that they can kind of self-sustain in a monastery, library, etc, without causing more damage than they prevent, living off the land so to speak. Dogs can't survive like that.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (ZshNr)

234 Getting off on the right foot:

http://tinyurl.com/6tv927x

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (gqT4g)

235 If it weren't for cats, half of the collected knowledge of humanity would have been devoured by rodents. Cats saved Civilization. Discuss.

.....

Ooh! I like this!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 03:46 PM (gljo6)

============

From the Smithsonian website:

"When humans were predominantly hunters, dogs were of great use, and thus were domesticated long before cats. Cats, on the other hand, only became useful to people when we began to settle down, till the earth andÂ—cruciallyÂ—store surplus crops. With grain stores came mice, and when the first wild cats wandered into town, the stage was set for what the Science study authors call "one of the more successful 'biological experiments' ever undertaken." The cats were delighted by the abundance of prey in the storehouses; people were delighted by the pest control."

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:06 PM (P6QsQ)

236 When I was a kid, I did not know anyone who had a cat. There were none in the neighborhood. I haven't figured out why they have become so common. * looks down at purring cat *

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 18, 2014 12:07 PM (aDwsi)

237 "When a cat rubs against you with its tail straight in the air, it is checking to make sure you are not hostile." Cats I used see on a regular basis did that all the time. Checking for hostility from a known friend after the third time isn't really necessary...

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at January 18, 2014 12:07 PM (itCai)

238 Only had dogs until cat appeared out of woods and adopted us. Last dog was in poor health and blind when cat started hanging around. I'm convinced that dog lived an extra 12 months due to his new friend. Never thought I'd have a cat. Now he sleeps with us every night. Who'd a thunk.

Posted by: olddog in mo at January 18, 2014 12:08 PM (EKOIc)

239 231 My cats are mad at me for letting it rain when they want to go out.

Mine used to grab at my leg when he heard the shower, to keep me from going in it and getting wet.

He gave up on that, but he still cleans my face every now and then, since he's never seen me do it properly.

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 04:06 PM (hO8IJ)

my sphynx cats needed to be bathed regularly, or they smell like sweaty old ladies. My guy is a marine and he used to take them in the shower with them and wash them with baby shampoo and the shower attachment. I was stunned any man would go into a shower naked with his junk dangling and was a cat! but it always turned out all right. they even seemed to sorta like it.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:09 PM (f858s)

240
My cat has never learned that my food is of lesser quality than his.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 12:10 PM (pJF+c)

241 they can kind of self-sustain in a monastery, library, etc, without causing more damage than they prevent, ------------- I'm not so certain about that. Lots of damage done by the two cats that I have had, but then not in monastery.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 18, 2014 12:10 PM (aDwsi)

242 225 Lincolntf, this will blow your mind then. People can have children by different fathers at the same time too. All it takes is a woman ovulating multiple eggs and having intercourse with more than one man within her six day fertility window. Voila, you can have fraternal twins with different dads.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 04:04 PM (vBhbc)

I think Lincolntf was getting confused about another animal. There is an animal capable of carrying two full litters by separate male parents. I just can't remember what it is but I do remember reading about it.

Posted by: buzzion at January 18, 2014 12:10 PM (LI48c)

243 I love both dogs and cats but prefer cats as my own personal pets. It surprises me the crazy amount of hate for them.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 12:10 PM (gljo6)

244 205 Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 03:56 PM (X+Gav)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miacids

Cat and Dogs great great grand-pappy

http://tinyurl.com/l53qfmg

I happen to agree with fuller that the proto-dog was a wolf...

I've not seen evidence there is some other lost proto-dog, but I am open to proof.

Beaucanine's mother was a pure-bred golden shepherd and his dad was a raised orphan Canadian Grey Wolf.

The wolf was NOT a dog, but he was friendly enough to Lady the Shepherd. King just never acclimatized to more than 2 or 3 people. Noble as could be and the owner had 25 acres he was mostly free in...

tended to hang out near the barn like the Manx my uncle kept on the farm down in Ohio now that I think back on it. Makes sense both animals being semi-domesticated. The Manx was a wild one that had gone semi-feral that my Uncle used to toss whole Kielbasas to....

I have a hard time thinking Wolves and Dogs could cross breed as easily as they do, and from every mixed breeding I've ever seen the pup reverts towards wolfish working dog looks like the Shepherds unless they were genetic matches without more complications that arise.

Now you can probably argue that they are no closer than we were to the Neanderthals and that is likely the case.

Now I am missing my dog.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 18, 2014 12:11 PM (TE35l)

245 There seems to be some crisis in kitty litter. The plain old white granulated clay has become unobtanium here.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 18, 2014 12:11 PM (aDwsi)

246
It surprises me the crazy amount of hate for them.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 04:10 PM (gljo6)

me too. and the way people treat them as disposable. its horrid. but then i rescue horses people abuse too and i dont get that either.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:12 PM (f858s)

247 236 grammie winger at January 18, 2014 04:06 PM (P6QsQ)

ehhh "yeah" of course there are dog breeds that are mousers too...

Beau used to go catch bunnies and leave 'em as gifts.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 18, 2014 12:12 PM (TE35l)

248
The big drawback with cats is they don't have the pussy magnet power of a dog.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at January 18, 2014 12:13 PM (pJF+c)

249 247 Cats are very useful creatures. Irresponsible owners of any animal makes me angry.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:13 PM (KU72u)

250 In sitting here in the salon and see a guy pull up in a truck in front of the pizza joint. Before he gets out he reaches over and ruffles his dogs ears, gave it a hug, and a kiss on the snout. Very sweet.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 12:14 PM (gljo6)

251
In Peruvia, we use cats for mountain rescue, and they are equipped with a small keg of rum around their necks for emergencies.

Posted by: Juan Valdez, Jefe de Peruvia at January 18, 2014 12:14 PM (pJF+c)

252 I was half-remembering the discussion I had with the Vet from whom we adopted the 4-weekers. One looks like a perfect Siamese, the other is a big, shaggy, silvery, black, gray and white ragamuffin. They knew the mother was half-Siamese, father unknown. So we started talking about parentage possibilities and I got a lesson. I also had a kitten nibbling my chin, so the lesson might not have stuck.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:14 PM (ZshNr)

253 " The cats were delighted by the abundance of prey in the storehouses; people were delighted by the pest control." The hieroglyphics on King Buttfuckhenaten I's tomb read "Who shat in my bowl of cereal?"

Posted by: t-bird at January 18, 2014 12:15 PM (FcR7P)

254 Gee.. it is telling that on her book DOG there is a picture of a dog.. On the book CAT it is a picture of a Mountain Lion. To be fair.. I am not familiar with her definition of "domesticated" but her definition must be tightly defined if she says dogs are fully domesticated and cats are "semi" Cats are just more successful at being feral in an urban environment than dogs....here... Try looking up stories on wild dog packs in Brazil slums or Africa. Now look for a pack of wild tabbies! Heh.. Although tuna oil on Hobos does have possibilities...

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 12:15 PM (gY+CK)

255 249 All my girlfriends love my cats. I think you would be pretty popular with a leash trained cat.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:15 PM (KU72u)

256 and they are equipped with a small keg of rum around their necks for emergencies.

I'll take two.

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 12:15 PM (hO8IJ)

257 ehhh "yeah" of course there are dog breeds that are mousers too...

--------------

Absolutely. The word "terrier" means "of the earth" , and became the designation for ratters, mousers, badger hunters, etc.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:16 PM (P6QsQ)

258 Checking for hostility from a known friend after the third time isn't really necessary...

And a cat is smart enough to check from a distance, not within arms length.

That rubbing is affection, a cat's version of a handshake.

Posted by: Retread at January 18, 2014 12:16 PM (cHwk5)

259 >>It surprises me the crazy amount of hate for them. I don't hate cats, I'm sort of ambivalent about them. Which is sort of the vibe most of them give off toward people. Most dogs seem happy to see people, anyone who has a dog knows what a dog smile looks like. Cats just sort of look at you like "what the hell do you want?". Kind of hard to warm up to an animal that seem to care if you do or don't.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 12:16 PM (g1DWB)

260 248 236 grammie winger at January 18, 2014 04:06 PM (P6QsQ)

ehhh "yeah" of course there are dog breeds that are mousers too...

Beau used to go catch bunnies and leave 'em as gifts.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 18, 2014 04:12 PM (TE35l)

the Schipperke is bred to be a ship's dog and a fierce ratter. i had one and he wasnt a lot bigger than a normal cat, and smaller than some little kitties i have had. They are neat little dogs to have around horses.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:16 PM (f858s)

261 "When a cat rubs against you with its tail straight in the air, it is checking to make sure you are not hostile."

Others have commented on this. I'm gonna flag this as bullshit too.

As a longtime careful student of cat behavior, when a cat approaches you with its tail straight up, it's already decided that you're not only nonhostile, but actively friendly. It's a postural greeting to a known person or animal.

I have very rarely been approached by a strange cat with tail straight up. About half of those times seem to have been mistaken identification, where for instance an elderly cat with diminished eyesight sees me, comes running, gets within ten feet and suddenly says WHOA, not who I thought, and veers off or stops short.

A tiny number of cats will tail-flag damn near anyone. The unusual hyperextroverts of the cat world.

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 12:17 PM (gqT4g)

262 I don't have a dog in this fight.

Posted by: Freaky lady with ferret and hedgehog at January 18, 2014 12:17 PM (cbvvh)

263 Cats have scent glands on their face, when they rub you they are marking you.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:18 PM (KU72u)

264
Kind of hard to warm up to an animal that seem to care if you do or don't.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 04:16 PM (g1DWB)

my Sphynx cats would jump in the arms of any person they liked and aggressively rub their snoot all over the face of the person they are assaulting. They loved people with beards especially and want to ride on people's shoulders. I think it really depends on the cat and how its treated and raised. Treat them like little people and they will act like little people. My cats even play fetch, and jump when/where you tell them to..

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:19 PM (f858s)

265 Cats have scent glands on their face, when they rub you they are marking you.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:18 PM (KU72u)

--------------

Ya, I've always thought this was a dominance thing.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:21 PM (P6QsQ)

266 Try looking up stories on wild dog packs in Brazil slums or Africa. -catman Detroit...

Posted by: webworker's cats in plaid onesies at January 18, 2014 12:21 PM (U13jb)

267 When I meet a cat, no matter how friendly it is, in the back of mind is, "This is a setup, it is just a question of time before the biting or scratching occurs."

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 18, 2014 12:22 PM (aDwsi)

268 Your Cat Thinks You're Just A Big Stupid Cat

I think they're dinner.

Posted by: ALF at January 18, 2014 12:22 PM (vgH+s)

269
As a longtime careful student of cat behavior, when a cat approaches you with its tail straight up, it's already decided that you're not only nonhostile, but actively friendly. It's a postural greeting to a known person or animal.

I have very rarely been approached by a strange cat with tail straight up. About half of those times seem to have been mistaken identification, where for instance an elderly cat with diminished eyesight sees me, comes running, gets within ten feet and suddenly says WHOA, not who I thought, and veers off or stops short.

A tiny number of cats will tail-flag damn near anyone. The unusual hyperextroverts of the cat world.

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 04:17 PM (gqT4g)

agreed. you gotta really raise one right to get them like that. I always think of that trotting up with tail in the air like a big grin, glad to see you. Its happy confidence you are gonna be a friend and they are gonna come up and say HI HI HI HI HI!!!!

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:22 PM (f858s)

270 "239 Only had dogs until cat appeared out of woods and adopted us. Last dog was in poor health and blind when cat started hanging around. I'm convinced that dog lived an extra 12 months due to his new friend. Never thought I'd have a cat. Now he sleeps with us every night. Who'd a thunk. Posted by: olddog"

I have been told the best way to keep an old dog or cat alive as long as possible is to get them a puppy or kitten. They hang on as long as they can "teaching the young 'un how to be a dog or cat."

PS? I'd rather sleep with a clean dog or cat than some of the humans I've known. My Cole-boy-- curled up by me? Smells like the fresh straw in a new broom.

Posted by: backhoe at January 18, 2014 12:22 PM (ULH4o)

271 Ya, I've always thought this was a dominance thing.

"Now all the other cats will know you are my property."

I've always thought they were trying to cover up my human scent with something they like better.

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 12:23 PM (hO8IJ)

272 "Cats have scent glands on their face, when they rub you they are marking you."

Every cat I have ever cohabited with has been intent on re-marking me as soon as possible after I bathe or shower.

"Stupid human! I just did this the other day! Now you've washed it all off! I told you that thing in the little room with all the water was bad news and you should stay away from it. But did you listen? No! Bad human! Hold still while I get you properly marked again. And no back talk."

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 12:24 PM (gqT4g)

273 I'm not overly fond of cats. Mainly, it's because they jump up on the countertops. It grosses me out. We did have a great cat when I was in college. He would sleep in my gym bag when I wasn't home. My brother rescued him from a wall.

Posted by: no good deed at January 18, 2014 02:47 PM (vBhbc)

cats on counters, cats on tabletops, cats on stoves, cats on my freshly washed hood with their muddy paws, cats ON MY CONVERTIBLE TOP SHEDDING THEIR F'N HAIR EVERYWHERE!!!

I don't hate cats, I just wish they wouldn't be on top of everything.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at January 18, 2014 12:25 PM (yh0zB)

274 The original Doom! Cat. Predicts over 50 deaths in nursing home.... http://tinyurl.com/ycxlp4z

Posted by: Cicero Kid at January 18, 2014 12:25 PM (tcK++)

275 When we got the 15" of snow I took cat to litter box to remind him we had it. He only uses 1-2X's a month during inclement wx. Otherwise, he leaves his waste outside. Unless we're travelling. That can get nasty.

Posted by: olddog in mo at January 18, 2014 12:25 PM (EKOIc)

276 244 I love both dogs and cats but prefer cats as my own personal pets. It surprises me the crazy amount of hate for them. Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 18, 2014 04:10 PM (gljo6) Yeah, I don't get that either. My dad hated cats. Once I remember him taking off his shoe and throwing it at a cat who had wandered into the yard. It didn't make sense to me. The cat wasn't doing anything. It was just there. So, obviously, I never had cats when I was growing up. To make a long story short, I adopted two kittens from a neighbor's cat when I was 42, and now I can't imagine life without them. One of them died several years ago, but the other one is on the floor next to me at age 14. I adopted another kitten after the first one died. There are people who like dogs, there are people who like cats, and there are people who like both. In my experience, there are a lot more cat-haters than dog-haters. About the only people who hate dogs were bitten when they were young children. I don't know where the cat hate comes from.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 12:25 PM (sdi6R)

277 Cats also have scent glands on their paws and this is one of the reasons they scratch as well. I feel like cliff craven with the random facts

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:26 PM (KU72u)

278 >>the Schipperke is bred to be a ship's dog and a fierce ratter. i had one and he wasnt a lot bigger than a normal cat, and smaller than some little kitties i have had. They are neat little dogs to have around horses. My mom had Jack Russells partly for this reason. They didn't hunt rats, they attacked them. And I do mean rats not these tiny little field mice. Pound for pound some of the fiercest, most loyal animals I have ever been around.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 12:27 PM (g1DWB)

279 Predicts over 50 deaths in nursing home....

Or he was a serial killer. o_O

Posted by: HR at January 18, 2014 12:27 PM (hO8IJ)

280 I like cats but love dogs and appreciate what they have done for humanity. Start with herding and guarding through bomb-sniffing and companion. Frisbee.

Posted by: Beagle at January 18, 2014 12:28 PM (sOtz/)

281
I don't hate cats, I just wish they wouldn't be on top of everything.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at January 18, 2014 04:25 PM (yh0zB)

i had a sphynx sit in a cooling pan of brownies. I had an inkling that the brownies should be protected so i had laid a dish towel on top. She laid down on top and made an imprint of her body, i had to pull her out. she didnt want to leave her new heated bed!

this incident is now famous, between me and Grim as it happened early in our dating and it was then that he realized i loved him, but if it was him or the kittehs, i would cry and i would miss him.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:29 PM (f858s)

282 I have had dogs as well as cats and love them both. I don't really get the cat hate.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:29 PM (KU72u)

283 Pound for pound some of the fiercest, most loyal animals I have ever been around.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 04:27 PM (g1DWB)

===================

Yeah, and if you don't give him a job, he will eat your carpet.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:29 PM (P6QsQ)

284 We had a Siamese that would play fetch a pacifier and loved playing with bottle nipples.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at January 18, 2014 12:30 PM (tcK++)

285 When I was in college at UT my Border Collie would get tired of waiting for me and either go to my girlfriend's house (AC) or go to the fountain at the South Mall and take the shuttle bus to the house out on Enfield Road. He'd be one of the two places if I came out of class and he was gone. Of course he knew the guy who drove that particular bus that went home but still, that's a bright dog.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 12:30 PM (71z/e)

286 I don't hate cats, I just wish they wouldn't be on top of everything.

They're trying to make up for being short. How else are they going to keep any eye on what you're doing?

Posted by: Retread at January 18, 2014 12:31 PM (cHwk5)

287 Pound for pound some of the fiercest, most loyal animals I have ever been around. Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 04:27 PM (g1DWB) And the propensity to be quite stubborn. I've always wanted one for two reasons. First, the ones I've known have been awesome. Second, there is always the hope that if the Frasier gang reunites, well lets just say that Eddie pulled in serious coin.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:31 PM (GeVLX)

288 We also had a BLIND Burmese that would piss in the toilet. Crap, I cant hit the toilet sometimes and have 20/30 vision!

Posted by: Cicero Kid at January 18, 2014 12:31 PM (tcK++)

289 "I don't have an opinion on the matter. I hate cats."

Is hate an opinion?

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 18, 2014 12:31 PM (V70Uh)

290 "...the other one is on the floor next to me at age 14." -rickl Huh. I had you figured as older than that. . . . . . . OOoh . . . the cat!

Posted by: webworker's nagging inner schoolmarm at January 18, 2014 12:32 PM (U13jb)

291 We had a Burmese that learn to crap in the toilet.

Smart cats.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 18, 2014 12:32 PM (V70Uh)

292 Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 04:30 PM (71z/e)

=============

That is just cool.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:33 PM (P6QsQ)

293 How did you train your cat to use a toilet? Seriously, it sounds impossible.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:33 PM (ZshNr)

294
Pound for pound some of the fiercest, most loyal animals I have ever been around.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 04:27 PM (g1DWB)

lol also stubborn as all hell. dont tell me with a straight face that they're not. At horse shows you see loads of Jack russels and Aussies and a bunch of Heelers. Best dog i ever had was my blue heeler, Waldo. I got him from the pound as a surrender. his owner had died and the kids didnt want him. He was so sad... when i brought him home he snugged up to my white cat, and then acted convinced my Sphynx cat was my puppy. Even used to wash her face and butt and she not just let him, but seemed to enjoy it.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:33 PM (f858s)

295 286 My friends ranch dog would jump out of his truck when it was parked and he would leave without it. He knew to go to his favorite bar and wait by the door. He would get him eventually or someone else would give Wolfie a ride home.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:34 PM (KU72u)

296 Cat. Predicts over 50 deaths in nursing home.... **** Isn't that sort of working with a stacked deck? Sort of like predicting hippies at a renaissance fair.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 12:34 PM (g4TxM)

297 295 I had a blue heeler, smartest dog I ever had.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:35 PM (KU72u)

298 It was old and smart and got left in the house one night when everyone went to bed. Got up the next day and discovered the cat turd in the toilet.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 18, 2014 12:35 PM (V70Uh)

299 gushka, was your heeler a Queensland?

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 12:35 PM (71z/e)

300 So, like everything else to do with cats, you don't train it. It learns things on her own.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 18, 2014 12:35 PM (V70Uh)

301 292 We had a Burmese that learn to crap in the toilet. Smart cats. Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 18, 2014 04:32 PM (V70Uh) I used to give my cat a treat whenever it would bring me a palmetto bug (indoor pest control). After a while, the little bitch started bringing me individual legs and wings for a treat. Cats are not stupid.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:36 PM (GeVLX)

302 Cat. Predicts over 50 deaths in nursing home....

****

Isn't that sort of working with a stacked deck? Sort of like predicting hippies at a renaissance fair.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 04:34 PM (g4TxM)

I bet no one wanted to be the next to visited.

Posted by: Retread at January 18, 2014 12:37 PM (cHwk5)

303 I wish of mine would figure it out.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:37 PM (ZshNr)

304 One does not simply hate cats.

Posted by: Will work for sig at January 18, 2014 12:38 PM (q177U)

305 Security experts: a hacked internet connected fridge participated in SpamBot campaign. What possible benefit could I derive from paying for an internet-connectible fridge, other than feeling I've done my part to enable the NSA?

Posted by: --- at January 18, 2014 12:38 PM (MMC8r)

306 I'm still trying to figure out the time for kitty rubs I'll be a teaching the cat's back and he'll roll over Makes all the pointy ends brought into play, always ends poorly

Posted by: Navypopojoe at January 18, 2014 12:39 PM (8sFfo)

307 My current cat has killed 8-10 scorpions in my house (that I know of) and pointed out nearly a dozen more to me. I've got 3 kids under the age of five crawling around, so I consider my awesome scorpion hunting cat a life saver.

Posted by: adolfo_velasques at January 18, 2014 12:39 PM (NBhge)

308 I have had dogs as well as cats and love them both. I don't really get the cat hate. Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:29 PM (KU72u) Hide posts from (KU72u) Some people just have to shit all over everything to prove they exist. Or because their parents didn't like them. Or because nobody else is allowed space for what they want. Or whatever. It is tedious as shit, however.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at January 18, 2014 12:39 PM (qyfb5)

309 One of our dogs was the flower girl at my daughter's wedding. She wore a circle of roses and walked down the aisle in front of the bride. Came to the reception too and danced a little. It would be hard to get a cat to do that.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 18, 2014 12:39 PM (P6QsQ)

310 300 gushka, was your heeler a Queensland?

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 04:35 PM (71z/e)

yep and so fat he had a bubble butt. when he was dumped at the shelter he didn't recognize dog food as meant for him. I think his old man had always fed him table scraps. He was always at my heel, except when he was supervising my hairless cat, and when i was not home slept in a pile of my dirty laundry. Smartest most loyal dog ever. I could tell him to go bother a person by name and he would go bug them. If it was a new person and the name was strange he would go to the new people stand in front of them like he was asking which one.

he died of liver cancer, and broke my heart. I had an especially low bed just so he could sleep with me. I NEVER let a dog on the bed before, but Waldo was special and he earned it.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:41 PM (f858s)

311 307. Okay iPhone How the hell did auto spell turn scratch into teach?

Posted by: Navypopojoe at January 18, 2014 12:41 PM (8sFfo)

312 300 I assume they meant Queensland heeler. They are also called Australian cattle dogs

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:41 PM (KU72u)

313 My neighbor's cat, whose kittens I adopted back in 2000, was named Chloe. Believe me, I could go on for hours and hours with stories about her. She was something else. I don't think I've ever had a human friend as close as her. Even though she was never "my" cat, I fully expect to meet her again on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 12:42 PM (sdi6R)

314 >>lol also stubborn as all hell. dont tell me with a straight face that they're not. Oh hell yes. She had one named Kieffer (bonus points if you can figure out where that name came from) that was obsessed with chasing rocks. Not balls, sticks or frisbees .. rocks. She would find a rock she liked and bring it to you and drop it at your feet. Look at the rock, look at you. Repeat until she got your attention. And if you ignored her she would pick the rock up and put it on your foot. Look at the rock, look at you. She would stand there as long as it took for you to throw it. And we lived on a farm with lots of hay fields and a pond. You could throw the rock in the tallest hay or even in the pond. She would hunt that specific until she found it, even dive down to the bottom of the pond. And she would bring that rock back to you and will you to throw it again. And she never stopped. She was like the frigging terminator. Your arm would fall off before she got tired of the game. Loved that dog.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 18, 2014 12:42 PM (g1DWB)

315 311 Heelers are great dogs. They need to be with you and kept busy.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:42 PM (KU72u)

316 What possible benefit could I derive from paying for an internet-connectible fridge, other than feeling I've done my part to enable the NSA?

Posted by: --- at January 18, 2014 04:38 PM (MMC8r)

Comrade, you have too many ice cubes. It is time for frozen daiquiris!

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 18, 2014 12:43 PM (o3MSL)

317 We have customers that train their Siamese quite easily.. But, if the Toilet ever lets them down.. ie scares them, or the lid falls, or whatever.. they will never use the toilet again .. and may not use a box either. So, toilet training can be risky.. Get a training kit and use a stack of newspaper to make a place to hop up on. Lower the stack every few days and make the training hole bigger and viola.. toilet trained!

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 12:43 PM (gY+CK)

318 To be fair.. I am not familiar with her definition of "domesticated" but her definition must be tightly defined if she says dogs are fully domesticated and cats are "semi" Cats are just more successful at being feral in an urban environment than dogs....here... Try looking up stories on wild dog packs in Brazil slums or Africa. Now look for a pack of wild tabbies! Heh.. I have seen a picture or two of cats from the Middle East that are indistinguishable from a modern housecat, striped tabby (felis silvestris torquata). I can't find Clutton-Brock's definition of "domesticated" in the book I own (Domesticated Animals) but reading through her introduction she is evidently using it to mean a population that has been significantly altered by selective breeding from their wild ancestors and now live as an extension of human society. She goes through about six criteria that an animal has to have in order to be successfully domesticated, and cats partially fail on two counts that I see - they don't have a hierarchical structure that can be easily manipulated, nor is their breeding easy to control. She classifies cats as "Exploited captives" along with elephants, camels, llamas, reindeer, and some forms of Asiatic cattle. Now this book is a bit dated (1981) so research may have changed that, but I think it is fair to say that housecats have changed much less from their wild ancestors than have dogs, horses, cattle, goats sheep, pigs, and others.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 12:44 PM (X+Gav)

319 I have a used cat a friend had to give up. He is pretty sheddy so I introduced him to The Brush. He grew to love it in a big way but that is not the weird thing: I have discovered after 5 years that if I just think about brushing him he will suddenly appear from wherever. Mind you, I just think about it; I don't go get the brush or open the drawer but suddenly there he is. I prefer longbows and cats.

Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 12:44 PM (+/z4q)

320 I prefer longbows and cats.

Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 04:44 PM (+/z4q)

Hmmm, time for the crossbows and dogs discussion?

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 18, 2014 12:45 PM (o3MSL)

321 My son had to bury my girlfriend's Queensland about a month ago when I was out of the country. 14 years old, cancer got her. The are five great dogs interred on the grounds of the old home place: the heeler, two border collies and two Aussies. Dogs are family too,

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 12:46 PM (71z/e)

322 Heelers are great dogs. They need to be with you and kept busy. Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:42 PM (KU72u) Good advice for all herding dogs especially CWCs. Herding dogs with no job are sad dogs indeed.

Posted by: The Hobo Hooker, Waitress, Model, Actress, Wears Prada at January 18, 2014 12:47 PM (GeVLX)

323 321 I prefer longbows and cats. Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 04:44 PM (+/z4q) Hmmm, time for the crossbows and dogs discussion? Posted by: Hrothgar at January 18, 2014 04:45 PM (o3MSL) Sounds like a "4 Block World" cartoon.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 12:47 PM (sdi6R)

324 I can't quite summon the kittens with just my mind, but if I drum my fingers on any surface, anywhere in the house, wait two minutes, they'll both be there. Middle of the day/night, doesn't matter, they drag their little selves out to see what's up.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 18, 2014 12:48 PM (ZshNr)

325 I prefer dogs.

Posted by: Barack Obama at January 18, 2014 12:48 PM (DrC22)

326 Hmmm, time for the crossbows and dogs discussion?

For smaller breeds, sure, but you're not loading a newfie into a crossbow.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at January 18, 2014 12:48 PM (wSrLR)

327 She classifies cats as "Exploited captives"

Sounds about right.

Get me some chicken or keep your own feet warm.

Posted by: HR's cats at January 18, 2014 12:48 PM (hO8IJ)

328 For cats, the trebuchet...

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 12:49 PM (71z/e)

329 Our 13-year-old Aussie is dying of cancer. We're going to stick with him as long as he is comfortable and able to enjoy our company. He's earned that much. Best Dog Ever. Will sure hate to see him go.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 12:51 PM (g4TxM)

330 316 311
Heelers are great dogs. They need to be with you and kept busy.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:42 PM (KU72u)

i was lucky he was best buds with my cats. some love to chase cats and cars. Never had that problem. but he went everywhere with me but the supermarket and the parents. i guess he knocked over my hamper and would burrow in to comfort himself in my absence. What was great was he would smile when he was happy and look so sad when i so much as took and shower and he couldnt go in with me. He was like a short little person, with a lot of body hair, and more loveable than some kids. I cant think of a single person who didnt love him. When i imagine those people dumping him at the pound it make me physically sick. Good thing Connie recognize his specialness and unofficially adopted him as the Office dog. When i went to the shelter to look for a new friend after my Aussie died, all they had was pit bulls and chihuahuas. I told Connie "Man i was lookin for something more like that dog you got in the office!"

"You want WALDO?"

"yeah hes perfect for me. Likes cats, older, cattle dog. why wouldnt i want one like that?"

She took the collar off and swapped out the license to my name and thats how i got the best dog EVER.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 12:52 PM (f858s)

331 330 I'm so sorry, I really miss our dogs. They are family. Take care.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:52 PM (KU72u)

332 308 My current cat has killed 8-10 scorpions in my house (that I know of) and pointed out nearly a dozen more to me. I've got 3 kids under the age of five crawling around, so I consider my awesome scorpion hunting cat a life saver. Posted by: adolfo_velasques at January 18, 2014 04:39 PM (NBhge) Let me know where you live so I can make a mental note to stay more than 1000 miles away from there.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 12:52 PM (sdi6R)

333 For cats, the trebuchet.. *** Wait for it...

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at January 18, 2014 12:53 PM (g4TxM)

334 327 Hmmm, time for the crossbows and dogs discussion? For smaller breeds, sure, but you're not loading a newfie into a crossbow. Posted by: Blanco Basura Heh.

Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 12:54 PM (4F6x7)

335 The African wild dog and the Dingo are not significantly different to domestic dogs The wild dog looks just like the southern "yellow dog" of dubious fame. BTW.. I raise cats and love them dearly but, am a big fan of dogs and have raised them in the past.. I just have found most "academic" opinions on pet ownership and origins to be suspect. They have a built in agenda and bias against breeders and domestic ownership. Even when they are trying to be "Neutral" they are not. Kind of like a New Yorker trying to dress like a farmer. No matter what they will be insulting to a real farmer. Like fish, they cannot contemplate fully the idea of "Dry"

Posted by: catman at January 18, 2014 12:54 PM (gY+CK)

336 331 Our other ranch dog was a rescue. That was my husband's dog. He was a lab mix. Jim the dog. He had his picture in the paper, he killed a rabid skunk and didn't get sprayed. He also would run down and kill jack rabbits.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 12:56 PM (KU72u)

337 One morning Kevin awoke to find his dog dead. Distraught he takes the dog to the Vet. The Vet looks at Kevin and said :"Kevin, your dog is dead." Kevin asked if there was anything else the Vet could do. The Vet thinks a minute and retrieves a cat from another room. The cat proceeded to smell and paw and generally observe the dead canine. After a few minutes of doing this the cat proceeds to look at the Vet and meow. "Kevin, your dog is dead", said the Vet again. Kevin is now panicking. "Anything else you can do?". The Vet taps his chin for a minute and proceeds to bring a Labrador retriever out from another room. The Retriever proceeded to observe, sniff, paw at, and generally look over the lifeless canine. The Retriever, after a few minutes, barks a few times at the Vet and left the room. "Kevin, your dog is dead". Said the Vet yet again. Kevin understood now what the Vet was saying and he accepted that, indeed, his dog WAS dead. On his way to the lobby the Vet said that the charge for the says visit was $400 dollars. "What?" said Kevin, "$400 dollars just to tell me that my dog is dead?". The Vet said: "Yes, $50 for the office visit, and $150 for the Cat scan, and $200 for the Lab tests."

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at January 18, 2014 12:58 PM (jucos)

338 Your Cat Thinks You're Just A Big ~~Stupid Cat~~ Pussy Fixed for truth.

Posted by: --- at January 18, 2014 01:00 PM (MMC8r)

339 337 331
Our other ranch dog was a rescue. That was my husband's dog. He was a lab mix. Jim the dog. He had his picture in the paper, he killed a rabid skunk and didn't get sprayed. He also would run down and kill jack rabbits.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 04:56 PM (KU72u)

had an aussie that could not resist any skunk and was constantly getting sprayed. He had to go live with a girlfriend down the street and be her housedog. Now he herds seven chihuahuas and her elderly mom.

my cats always treated him like he was retarded. But he was otherwise the sweetest dog. Now hes so spoiled and happier than hes ever been in his life. He was just not quite calibrated in the head to be a ranch dog. Made me super sad, but i like to do what serves the animal best.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 01:01 PM (f858s)

340 I thought dingos were domesticated dogs gone feral for thousands of years (though apparently the Aborigines also kept them as pets/hunting dogs/food supply). Also, don't African Wild Dogs (Lycaeon pictus) mostly communicate by throwing up in each other's mouths? that is kind of a critical difference between them and domesticated dogs.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 01:02 PM (X+Gav)

341 My brother in law had a dog that kept getting sprayed by skunks, he heard vinegar douche would get the smell out. He went to grocery store and bought like twelve massengil douche boxes. Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 01:04 PM (KU72u)

342 Pretty sure that llamas and camels count as domesticated. Sure, camelids will tell you to get lost if they don't respect you; but the same applies to donkeys, horses and even dogs.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at January 18, 2014 01:08 PM (+FE/k)

343 He went to grocery store and bought like twelve massengil douche boxes. ... and ten thousand marbles ?

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at January 18, 2014 01:09 PM (+FE/k)

344 I've noticed that the Savannah cats do better with humans after a second generation despite Servals generally bonding with one human basically for life. Cat 'domestication' is just a lot more complex than dogs. Every cat in a Pride will go check it's boundary areas whereas a dog pack will assign a particular dog that job and the others expect it to be done. I read the Fox study by the Soviet geneticist which everyone should read anyway because, and I also read a study using Wolves and Dogs. In the Dog/Wolf study they took a Wolf that was used to Humans and put it in a room by itself. They put food under a bucket with a device to hold the bucket fast to the floor. The Wolf continued to try and figure out the mechanism for hours (failed) while the Dog tried for about twenty minutes and then went to the two-way-mirror and barked until a human came out; The Dog then pawed at the bucket and whined at the Human until he got fed. Smart Doggeh.

Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 01:09 PM (oUQKc)

345 342 My brother in law had a dog that kept getting sprayed by skunks, he heard vinegar douche would get the smell out. He went to grocery store and bought like twelve massengil douche boxes.
Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 05:04 PM (KU72u)

it totally works. but mixing your own vinegar and baby wash bath is cheaper. I am so glad my skunks and wild cats coexist peacefully. First the cats eat at the bowl, then the skunks, then the possum comes and cleans up the rest. we have a nice little thing going here.

the only rats i see re parts left on the porch. I do see them catching gophers, which they make cruel sport of, before chowing down on them like they are filet mignon. Last night the black cat caught a pigeon and very kindly brought it to me to share when he noticed i was outside watching him. This morning he shared the leftovers with his brother who sleeps with my elderly tackroom cat.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 01:10 PM (f858s)

346 Dogs have been living with human colonies at least 25,000 years. The first cats found with humans were around 9000 years ago.

Give the kitteh some time, y'all.

Posted by: Adjoran at January 18, 2014 01:13 PM (473jB)

347 55 i hate people who hate cats...

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 18, 2014 02:55 PM (q+fqH)

I hate people who hate people who hate cats. So neener neener.

Posted by: tangonine at January 18, 2014 01:14 PM (x3YFz)

348 342 My brother in law had a dog that kept getting sprayed by skunks, he heard vinegar douche would get the smell out. He went to grocery store and bought like twelve massengil douche boxes.
Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 05:04 PM (KU72u)

Especially if the dog has a female name. How will the cashier and people in line take "Gracie smells like a fucking skunk!"

Posted by: buzzion at January 18, 2014 01:17 PM (LI48c)

349 Posted by: Adjoran I think Cats have been hanging around a lot longer than that but it is mostly speculation on my part.

Posted by: Daybrother at January 18, 2014 01:18 PM (dOElM)

350 He is a sheriff and it was the canine dog. I still think it was funny.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 18, 2014 01:18 PM (KU72u)

351 "When i went to the shelter to look for a new friend after my Aussie died, all they had was pit bulls and chihuahuas."

And around here, dalmatians.

Goddamn Disney to to the hottest pits of hell for those movies. A bazillion dopey low-information parents who can't be bothered to do any research before getting a dog will think (if thinking is the word for it): "Oh, these dogs were in a cutesy kids' flick, therefore: good with kids!"

No. Not necessarily. Especially not necessarily with dalmatians.

Then after their precious darling kids get nipped a few times, it's off to a cage in the pound with the poor dogs, who are just behaving in entirely predictable breed-typical ways.

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 01:18 PM (gqT4g)

352 Pretty sure that llamas and camels count as domesticated. Sure, camelids will tell you to get lost if they don't respect you; but the same applies to donkeys, horses and even dogs. In this context, there is a distinction between tame and domesticated. She doesn't really explain why she classifies them as only exploited captives, though, and refers to them as domestic species throughout that chapter. Rather inconsistent in that respect.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 18, 2014 01:21 PM (X+Gav)

353 i hate people who hate cats...

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 18, 2014 02:55 PM (q+fqH)

I hate people who hate people who hate cats. So neener neener.

Posted by: tangonine at January 18, 2014 05:14 PM (x3YFz)

____________________

I hate people who hate people why hate people who hate ca...... Wait. I don't like cats either. Never mind....

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at January 18, 2014 01:21 PM (jucos)

354 Dalmatians are high maintenance dogs. Yes, they get a bit mouth-y.

Posted by: navybrat at January 18, 2014 01:22 PM (AW7Gr)

355
Goddamn Disney to to the hottest pits of hell for those movies. A bazillion dopey low-information parents who can't be bothered to do any research before getting a dog will think (if thinking is the word for it): "Oh, these dogs were in a cutesy kids' flick, therefore: good with kids!"

No. Not necessarily. Especially not necessarily with dalmatians.

Then after their precious darling kids get nipped a few times, it's off to a cage in the pound with the poor dogs, who are just behaving in entirely predictable breed-typical ways.

Posted by: torquewrench at January 18, 2014 05:18 PM (gqT4g)

this is the thing that ENDLESSLY amazes me: people who dont teach their children how to behave around animals! That and teaching puppies how to behave. They go together.

i find myself watching that Jackson Galaxy show "My Cat from Hell" and ninety nine percent of the time the show is more about people who dont know how to handle animals and the problems this causes. This last show i saw he taught these people how to handle kitty nicely and even showed them stuff to do to teach their 3 year old how to handle kitty nicely and Voila! nice kitty. And it seemed the child was even more nicely behaved overall.

a lot of these problems stem from parents with no boundaries not teaching kids "NEVER DO THAT." regarding tail pulling and dog riding and poking with finger or staring a nervous dog in the eyes. Its not rocket science. And i HATE that the dog often ends up at the pound and gets the death penalty for the dumbasses' lack of parenting skills.

Posted by: gushka can has browncoat at January 18, 2014 01:28 PM (f858s)

356 Cats are social animals, if they weren't they would not form colonies. They may see us as "big cats", but can you honestly expect them to see the difference between "cats", "food" and "danger"...?

Posted by: Jenk at January 18, 2014 01:31 PM (e2ysZ)

357 Our female Aussie killed three skunks that I know of and never got sprayed. She was a ninja dog anyway, always on duty. Once the kids had a tabby cat kitten that we couldn't find for hours. I finally said, "Dee, where is Penny?" She got up, walked to the pump house and there was the cat. She looked at me like, "Sheesh, can't you even smell?"

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 18, 2014 01:33 PM (71z/e)

358 Dalmatians are high maintenance dogs. I saw a pit bull/Dalmatian hybrid once. A very unique appearance.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at January 18, 2014 01:35 PM (itCai)

359 The Dalmation craze that accompanied the Disney movies produced a lot of in-breeding and generally poor breeding amongst breeders to satisfy the demand for the dog. They are generally a very difficult breed to have in your home in the first place. They need A LOT of time and attention or they get extremely destructive.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at January 18, 2014 01:39 PM (jucos)

360 I'm inclined to agree. I've long thought that my two cats thought I was Mommy. They do treat me as just a big cat, including grooming me.

Posted by: Joseph P. Martino at January 18, 2014 01:44 PM (BpsJI)

361 Daily Routine

0400 Start to wake up with full bladder
0401 Sammy (alpha cat) senses movement
0403 Sammy uses full bladder as a trampoline. Other cats awaken. Sammy swats at me if I don't dress fast enough
0405 Pee like Russian racehorse
0410 Feed and water cats
0411 go back to bed until 0530 (repeat process until 0615)
07/30 leave for work

1745-1830 Get home
1831 Feed "starving" cats before they eat me
1830-1930 cats take over desk as thanks for being fed
2100 Bedtime

Lather, rinse and repeat....

Posted by: Jenk at January 18, 2014 01:50 PM (e2ysZ)

362 Sammy uses full bladder as a trampoline.[/] Yes, I recognize that. Also, they know how to apply pressure to joints. I figure that cats, being predators, have an innate knowledge of anatomy. She doesn't do it any more, but Kira used to wake me up by sitting on my chest with a rear leg pressed firmly on my throat.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 02:07 PM (sdi6R)

363 Good thing this is a dead thread, or I'd be in the barrel for sure.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 02:08 PM (sdi6R)

364 GFY, BenK.

Posted by: Chris M at January 18, 2014 02:57 PM (4lyMJ)

365 364

Good thing this is a dead thread, or I'd be in the barrel for sure.

Posted by: rickl at January 18, 2014 06:08 PM (sdi6R)

THE BARREL REMEMBERS ALL!!!!!

Posted by: The Barrel at January 18, 2014 03:07 PM (vgH+s)

366 People who hate cats should seek therapy!!!

Posted by: fran at January 18, 2014 03:37 PM (BAHYJ)

367 114 I had a neighboor (since foreclosed) that had a cat that would run up to people and demand to be petted as they walked by the house. Simply wouldn't let you go by until you payed his toll. Posted by: Blanco Basura at January 18, 2014 03:16 PM (wSrLR) Our neighbor has a kitteh that just LOVES dogs, and she will haul ass down from her porch whenever we walk by with our two largish dogs. She rubs on them and tries to get them to lick her. Our dogs don't really like cats, but the female dog will gently nudge and sniff this one, and play with her a little. The male ignores her.

Posted by: stace at January 18, 2014 05:14 PM (9PXzx)

368 Lather, rinse and repeat.... Posted by: Jenk at January 18, 2014 05:50 PM (e2ysZ) That made me laugh hard. I'm not as funny, but we used to have a cat who, when he sensed waking movement, would jump down from our very tall headboard onto my chest. For some reason he never did that to my husband. I miss the little bastard anyway. He used to like to join me on the toilet, sitting on the back of the seat right behind me. That's a real bonding experience. for years it seemed as if whenever I needed to use the bathroom, there would either be a cat sitting on my toilet seat, or a dog drinking from it. Move!

Posted by: stace at January 18, 2014 05:30 PM (9PXzx)

369 It's just like when a human sees some animal that looks like it is smiling (dolphin, dog, whatever). Since a smile means friendly to us, our brain want to put it in the friendly category, even though that isn't what it means to the animal. Eh, you are mostly correct when it comes to dolphins, they ARE rapey, cruel, brutal little fuckers (juvenile males especially) so that's how I got to work with Dolphins... Trainer in charge was pregnant, dolphins KNEW it, and after 4 mo. she WOULD NOT get into the water with the full pod. Dogs are different, though... What we see as a "smile" is an indicator of anxiety/or stress in wolves or feral dogs. That is undoubtedly true! Domesticated, socialized, dogs do learn to mimic a "smile" if you will, because it pleases us and when WE grit our teeth in pain and stress it (WTF?) means that we are happy! YAY! It's one of their ways of engaging us! They are FAR more Social as a matter of genetics, than we are, I suspect. (Though, I'd recommend being able to tell the difference between your own dog's "smile" and an indication of stress/anxiety. It could be physical.) People go on and on about parrots and dolphins and apes, how SMART they might be if we could only teach them LANGUAGE but a properly (or even poorly!) socialized dawg knows how to read, and even inform the body language of it's masters. I SUSPECT that all of the Doolittle's of the world would be mightily disappointed if they were ever to tap into the inner world (if such a thing exists) of a 13 yr old male dolphin or parrot or chimpanzee. Some of the more "romantic" types would probably be fucking horrified! But Canis Lupus Familiaris? We've been "speaking" to each other for THOUSANDS of years. We (you and me and ALL of us) may, MAY have all evolved to have a special understanding with, a Corgi! Granted, Fido will NEVER discuss the symbolic import of madeleines in Proust other than, "EAT!" but neither would any human friend you wouldn't be dead embarrassed to introduce to friends or family.

Posted by: Deety at January 18, 2014 11:08 PM (daK3O)

370 BS.

I have a puppy-cat that greats me every time he hears my e-brake click.

Here's the thing: The whole spade and neuter policy has unintended consequences. Considering the effect of said policy. What cats are left to repopulate 'domestic' cats?

Domestic cats are spade and neutered, so unless you are buying a pricey breeder pet or a status kitty, one parent of your kitten is most likely feral, if not both.

Posted by: mossomo at January 19, 2014 12:43 AM (MscWH)

371 "A home without a cat- a well fed, well petted and properly revered cat- may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how would it prove title?" -Mark Twain

Posted by: Jarns&Nittles at January 20, 2014 07:55 PM (OLnaE)

372 ALL Bluefin Tuna Caught In California Are Radioactive:

Every bluefin tuna tested in the waters off California has shown to be contaminated with radiation that originated in Fukushima. Every single one.

Posted by: habanero at January 21, 2014 09:01 AM (qQk+U)

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