10 Reasons Cats Love Us More Than Dogs
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To Begin:
As promised, if somewhat belatedly, the time has come for a little hub about cats. It seems that hubpages teems with dog lovers, and, while there have been a smattering of cat comments along the way, it became clear that cats are simply not well represented here. In the name of fairness, I thought a cat hub should be done.
Many people assume that, because dogs are so warm and affectionate and display intelligence of a man-like variety, they must love their owners more thoroughly and genuinely that cats do. Many suggest that cats are aloof and that they only marginally bond with their owners, if at all. It is often asserted that any affection displayed by a cat is instinctual pride-like behavior and that such "affection" is rooted to food drives and nothing more. Well, I for one, being dispassionate about the subject, can approach this issue with my typical analytical distance and scientific objectivity, which I did already, before sitting down to write this, so here is what I found:
Cat's love their owners much more than dogs are even remotely capable of doing, and they show it all the time. The simple truth is, cat's love is so enormous people don't even realize just how vast it is. It's like trying to look at a huge mural on a wall while standing with your nose pressed against the paint. You have to stand back to see. I, however, with my extreme pedantry and universe encompassing didacticism, have discovered what many have not: the ten reasons why a cat's love is better than a dog's.
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1. Display of Affection
No animal is more affectionate than a cat. Many dog lovers don't appreciate the kind of affection that cats give because, well, they are dog owners and therefore require that their pets slather them in buckets of frothy goo as a display of love.
Cat's on the other hand show their affection in so many other ways. The first and most obvious is the willingness to use the catbox, which I have discussed before in another hub, so I won't belabor it here. Simply put, the outright readiness to make their owner's life more bearable by making their... deposits... in a box is evidence of their love.
"NOOOOooooooooooooooo!!!!"
On the other hand, dog owners have to force their dogs stop doing their business everywhere with all kinds of troublesome training tricks. House training a dog is an endless, horrifying chore that can take months and even years to finally figure out, involving newspaper and expensive pet crates and sometimes even electric collars to shock poor poochy when he poops. But not cats. They love us and will go make doo-doo in the sand.
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- - The moment you walk inside... WHAM! --
"Here kitty, kitty. Come on. Come on, kitty, come to mommy snookie wooky..."
2. Cat’s Give Us Our Space
Unlike a dog, who will run at you and ram his muzzle into your crotch like you're wearing Alpo underwear the moment you walk through the door, a cat loves you enough to let you have your space.
Cats understand how important your personal time is. And while many think cats are fickle and cold because they ignore you and won't come to you no matter how much you call or coo at them in that cute baby voice while waggling their favorite toy and trying to get their attention so you can play with them finally after your long hard day... they are not actually ignoring you at all. What's really happening is that your cat is so smart it actually understands when you need some personal time, even when you don't think you do. Especially then. You only THINK you want to play with your kitty right now, but the truth is that you don't. Kitty is blowing you off out of love. Cats have this special chemical scent gland thing that enables them to detect your too-much-companionship-already threshold and so they ignore you no matter how much you wish they would come snuggle in your lap. Be thankful and recognize what kitty does for you.
3. Cats Are Fun to Bathe
Bathing a cat is very simple. A few licks and it's done. Granted, if you have an outdoor cat the cockleburs and the ticks are a problem, but, beyond a few tongue abrasions and the occasional lyme disease, giving a cat a bath is easy and a great way to bond with your pet. Bathing dogs is nowhere near as easy. First off, dog fur tastes really bad (this will be discussed more thoroughly in item number six), so you have to put them in a tub or use a hose, which they enjoy. It is this enjoyment that is the problem.
Dogs are entirely too spastic to be allowed that much water in proximity to human beings, and the inevitable outcome is that the bather is completely soaked by the bathee by the time the project is complete. This romping deluge is very annoying and proves that a cat's love is definitely greater than a dog's simply out of thoughtfulness and respect. Cats will never get you wet. In fact, they love you so much they won't let you get them anywhere near a tub or a garden hose. Try it sometime and you will see how hard your cat fights to protect its love for your staying dry. Cats let you keep it simple, no water required, and you can even bathe them while watching TV. Who needs popcorn when you've got kitty sitting there?
4. Cats Love You Enough to Eat Mice
Admit it, even you don't love yourself enough to do that. In fact, you don't love anyone that much, do you? I know I don't.
Now, it could be argued that dogs would eat mice for you if they could, but the truth is, they don't. They're either too busy eating the newspaper or your shoe to bother with mice, or else they're just too impatient to stalk mice successfully. Maybe they're just too slow, who knows. But a cat will eat mice for you to show you the nature of its love. Not only will it eat mice for you, it will eviscerate them horribly and spread some of their twisting little mouse guts all over the house in a display of love that anyone can appreciate. God knows how much I love finding a token of my cat's adoration when I'm walking around barefoot in the night. That is just love right there.
5. Cats Love You Enough to Prevent Injury
Speaking of barefoot in the night, that's another way to know how much your cat really loves you. See, a dog might love you enough to bark if there's a robber in your house, but that's about all a dog will do. Sure, it's very nice that Rover cares about your life and property, but he doesn't care about the little things. True love is in the details.
See, people think that cats throw up all the time because they have disgusting hairballs that choke them up and make them hork. But that's not why at all. They puke all over the carpet because they love you and are concerned about your health. Why, when you wake up in the middle of the night and make your way in the darkness towards the bathroom, you could easily trip and hurt yourself in the delirium of being parted from your dreams. But you don't because dear kitty has left a nice wad of vomit to snap you entirely awake.
-- Thoughtfulness in action --
Some cats prefer to leave you a nice fresh one, all warm and steamy oozing between your toes. Other cats go for the time-released cold goo and choose to puke long before you wake up - think how much planning that requires. Either way, the feel of that thoughtful little gob mooshing against your feet is just another way to be sure that your cat loves you very much and wants to prevent you from bumping into something in the night. Love of that magnitude cannot be easily dismissed.
6. Cats Love You and Want You to Be Fashionable
Everyone knows that cats are very cool. They are. You've heard the expressions "Cool Cat" and "Catlike Grace" a zillion times. But nobody ever says, "Cool Dog" or "Doglike Dignity." I mean, if someone tells you that you have doglike dignity, well, it's not a compliment, that's all I'm saying. Maybe take the lampshade off your head. But cats are cool. And they don't want the people they love to be uncool so they try to help us out. Particularly in the area of fashion.
Unfortunately cats can't speak human languages so they have no way to tell us that our clothing choices look like crap. But they can communicate in their way, which is why they shed all over the furniture. All that fur stuck to your butt and all down the backs of your nice black pants is really a feline way of saying, "Darling, please, that outfit is awful. Go upstairs and try again."
Now I know what you're thinking, you're thinking, "Hey, my dog sheds too. Maybe he loves me after all."
Nope, you're wrong. I mean, he might love you, but he ain't showing you by shedding all that nasty hair. Dogs shed because they like to roll in disgusting stuff like dead animals and garbage heaps. Dogs shed because they get tired of how revolting their coat smells after a while and figure if they dump it on the couch eventually you'll vacuum all that stuff up. And they're right, you do, so, who's doling out the love now? So, while you can see how easy it might be to believe your dog is trying to help you out, he isn't. It's true that both animals shed, but only a cat is doing it out of love.
7. Cats Help You Keep Your Home Décor Looking Fresh
This is another area where people easily confuse dog actions with those of cats. You see, cats destroy your furniture for much the same reason they shed the fur that gets on your clothes. The reason old Pussycat pops out his claws and frappes your upholstery is not because he is a horribly un-trainable monster in need of a swift kick. No. It's because he, being a suave and dignified animal of grace, has realized well before you have that some particular piece of furniture has gone fashionably out of date. Even if it is brand new - in fact, particularly if it is brand new - cats will share their aesthetic expertise with you and show you their opinion with their sharply critical claws. Your cat knows that you will hold onto that sofa for several years to come, no matter how much contemporary style has changed, and so he makes the sacrifice of incurring your wrath by ripping that terrible thing up until it becomes too embarrassing for you to keep. Think about how much this cat loves you if he is willing to risk being tossed outside or squirted with your little water bottle just to keep you from looking foolish to your guests. How much more devotion do you deserve?
8. Your Cat Loves You Enough to Endure Your Monster Children
That's right, as if the last seven items were not enough, he does. Your kids are so mean to that poor bastard. He gets his tail pulled, his face mashed, his fur twisted, and he gets kicked and stepped on all the time. They tie noisy plastic bags to his tail and they put scotch tape on his paws. His ears get poked, his coat gets rubbed against the grain, and how hard do your kids laugh when they catch him drinking out of the toilet all the time? How humiliating for him. Poor kitty is thirsty and doesn't want that two day old water that you left him lukewarm in the kitchen in his bowl, and what does he get for taking a little initiative and getting some that's fresh? Mockery. That's what he gets. He is laughed at for making accommodations for someone else's laziness.
Now, again, it may be that some dog people out there are saying, "Well, my dog drinks out of the toilet too, and my kids laugh at him all the time." And, yes, again technically you are right. But you see, dogs drink out of the toilet for the same reason they roll in the dead animals they find. Because dogs are gross. They drink out of the toilet for the same reason your kids always laugh. Because it's funny. And it IS funny, but it is not a display of canine love. That's my point.
9. Your Cat Loves you Enough to Purr
That's right, they do. What's more pleasant than a nice soft kitty purring in your lap, its little belly rising and falling with the sweet subtle sound of contented love? I'll tell you, there's not much. I mean, there's stuff that's nicer to have in your lap, particularly for us men, but, this is not the hub to go into that, so we'll leave it at purring being very nice. But what does your dog do? Pant and loll his tongue over your leg like a limp slice of warm wet ham? Yeah, that's nice. And could Fido get a tic-tac over here? What the hell did he just eat?
10 Your Cat Loves You Enough to Show You The Way Philosophically
That's right, you heard it, they do. I took a metaphysics class once and in it we discussed the nature of free will. It's complicated so I won't go into it here, but as part of it the issue of cats and dogs came up. The point was mainly one of intelligence, and it was determined (by the more numerous and vocal dog people) that dogs have intelligence while cats have only instinct to guide their ways. The dog people concluded, therefore, that dogs have free will and cats do not. However, in a stroke of genius, the professor (a cat person) quoted some philosopher who said on that regard, "While dogs may have free will, cats actually use it." So, whether or not they "have" it, cats live it. How's that for philosophy?
Raphael Originally painted the "School of CAThens" but dog owners were a powerful lobby and so they made him repaint this work.
So, cats win. And it is in this way that cats once again prove their love by choosing through their free will to continue living with us despite our not appreciating how clever and profound their love really is, they know we are standing too close to the painting to see. But they don't judge us. They teach us through their actions and through application of philosophy. The facts are obvious and glaring for anyone willing to look at them and see. Again, I hope that dog people will understand I mean no slight to their happy, boisterous pets. It's just that justice needed to be done for all those kitties out there who get a bad rap. Their massive intelligence is simply too profound and under-the-radar for most pet owners to realize.
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Comments
Our last cat used to point out spiders as if she were a hunting dog. I'm not a fan of surprise spider attacks so that was a very nice cat skill for her to have. As for the good vs. bad furniture, well, our cats are still kittens. I think they need to go to fashion design school before they really commit to criticsm. /sigh
But at least they care enough to try and help. You can't expect kittens to just have innate knowings of good design :).
True. It is a process.
*looks around to see if hell froze over*
I can't believe it...a subject where we are in agreement. Zuma, Jack, Foxy, Frankie and Khan have planted a catnip bush in your honor and are arguing whether or not you'd prefer October 10th or the 11th as Shadesbreath Day.
Nacho seems to have washed her paws of you already. Just another piece of evidence that a cat's love is eternal...while a dog's lasts about 10 seconds (coincidentally the same amount of time it takes to unwrap a rawhide bone and hand it over).
Wow, I've never read cat propaganda until now. I actually like both cats and dogs, it is possible you know. ;)
Them's fightin' words!!!
If someone breaks into your home, and tries to harm you or yours, (or even if you're not there) will your cat lay down its life to protect hearth and home, or will it be hiding in the farthest, safest corner?
And try this, stop feeding your cat and see how long it hangs around. It's there for the food!
How good is your cat at playing catch... fetch... frisbee... going for a walk... playing in the park... anything?!?
Spryte, clearly you've never had a dog, and seen the pure love in its eyes when he/she looks at you.
My cat is the boss of me. She loves me and cuddles and is always in the mood for talking. and when she caught mice when she was younger, she brought them to me for approval. And one time when I was 22 and really in a bad relationship...another cat I had at the time for 16 years, (she lived to be 27) pooped in his suitcase right on his favorite suit. and then very wisely ran for her life and hid out so he couldn't find her.
I divorced the creep not long after due to her sterling advice.
=)))))))))) she saved my life.
Stunning work, shadesbreath. You know cats.
Delightful!! Just delightful!....Thank you.
@ Constant Walker
I don't know about shadebreath's cats, but my cat loves to fetch and go for a walk. He also is a great security cat because when strangers come in the house he inspects them and if he thinks they're harmful he hisses and gets into battle position. Of course we assure him the person's a friend and then he lets go.
All the perks of a dog, but with the love of a cat <3.
Entertaining and oh so true!
My cat loves me so much she is always trying to help stock the larder.
She hunts mice... many, many mice. Upon catching said mice, she deposits them on the deck and howls to announce her success. The howling is continued until a family member (ok, ok... me) inspects the mouse, tells her what a good huntress she is and makes it clear we have enough mouse meat in the freezer so she's OK to eat this one.
She is so sincere in her efforts I haven't yet had the heart to tell her none of us actually like mouse stew.
@ Spryte: Tell your herd of kitties I want Oct 11 as Shadesbreath day. Ceremonies should include kegs of quality ale and plenty of gogo dancers. Nacho will be easily brought round if we include a doggy hour somewhere in there too.
@Jenifer: I was contracted by the Kitty Cat Department of Communication and Influence. Now you know.
CW: I could throw my cats at a burglar and be in great shape, or even, taking each of them by the tail, I could dual-wield them like scimitars or ... or I could tie their tails together and use them as cat-chucks. So, yeah, nice try with the protection angle. I would also submit that a dog wont stick around long if it isn't fed. As for playing catch... cats are small, especially kittens, so you don't need to play frisbee with them, they ARE the frisbee. Ever hear of hammer toss.
Marisue: that's awesome. Too bad we can't train our cats to go poop wherever we want on command. Wow that would be an awesome selling point for cats. Thanks for the "stunning work" compliment too. U r too kind.
Alice: TY , I appreciate that. :)
En Garde, CW...
*whips her little plastic cocktail sword sans olives in the air...the mark of "S" clearly seen*
1. My cat Foxy is a killer...known to friends and family affectionately as "the spawn of satan." While my dog beats itself to death with her own tail and drools happily to meet somebody new...Foxy is in no way fooled and stands between me and the stranger, ready to draw blood. So yes...I believe a cat would lay down its life for me.
2. I wouldn't expect my cat to stay someplace that didn't provide nourishment. I sure as hell wouldn't! Feed me or lose me...that's my motto. Of course, as a dog lover...you'd think it was nobler to starve to death.
3. My cat Bear loved to play fetch. He was very good at it and didn't drool all over the ball the way a dog does. Oh, and I could put him on a harness and leash and take him anywhere with me. So much for that theory...
4. Of course I have a dog...currently and in the past. Ever since I was a child, I've had a dog. We think of her as our "special needs" child.
/flee
oh...and lol at the "cat-chucks" Shade
Well, Squimpleton, truthfully, my cats are too young for actual fetch, so, the jury is still out. But they are fun as hell to play with. I love watching kittens flip through the air like ninja's and stuff when they chase the yarn toys and stuff. Man, if I was that athletic I'd become a super hero or something.
@ Racerebel,
They do tend to not know when to turn off the mouse slaying sometimes, don't they. Our neighbor has a cat that kills like a gopher and 2 birds every day, not to mention the odd snake, lizard and giant insect. They, unlike us, let their cats be outdoor/indoor kittys which puts them in the lyme disease / tongue laceration category, and they always find horrible live prey still flitting about in their house. (blech).
@ Sprtye
My dad had a cat that drooled constantly, like, bascially it's mouth just didn't seal or something. She was so friendly too, so, yeah, almost like having a dog at that point when she jumped in your lap. (You know cat-chucks would be brutal lol)
Shade:
I have a cat that drools...but only when taken for a car ride. Great big ropy drools. I think I read somewhere it's usually a sign of nerves or senility. :)
I've had cats, too... many. Still no comparison. Sure, a cat can warn of approaching danger, but actually do little about it. I trust my dog to handle anyone or thing that comes along. A creep with ill intentions will not approach anyone with a dog. A cat, however, wouldn't be much deterrent
But, to be honest, the greatest show on earth is watching a cat and a dog wrestle.
Hmm, this cat probably had bad nerves and senility. But yeah, big ropey drools, like someone left a faucet on very low all the time. Pretty funny. You could track it around the house by the trail lol.
CW, we had a cat that got cornered by a rotweiler and a german shepard (our company decided to come over WITH their dogs, wtf?) and when we opened the door the two moose dogs ran in and chased our cat into the back bedroom. The emerged yelping later, one with a nice bloody scratch on its nose. (I swear I told that story already on here somewhere. I must be getting senile myself, starting to repeat stories already). Anyway, yeah, cat vs. dog is almost as much fun as 2 kittens.
I had one of the most incredible cats to ever grace the planet. She was an outdoor kitty who came home regardless of if I fed her, watered her, or even noticed she was there. She hated men and whenever a man would come into the house I would have to warn them to tuck their pants into their socks lest she claw her way up their legs. She barely tolerated my boyfriend, (now ex-husband,) and whenever he was mean to me she would pee all over his things. God, I loved her & miss her. She looked a great deal like the first kitty pictured here only she was very tiny, the runt of the litter. She never grew to be full-sized and loved me with all her heart.
All I can say is Bravo! There isnt much I can add that hasnt already been said in cat defense. Cats rule and Dogs drool!
Shadesbreath,
I have a message to you from my dog.
You're an idiot.
And the smell of your crotch is nothing I'd even cross the road for.
Signed, Eric's Dog.
@ Nicole
"She barely tolerated my boyfriend, (now ex-husband,) and whenever he was mean to me she would pee all over his things. God, I loved her..." All I can say is that's freaking hilarious. Well, not the ill-fated romance thing, but the rest of it I mean. lol
@ Rhym
Ty, I agree (although, there's considerable evidence in the comments of cats drooling too, but, they drool out love, not grossness.)
@ Eric's dog
The feelings are entirely mutual.
Eric: LOL!
And Shade...I gave you a plug on my most recent hub because that damn "cat-chucks" thing got into my head...and then gave me an idea... :)
My relationship with cats began when I was about six or seven. My Maternal Gran hd 32lb Tortoiseshell. She (the cat) was as mean as hell. Everytime I walked into theie (my gran's) house. the cat (no name) hissed and attacked me. but as you say Shades she was protecting my lil ole Gran and my maiden Aunt. This relationship went on for some 20 odd years. don't cats ever die?
The next realtionship was my "my" cat caled Duke Ichthorn. If we called him Duke he ignored us and insisted on being addressed by his full title. Not really supercilious you see. I happen to be allergic to cats but they also try to make it better by sitting on my lap. Even cats I don't know that belong to friends and relatives greet me by sitting on my lap or rubbing against my legs nd purring. Duke was a magnificent animal , black with a pristine white cravat and a white beauty spot on his upper lip giving him forever a supercilious sneer. He was about 30 lbs when I last saw him (my ex still has him some 30 years later). As I said don't cats ever die?
You points are each and everyone a sense of deja vu. BTW your daughter is a talented artist I love her stuff.
Great hub
Eric, Shy (my dog) loves you.
This is a fun hub!
Sweet, Spryte, appreciate that linkage. :) Imma go find it.
Sixty, you are right... I didn't even think of that... that's like item 11 and 12: cat's love us enough not to die ever 12 years AND cats love us enough to try to cure our allergies by climbing on us. It's like they understand deep science and immunology and are trying to expose you to the dosage until you are immune. Hah, good stuff, wish I'd thought of it. lol (My tortie, first picture and potty drinkier is walking on my keybaord as I type lol).
and CW, yeah, it's turning out that way. Thanks.
Another great hub, Shades! My kitty does tricks - sits, rolls over, walks on the treadmill :-) I have to admit I think that's because she loves treats. She loves me, too, just not enough to act like a dog without a higher payoff.
Our last cat needed more treadmill time lol. And your cat is just excercising free will. Thanks for the read and nice comments :)
Brilliant and hilarious. I had a cat once that brought home a large, 6 inch long, live, goldfish. Not unusual you might say, but for the fact I lived in Bromley in outer London/Kent at the time, and was surrounded by roads and high rise blocks of flats, so goodness knows where she caught it from. Another occasion she brought me in a large dead grey squirrel that was about half the size she was.
My Mum's former cat used to go out on my Step Dad's boat with both of them and sail across the English Channel between Guernsey and the other Channel islands. My Step Dad used to call him "Black Dog" as he behaved in such an uncatlike fashion, and years after the cat passed away he featured him in a novel he wrote in his retirment called "Rough Sea Justice", as a cat that travelled with the main character on his yacht whilst running from the law.
Great creatures, of which I have three now. Also had a number of dogs over the years who were adorable too, so no judgements from me on which are best.
You never cease to amaze Shadesbreath and I know how my cat feels about me since I'm the only one in my family that doesn't get scratched, bitten, or attacked.
My cat, Franz, is a genius. When he was a kitten I would come home from work to find all the faucets turned on and the freezer opened and all the contents on the kitchen floor. I later caught him both opening the freezer and turning the faucet with his paw, and this when he was only a young kitten. For awhile I referred to him as Cat Bastard, until I realized that he had greatness in him that was trying to get out. One day I was standing over the bathroom sink, worrying about standing water and a clog and how I was going to get it fixed, when suddenly Franz lept up onto the sink, plunged his front paw all the way down the drain (through the water) up to the shoulder joint, yanked out a large slimey clot of hair, then ran off with it in his mouth.
Seriously, have you ever seen a Rottweiler do such a thing? No, and you won't, either, because dogs are just not capable of this kind of mastery.
Brilliant article, sir. Franz really liked it too.
wow a cat plumber. Too bad you can't force Franz to recreate that. Then you could videotape it and put it on youtube, so we can have visual proof of cats' intelligence.
Shadesbreath, your insight into the feline mind is uncanny and, oh so accurate! They are the most helpful creatures. We have four cats and they all have their individual talents. Gracie turns the Roomba vacuum cleaner on for us (usually when we don't want her to). She also cleans out my bathroom drawers and turns the water on. Bogie will growl like a dog at any stranger approaching the house. Sam tries to kill ANYTHING that dares enter the yard and Scooter, well he helps us get our excercise by playing with him. They all have their place in our universe. I especially like your reasoning about the furballs. Having hardwood floors, that has saved my life on many occasions, lol.
DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF!
Katherine
@ Misty
That Black Dog cat sounds like an awesome idea for a novel; it's funny where inspiration come from sometimes. You just never know. And, well, I don't really judge between cats and dogs either, the truth be told, I'm actually a dog person but living a life these last 20 years that just wouldn't be fair to impose upon a dog. Sometimes I wonder if I'm only trying to convince myself. Thanks for the comments.
@ Talented,
Cat's are pretty smart... are you sure they aren't just saving you for when anarchy comes. You might only think they like you and you are really just the one they think they can take when time comes. I'm just saying, you never know is all.
@ Pgrundy,
That is so funny. I had a friend who had a humongous fat cat and they started calling Cat Bastard (spoken with a Scottish accent) after the Austin Powers movie came out, heh. I'm fairly certain this cat would have been to buoyant to submerge itself that deeply under water, even in a sink though. lol. (Oh, consider some liquid plumber or something... I mean, gross. Sound's like you DID have a Rotweiler in the sink already.)
@ Squimpleton
There's so many awesome cat videos on there. My favorite is the one is the cat on the bed and... oh wait, duh, I can link it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNN_y6fq1a0
oh, and this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WicIK1IHF4&fea
Oh, fine, and this one too ROFL (3 best cat vids of all time)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Ilq3kFxek&fea
Ok, now I'm laughing 'cause I just watched all of those again lol. See what you did?
@ Katherine
That's an awesome slogan... so totally true. I defy you to try to order one of my cats around like a master. If cat's could make that spitting-out-a-mouthful-of-water sound, they would the second you gave your order. I know I stopped trying. I just get them food if they look at me cute enough. I'm a pawn, I understand. What can you do?
Those are horrible videos :( Poor kitties.
They're funny tho.
They are VERY funny. Cats are so resilient. They always bounce back.
Hmm...#2 wouldn't play for me, but #3 had me laughing. However...this is my favorite all time cat video...
Yeah, that one hitting the wall is so funny, and he does just bounce right back. I've seen cats fall off the rooftops of barns and stuff and be fine. They're incredibly tough and I can easily see how the 9 lives idea came about.
Spryte, ok, that last cat was just freaky.
LOL! Yeah..he is isn't he?
My husband was freaked out by my cat, Bear...who recently passed away at the venerable age of 19 years. He had an impressive vocabulary and would often come looking for me in the house and calling my name. It sounded kinda creepy. He had trouble with the letter L...so it always came out as "Ori! Ori!"
Once, as I left for work...I said my usual "bye"...before shutting the door. I missed what Bear said, but my husband didn't. He heard Bear say back, "mye Ori...uv ooo!"
I miss that cat
Well I guess when reading all the comments we can see how the Garfield idea got its genesis. Take all the cat stories and a good cartoonist (Shades you already have one) and you have an inexhuastible supply of cartoon strips. Taking Sprytes hub as a basis and some of the above comments you even could have a name:
Cat Bastard, agent 00X, the cat agent from F.U.R.B.A.L.L. licensed to kill thrill and drop anything for you.
You have a rare gift for writing, my friend. LOL! A very rare gift, indeed. I usually browse through your hubs whenever I feel the need for a little cheering-up and, always end up leaving with so much more than I had bargained for.
Cheers to you, my friend. May you continue write such splendid hubs!
I believe that dogs are more loyal, I have an adopted cat from a neighbor. he only comes home to eat and leave again until the next meal. LOL
Jeebus, SPryte, where the hell do you live, the fricken Twighlight Zone? (Speaking of cats, too, ugh, one of ours just used the ... had a visit to the beach as it were and my god, my eyes are watering. I may need a medic.)
Damn Sixty, there you go again generating ideas. You should charge for this stuff (not me, because I'm giving you the idea to charge, but other people; that's what I mean). Your mind just, like, automatically makes connections. No wonder you worked in info-tech for so long. You just hook stuff up.
Terence: That's just a flat nice thing to say. Wow. Thanks man. I'm totally thrilled to think you read my stuff for a pick-me-up. That's awesome. Thanks for saying that, and I'm glad you enjoy the fun.
Bonnie: Dogs only SEEM totally more loyal. But you have to ask yourself why your cat is like that? I believe it may be that your cat is only using you... err, only stopping by for food because it loves you enough to not want you to become too emotionally attached. Perhaps, given the trauma of having to find a surrogate parent that he suffered before you came into his life, he is sparing you the feelings of abandonment (or semi-abandonment) he endured at your neighbors by maintaning his distance from you now. He probably goes down to the local catnip bar after you feed him and, after a few games of darts and a dance with some of flea-bag scamp kitty, sits at the bar staring into a glass of Catbernet Savignon crying, wishing he could be snuggled in your lap watching TV, but unwilling to go, unwilling to risk leaving you feeling alone some day should fate deal you the blow of loneliness it did him. That's probably what's happening and it has nothing to do with him just coming in for some free grub when he's in the mood.
I'm so glad you took the time and effort to prove what we cat owners have known all along. I wish you didn't have to do it, because it should have been evident to anyone that cats love humans more than dogs do. Cat owners have taken that truth on faith, let's see, for at least 6,000 years now. And now you've proved it!
Look at how the ancient Egyptians idolized their kitties. The cats protected their humans from cobras, for crying out loud. Would a dog do that? Not to mention that prisoners were referred to as the King's dogs. How humiliating.
My female cat actually protected me from her brother a while back. He slipped out the door and disappeared overnight, and when he came home, she wouldn't let him back in the door until she had hissed at him and swatted him in the nose. Now, I'd say that's loving me enough to protect my feelings. She knew how much angst he had caused me by his running off, and she gave him the what-for.
My dog wouldn't have done that.
Exactly Sally. Most people just don't know what they are looking for when they suggest cat love isn't deep and powerful. They try to judge love as they would expect it to come from a human or some other creature whose methods are simplistic and unrefined. It's nice to see you have the perspicacity required to spot such subtle yet profound indications of your kitty's love.
Yes, of course, perspicacity is the key. Do dog owners have perspicacity? That opens up another can of worms, doesn't it? Dogs are blatant, cats aren't. ROTFLMAO while looking for a bottle of Catbernet.
I love cats, you know. They are excellent with gravy, and some aromatic vegetables.
And yet hotdogs are the more common fair.
Somehow, I find it quite appropriate that you would prefer an animal that many take the step of having claws removed in order to find appropriate companionship.
Oooh Sally...what an interesting idea...never mind the dogs vs cats...let's talk about the so called owners or in catspeak "minions."
*smacks BT and sends him to his room* None of that...
As for my current address...lemme see...sight, sound, mind...imagination, yep...there's that darn signpost up ahead...vast as space, timeless as infinity...
*nods*
It's either the Twilight Zone or possibly...Albuquerque...no wait...Des Moines?
Shadesbreath! Well done hub to demonstrate the monumental love of cats. May I add an extra to point number one? Many people have collections such as stamps, salt & pepper shakers etc. The kitties at our house loved my children so much they disguising their 'boxed deposits' as valuable nuggets collections just so the afore mentioned children who had promised to pooper-scooper daily would not get into trouble... Loving little creature, no doubt about it.
regards Zsuzsy and Roxxy, Rorque, Shamus, Molly, Danny, Raisin, Annie and Mountain (just to mention some of the loving kitties who walked through our door)
Passionate: The claws are half the fun! They need them to truly express their love. Cruel to be kind and all that stuff. :)
Spryte: I knew it. What can I say?
Zsuzsy: See, that's what I mean. Cat's go to no end to do stuff like that. I mean a dog would just drop one on the lawn and your kids would get yelled at if that was their chore, but not your cats. No. Your cat's make little English Toffee treat camoflauge in an attempt to hold the merciless shouting of those dear children's task-master parents at bay. Well done Roxxy, Rorque, Shamus, Molly, Danny, Raisin (risked a cat box joke there, but refrained), Annie and Mountain (again, tough to let the opportunity go, but I did).
I have a dog. I'd much rather have a cat. Sigh . . . would anyone like to trade?
Honestly, I bet you could arrange that if you poked around a little in your home town. Ask your vet or even the manager at Petsmart in your town or something if there's a pet exchange. Bet money there is. Maybe somone here might know.
Cats know when to tell you 'no' and when to keep their little mouth shut. Cats know where to go pee pee. Cats know when to walk you back to the bedroom or they'll scratch the couch. Cats know how to get you to buy another type of food. Cats know how to whip any dog's ass.
Cats know.
Dude, seriously, growing up on a cattle ranch where the animals were truly left to nature outside with no favoritism... I'm not kidding, cats freaking DESTROY dogs in a fight because BOTH animals are civil. Our dogs could take possums and skunks and even run off coyotes, but... the cats owned the dogs (Despite coyotes owning them). A weird and really cool balance of nature. (It might be a testimony to the nobility of our dogs, but... I think it might equally be a testimony to the pyschological wherewithall of cats.)
Great hub, my oldest cat has really suprised us all with how intelligent she really nice. We're not so sure about the kitten yet, but she has cuteness on her side:)
Scares the hell out of me that people would take on a cat and then gets it declawed. If they don't like the claws, don't get a cat and then mutilate it!!! I am pretty sure declawing is still illegal here in the UK unless there is an ethical medical reason why a certain claw should be removed, e.g. if it was growing outwards and therefore likely to get caught on things that would then risk causing the cat pain or injury.
I adore all three of my cats as they all have very individual personalities and are all very loving, and yep, I would definitely back a cat against a dog in a scrap every time, unless some nasty human has removed the poor kitties claws of course, which would naturally leave the cat short of a major means of self defence.
Karen; cuteness is the power of all kittens (although, to be fair, it is also a puppy power too).
Misty: In general, I agree with you on the claw thing, it's pretty hard core what they do. There are circumstances where it's warranted, but not many.
Shadesbreath, very smart of you to get a cat vs. dog debate going. Talk about millions of comments! Congrats!
PS: My dog - the cutest and smartest animal EVER - says (and she talks, too! but not to cat-people), "Ignore them... what do they know? They're, ugh, cat-people..."
LOL yes, the cat dog debate has been waged for thousands of years I reckon. Next to politics and religion, probably doesn't get more polemic.
Well...now...what an interesting idea Shade...
*slurps coke and thinks on it a moment*
Shadesbreath! I had a discussion with my 3 dogs and asked them the all important question "Can it be true ~sob here~ do they not love me as much as those wretched cats do and did?" ~oops did I say that out loud?~ (Well! I really made a fuss, but I had to get to the bottom of things). However after long contemplation I now am convinced that my doggies really love me... more so then those cats ever could... sorry but that's the way the doggie bisquets crumbled ~oops did I say that out loud too?~ zs
I once had a cat that loved me so much, she would jump into my bed after I went to sleep, and stretch out across my face. I'm pretty sure she was concerned about the dust I was breathing. She had also heard about the large number of bugs accidentally ingested by sleeping people.
Zsuzsy: You may have a rare trio of adoring pooches, but I would say that, given the factual nature of this article, you are in a minority (if not blinded by hope). Count yourself lucky if what your dogs SAID is true.
You'll notice that RMR has actual PROOF of cat love from the actions the cat is taking to ensure RMR's respiratory health and bug-free diet. Your dogs merely TOLD you they love you, but where were they when you swallowed that spider last night in your sleep? Hmmm? Yes, I remain skeptical.
You might also point out that dogs, on the whole, are pathological liars. You can't even believe them when they say good morning! Sorry Zuzsy, but it's true. I once had a dog that walked around the house saying "I'm a cat! Really, I am!" I wouldn't believe him if his tongue came notorized.
Hah! Yes, dogs can be somewhat dim. I bet it never even occured to that dog that you might, you know, look at him to verify his claims. Silly mutt.
I remember rmr's dog. He only made those claims on Tuesdays. On thursdays, he was an ocelot, and the rest of the week he claimed to be a marmoset. Personally, I suspected multiple personalities. He also ran away, once. He returned a week later, saying he had spent the week with Jimmy Hoffa.
Mr. Hoffa has just confirmed that report via my daughter's bird.
Shades, I simply cannot believe you fell for that. Birds are notorious liars! More-so than dogs! They'll say anything to get out of the cage. We alll know that Hoffa is flying around in a UFO, with Elvis. They invited me up for a ride once, But I was too busy looking for that damned dog!
Yeah, normally I wouldn't believe a bird, but this bird had just flown down from that UFO. Everyone knows Hoffa and Elvis are homeboys, and Amelia Earhart keeps them beggin' in a hawt bikini she wears just to torment them. You should have gone.
Since I moved to New Mexico, I see them a couple times a week. I'm sure I'll have another chance, soon enough. If I listen closely, I can usually hear them coming. They have a pretty rad sound system, and always blast Hunk-a Hunk-a Burnin' Love when they do a flyover.
Well, go for it. You'll be shocked to see what Amelia has done with her hair.
The hub is so beautiful,i am going to agree with you.
It's hard to argue with science and logic as sound as this, isn't it? lol
My dog farts in your general direction. Now my keyboard is all smelly. Hope you and your feline conspirators are happy!
We are. In fact, my cats are both laughing so hard they farted too, but, not on my keyboard so we still win.
As the the owner(?) of six (6!) little love bundles I appreciate your brilliant interpretation of the ways in which kitty-cats express their love. And to think, the little dears are so frequently misunderstood . . .
Yes, Marina, you are correct. I personally believe people CHOOSE not to see what is so obvious to you and I. An act of will, IMO.
From cats to dogs to UFO's, Jimmy Hoffa ( I need concrete evidence on this one!), Elvis et al This hub has some mileage. Hold on while I remove this surgical steel ball from nose after my alien abduction by a horde of grey men with large black eyes who turned into Dogs before my eyes! I blinked and they were cats. Then I realised i was wrong Jackalopes they were one and all. Ouch now that device is gone! I can see clearly now. What was that again?
Sixty, all I can say is that if the cats wanted you to know what they did, you would. The rest is speculative.
LOL!
My doggies are barking at this!
My cats are rolling their eyes at your dogs. lol
No, no, no. This is all wrong. It's like I've entered some inside-out, topsy-turvy world! I am a dog lover who now finds himself with no dogs and one cat. The cat is trying to kill me. He keeps trying to shut my bedroom door when I'm in there alone. He figures if he ever gets the door to latch, I won't be able to get out, and since no one could possibly miss me, they'll discover me in a few months, nothing but a skeleten holding the remote control in my bony hand. Great hub anyway!
LOL, dude, maybe your cat is possessed or something. Or maybe it knows you wish it was a dog and so is punishing you. Sounds like the makings of a great short story or horror novel though.
Thanks for the comment and, well, good luck with that cat.
Point to ponder maybe Marisue can give us some ideas. where do all the claws from declawed kitties go? Paws for thought?
Awww, I'm not sure I want to know, Sixty.
My cat doesnt destroys the furniture... he just have a strange fixation for kitchen scrubs - the green and yellow ones, the things we use to wash the dishes. He keeps destroying them, but it's better than the couch, so I'm quite happy!
It may be your cat doesn't approve of your color choices for these brushes. Cat's are very artistic and if you keep picking brushes that class with the decor, well, kitty is just trying to help you out.
eheh nice one!
I'm just glad he likes my couch and curtains choice then :D
Yes, a remarkably cost effective little piece of fate that is for you.
Hi Shadesbreath. Wanted to let you know I refer to this hub and link to it in my hub Diaries Reveal Difference Between Cats and Dogs. If you don't approve, let me know and I'll fix it. Thanks!
Not at all, in fact I look forward to reading your hub too. :)
A Cat who loves scrubs. Does he watch the TV show too?
I know. I hear this all the time and I'll admit - there is something about a cat (I have had some), but there's something MORE about a dog. I guess I am just a dog lover.
Aww, I have no beef with dogs. They're fun as hell. They just require too much effort to keep.
When it comes to cats, I like the way they are so graceful and many have nice shiny fur which is soft to touch, I have always loved cats but my allergies keep me from owning one. thanks for the great hub, nice photos too!
It never ceases to amaze me how many people are allergic to cats. I think growing up I'd never heard of such a thing, but I swear in the last ten years or so, amost half the people that come visit are alergic. Pretty common I guess. Our poor cats get stuffed in the laundry room though. We're not those pet owners with that imperial, "It's their house too," attitude that subjects company to misery.
I heard cat alergies are really alergies to cat spit on the fur from cleaning themselves.
Anyway, thanks for the comment and, on the photos... heh, yeah, they're cute cats. :)
working
Squimpleton says:
2 months ago
Cats forever!!!!
Though my cat doesn't eat mice...He just catches them and plays with them until they're dead and leaves them in my room. He knows we don't want any in the house. He also knows I despise bugs and other little critters so when he sees one he goes to kill it. <3 Nothing like a mosquito/spider-killing cat to fill you with love.
Also when I'm on the computer he'll on and stroke my hand, as if to say "hey I love you more than this machine"
Did I mention he also loves to chase squirrels away from my mom's flower garden?
And you're SO right about how cats scratch furniture to keep them fresh. My cat only scratches our ugly furniture, never the expensive/pretty ones. Obviously he can tell the bad furniture is ugly and is trying to convince us to get rid of it for our own good.