NOTE: This post has been edited to exclude a paragraph (and one last sentence) that were pointed out as unnecessarily harsh by a respected friend. I don’t want to have a mean spirited blog – so if you are wondering why I made some cuts…well, that’s why. This post is now less funny – but it’s also less cruel. A good trade off as far as I’m concerned.
For the past week, we’ve had an unofficial pet cat squatting on our front lawn. Actually – in all fairness, it is a pet we share with our next door neighbors since he spends half of his time on their lawn (and they put out the food and water).
We have no idea where this cat came from, but have heard that he’s been around the neighborhood for a while now. He was definitely someone’s pet. He loves people too much to be feral. Whenever I walk out the door, there he is rolling onto his back as if to say, “pet me please! I need love!”
He has also gotten into the house – much to my children’s delight. Since I was late for work and trying to get the kids out the door and into the car (it’s like herding cats, I tell you!), I was not delighted. But it does break my heart to leave him outside. The truth is, we just can’t take on a pet right now. More importantly, we can never have a cat because both my mother and brother are hideously allergic.
So far – this post has been pretty boring. Especially for people that don’t like cats. But the reason I bring up Arthur (one of the neighbors he used to stalk named him Arthur) is that he’s like the poster child for why people who love cats….well, love cats. He is the antithesis of everything cat haters claim to be their bad qualities. He’s lovable, he’s friendly, he follows you around, he appears in the window at night mouthing “let me in” and scares the bejeezus out of you (okay – that’s not exactly a good thing, but it does discount the idea that cats could care less about people…or maybe they just want to be inside…okay – strike that third one).
Arthur reminds me that if I didn’t have relatives with allergies (and if I was a bit more handy with the vacuum), I would probably be a cat person. I’m like a cat myself. I am independent, I like to be clean, I don’t barrel into a room demanding attention, I prefer to let people come to me, I like to be warm, I don’t like to be wet and I demand to be taken seriously. If I don’t like my situation, I retreat – but if you attack me, I am well able to defend myself.
My husband on the other hand, is a dog person. And what a surprise – his personality better reflects the qualities of dogs. He is incredibly social and requires little time by himself. He’s also a bit of a ham and likes nothing more than to be the center of attention. He has no problem laughing at himself. He is a swimmer (cats are not known for a love of water) and likes to run and fetch things (okay – that last one is not true, but he is awfully good about bringing me glasses of water at night). If he senses danger, he will come out swinging. He doesn’t let anyone push him around but is very cognizant of who holds the title of alpha male (but then again, don’t all men?).
So why do we get along so well? We don’t. Or more accurately, we have had to learn to understand and respect each other. And I think we’ve done a pretty good job of it. I know when he really needs my attention and he knows when I prefer to be left alone. And I think that we’ve helped each other grow up and get over ourselves a bit. I’ve made him lighten up with the alpha male stuff – and he has encouraged me to stop taking myself so seriously.
So big happy family of cats and dogs right? Not really what I had initially planned on writing. What I was really thinking about was how people tend to like one animal more than the other, and often have heated debates over which pet is better. This was actually the subject of this week’s All Mediocre “Topic Tuesday” (every Tuesday a topic is up for discussion – one that is not particularly serious, one that might actually be considered “mediocre” in relevance). And as usual – I can see both sides.
There is no question about it. Cat people can be pretty weird. But the cool ones will readily admit it. I was recently laughing with an old friend about how one day in eighth grade I found a stack of polaroids on her desk that featured all of her cats in different positions and locations in the house. When I asked her about them, she started shuffling through and saying, “look at this one of Gatsby – he’s such a clown…and then look at Fluffy’s expression in this one. She’s such a snob.” Meanwhile, all I was seeing was a cat on a chair, a cat on a porch, a cat on a counter… Of course the fact that she is able to see the humor in this, makes it much less weird. Sort of… And for the record, she’d totally agree with me.
The really bizarre cat people don’t have a sense of humor about themselves give a bad name to the others. And as a result, smug dog lovers feel justified in cultivating a healthy disdain of their feline loving nemeses. They sneer at the idea that a cat can provide as much love and affection as a dog. And I must admit, they make some valid points. I mean cats DO tend to be very independent and they can be shy with new people when a dog would be leaping all over the visitor, pleading for attention. But the dog lovers lose me when they start talking about how cats are “mean.” Everyone has heard at least one ardent cat hater insist that cats are “sneaky” and “selfish” and “mean.” These are all very human traits and really don’t apply to the animal kingdom, making for a somewhat ridiculous argument. And let’s be honest – at the end of the day, you never hear a news report about someone being viciously attacked by cats.
Another strike against dogs is the whole picking up dog poo thing. I can’t think of anything that I’d rather do less. Four years of changing diapers will be enough poop for me thank you very much. And ironically enough, many dog owners who chose not to have children will often make comments about the horrors of diaper changing. But they have no problem going for a three mile walk with their dog, carrying a bag full of poop. I may change a lot of diapers – but I don’t throw all of the poop in a plastic bag and carry it around the neighborhood.
Why do I always end up talking about poop? And how did I manage to write such a long post about cats and dogs and not even have a point? Let’s see if I can reel this in.
Everyone is different, and as a result we’ll all have varied preferences including the pet that suits us best. And some even like both – or neither. But there is no reason to be nasty about it. Arthur (who is unnervingly absent from our front lawn at the moment – making me wonder if he’s hiding somewhere in the house) is a great cat. Even my dog lover husband says so. So how can you say that cats are “mean?” Maybe we spend too much time making blanket statements and not taking these animals on a case by case basis. Maybe we also do this with each other far more than necessary. MAYBE instead of fighting like cats and dogs (there’s the tie in!), we should just respect each other for our differences and get over it already. We all have flaws – but we also have our good points.
I love cats but I now have a dog big big mistake
I wouldn’t exactly say hideously allergic.
Hideous would more likely involve giant feline stingers and swarming.
In that case, my histamine response would rival the end of Akira. Hideous.
[Kate ponders what an Akira is]
It’s in the same ballpark as Doctor Who, only not anywhere near as good.
Well I think you’ve just about covered it! All except for smelly cat poop. In a litterbox. Inside the house. I always thought I was more of a dog person until we got our cat Ted and then I converted. My husband has all of the characteristics of a dog person, but he is a cat lover through and through.
Good observations! I’m a big cat lover! I only own one cat so I’m not to weird but I can read her expressions..does that count as weird?? LOL!
My husband’s mom is a weird cat person. She has three cats, who she talks about CONSTANTLY.
We have 4 cats and 2 dogs (gulp). I used to be a big pet lover and couldn’t turn away a needy animal. And then I had children. Suddenly, my animals are kind of annoying.
Cats are scary cause they just stare at you, and you wonder if they’re gonna pounce. Not that it’s happened to me, but it COULD!
p.s. You might like to know that my family used to have a cat named Satan, and one named Lucifer. Our neighbors probably liked when we went outside and called, “Saaaataaaan!” My brother named them. :)
so very very true. i’m more of a dog person myself – i find cats to be moody and don’t often do well with them.
fiance and i have a dog – i’m not the biggest fan of picking up her poop (seriously it seems to smell much worse than it should) but i do it, get rid of it as quickly as possible and hate HATE when other people don’t pick up after their pets. Seriously…manners people.
Matthew and I would never be able to even consider having a cat—not only is he seriously allergic, but my dad is also very allergic.
The huge problem is that I love dogs so hard. And I’ve managed to develop an allergy towards dogs. Which makes me incredibly sad.
But I seriously would love to have a regular stray to take care of. I like cats, but they seem to know that I like dogs more.
If we lived closer, I would think Arthur was mine. He’s an outside cat I’ve had since before Andy and I were married. I’m pretty sure he cheats on us with other families. He loves to hang around – at a safe distance – when all the kids are outside playing and will cuddle up to any willing adult. But clearly *I’m his human*.
Allergies notwithstanding, I can’t recommend cats as low-maintenance companions highly enough.
Go adopt one TODAY!
Love the post! I wish my hubby didn’t have cat allergies. This carrying the dog poop in a bag is getting old. I’m also not loving the kennel bills for our dog. You can leave cats by themselves for a few days, can’t you? Sounds nice.
I liked the way you described cat people. Now I understand why I agreed to let my daughter get a cat and even took her to the shelter to pick one out, but why we will probably never have a dog.
(Also? I love your new header, although it’s making me even more envious that my husband is on his way to Paris right now.)
you just made me laugh out loud!
I think that woman DOES carry a cat or 2 in her bag;
I love this post… I’m allergic to cats, but you;re right –
most cats are cool, most dogs are cool- but not all dogs are cool.
I just went to a friend’s house with a cat and it was a great cat(I was sneezing the whole time but didn’t mind). And we have a neighbor with the yippiest small, meanish dog ever.
And my husband and I are really different- I think he’s the cat and I’m the dog-
he relaxes me, calms me- I get him excited about things… and it works :)
Have a good weekend!!!!!!!!