Dog vs Cat

[tbn.al]

Maybe we should seriously discuss the pros and cons of dog and cat loving. I am certain there are both sides of this issue........I'll start. This last Spring I found some very expensive and very beautiful plants in my front yard had been killed by voles. I consulted the internet and finally a real "in the flesh" expert looking for a solution. The expert asked me immediately if I had had any luck with the internet remedies and if I liked cats to which I responded negatively. He said, "Well you better make up your mind whether you like cats or voles best because you are going to have to live with one or the other." I began to cater to my neighbors nuisance cats, talking nice, letting them rub up against me and even leaving cat food out on the front porch. They began to hang around more and more and eureka the voles disappeared. I still don't like finding cat poop in my garden but now at least I have a tolerance. Cats can really be useful. There, never thought I'd say that.

[Donn]

I wish a cat could be directed to hunt certain species and leave others strictly alone. We see wrens, towhees, a varied thrush once ... they could take a robin or two once in a while without contributing to their extinction, but the rest of these low- or ground-foraging birds are more valuable to me than the maybe-rodent-hunting neighbors' cats, esthetically and practically.

If large snakes are natural to your area, I'd consider that - cornsnakes would be a good bet for voles, for example.

If you get a cat, it would probably be a good idea to get Bloke to come over and train it for you.

[tbn.al]

Cats are not clean...............sorry. The only reason my neighbor's house doesn't smell like cat poop is that he lets them outside so they can come to my yard to poop. My dog loves to roll in cat poop. I don't know why, but then she brings it inside and my house smells like cat poop instead of my neighbors. Had to bathe her twice today. At least the dog leaves the poop out where I can see and avoid it. The cat hides it in my yard, flower garden, because he doesn't want his yard messed up. I have really had to work at this "be nice to the cat" thing. Dogs will chase voles but they are not smart enough to catch them.

[Donn]

Cat crap isn't just a nuisance, it's a toxoplasmosis vector. Set out a live trap (Havahart etc.), with a sardine for bait. Take cat to authorities. Repeat until problem is solved, then stock up on snakes.

[alfredr]

We had a cat once that would get up on the table. To stop that, we would put it outside if it got up on the table. It learned that if it wanted to go out, it should get on the table. So who trained whom?

Our most recent cat died about two to three months ago. She was about 16 or 17 years old, but she didn't die of old age; we think she was attacked by a coyote. Someday there will be another cat and/or dog.

[fairweathertuba]

In modern society it seems the early primitive uses for a dog are no longer relevant, at least not as much as they were. Untrained dogs just seem to drone on and on with useless barking when the owners are away, they jump up on you when you get near the owner (usually out of friendliness but it's quite annoying) they will run around willie nillie when not kept on a leash, dig up plants etc. Dogs have many more vices, too many to mention here, cats too have their own sets of problems definitely but if I had to have one or the other living in my house I suppose I'd settle for the cat, I respect their more aloof personalities. Dog love I can live without!

However, if I had adequate acres of land I'd probably have a few dogs around with their own private shelter suitable for all forseeable weather conditions.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
I don't know how anyone can live without a buddy(s)--dog or cat--nothing can compare.......
Mark

[Dan Schultz]

I've had dogs.... some very good ones and some very bad ones. The better the pedigree... the stupider the dog. Mutts make good dogs but still require the same type of care as small children do. No vacations or even long weekends unless you arrange for the care of a dog... or worse... take it along.

No more dogs in this house except for a relative who brings along Cujo and company when she comes for a visit. Drives me crazy but they're usually gone in a couple of days.

Cats are good. I have two fixed females with no front claws. They can leave the house at will through a pet door into the greenhouse and then through another pet door to a 30' x 6' enclosed 'cat run' outside. Put out an automatic feeder and watering bowl and we can leave them for a week or so. They don't tear up anything or poop on the floor. They don't get pissed because we're away.

Cats are good. Dogs are bad.

[Donn]

Untrained dogs just seem to drone on and on with useless barking when the owners are away, they jump up on you when you get near the owner (usually out of friendliness but it's quite annoying) they will run around willie nillie when not kept on a leash, dig up plants etc.

Most of that is dogs who don't have a good life, I suspect. I mean, they might look sort of frantically happy, but once in a while I see a dog who can stay by his owner's side more or less around the clock, and the difference is enormous. This is probably breed specific to some extent, I don't really know anything about dogs, but when you see one of those dogs you know what I'm talking about. They're quiet, alert, level headed, they aren't frightened of you but they don't need anything from you either, they know where they are and what they're doing there.

It would be interesting to know what the original pre-domesticated dogs were like - like wolves and coyotes, more like Cape hunting dogs? - but I'm really sure dogs are not adapted for spending the day at home killing time while you're at work, and the vast majority of dogs you see are a little warped by that. That's my theory. (Not really thinking of pugs and things like that here, I'm talking about normal dogs with somewhat normal metabolism etc.)

I don't remember the part where dogs dig up plants. They do have an unfortunate tendency to roll in smelly things, and to eat things that I'm going to forbear from mentioning. And occasionally they'll seriously injure someone (and more than a few cat owners have lost serious amounts of blood while trying to administer oral medicine.)

[tbn.al]

From a vet site.

"One of the main reasons dogs eat fecal matter from the litter box is that it contains a fairly large amount of undigested protein. Humans and dogs are able to use carbohydrates as well as protein as a source of energy. Cats cannot use nutrients other than protein as a form of energy, and so their diet has to be very high in protein. To digest this protein, the cat must get 10 essential amino acids. If any of these acids are lacking, a portion of the protein will go undigested. Extra protein will also be present in feline fecal matter if the cat is consuming more protein than it expends in energy."

See, dogs are not only emotionally superior but nutritionally as well.

[gwwilk]

I adopted my cat from the Nebraska Humane Society 6 yrs. ago. He was 3 1/2 at the time and came neutered and totally de-clawed by his previous owner, a woman who was acquiring a cat-allergic room mate in a pet-free apartment. I auditioned over a dozen cats, but Shade was the friendliest and seemed to understand that in order to get out of that place he needed to cozy up to a potential owner. He had just passed his 'temperament' tests and was deemed suitable for adoption, so he hadn't yet been traumatized by an extended stay in a place that wasn't really 'his'.

Cats are territorial and like high perches from which to view their domain. Shade found my loft in short order and spent the better part of his first couple of weeks watching everything from there. I initially placed a litter box in the unfinished basement and one in the unused lower level bathroom. Once I saw the mess that occurred around the litter boxes, I moved them next to each other in the unfinished basement. (I have since learned that one more litter box than the total number of cats is desirable.)

He gets groomed daily using a slicker or 'Furmanator'. Dental care is very important, and he gets his molars cleaned with an old towel impregnated with a drop of his 'toothpaste' every other day. Then he gets 'treats' in his downstairs food bowl that are actually dental chews that assist in cleaning his teeth. I neglected his dental care for a couple of years, and he lost a molar due to caries when I finally had the vet clean his teeth using ultrasound. That overnight stay left him grumpy and growling when I picked him up the next day. Needless to say he was very happy to get home.

He takes a territorial interest in the grounds around our town house, and when the orange tabby from across the back yard wanders onto our patio where he lolls around like he owns it, Shade goes nuts! He screams with rage, jumps against the patio doors, and fluffs his fur and tail to the extreme. I bought a 'water cannon' at Wal-Mart, and when Jake comes around he gets the full treatment with it. Now when he sees the patio door open a crack and the cannon emerge, he high-tails it and we don't see him again for months.

Cats love to play, and it's important that they have some stimulus. Wands with streamers and small stuffed toys with catnip pouches are a often a big hit. Shade for some reason loves the red laser cat teasers, and every time I reach over to the end table where his laser toys are along with remote controls, etc., he's immediately interested in what I'm doing. Usually when I'm in the recliner in the great room he's right there on my lap or between my legs on the foot rest.

Daily care is very important, and Shade will let me know if I've neglected to start the day with grooming, cleaning his litter boxes, or replenishing his food bowl in the kitchen. First thing when we get up he wants his kitchen water bowl emptied and refilled, after which he's content until he thinks I'm delaying the rest of his chores too long. Then he becomes very vocal as he wanders about near the kitchen where I sit working on the computer.

A week ago Thursday I flew to Montana on a quick trip for a funeral. I left him plenty of food and water and instructions to behave himself. When I returned last Saturday he was waiting by the door into the garage because he heard the garage door go up. He was vocal in his greeting--when I say 'Hi' he answers back--and started to run around like he does when he's happy. On longer absences in the past I've always had somebody come in every day to tend to his needs. Because of their territorial nature, cats are miserable when boarded. Other than the litter boxes being much fuller than usual and the food bowl being lower than usual (he's on demand feeding, despite what the vet says) nothing in the house was disturbed.

Shade seems content to stay indoors while observing the goings-on outdoors. His declawed status precludes any outdoor adventures. Another benefit of being an 'indoor' cat is the lack of exposure to ticks, fleas, and diseases. He just came by to jaw at me because it's 'recliner time', so it's debatable as to who owns whom and who trains whom.

[hup_d_dup]

When picking out a puppy or kitten, the more care that is taken to pick out one that is friendly and smart (rather than just "cute"), the more rewarding the following years will be.

As much as I love kittens, it has been many years since we have had one living with us. The cats we take in now are strays; we can't at first know if they are friendly or smart except in a superficial way. We always have 2 or 3 depending on their life span, and the availability of the next replacement. I always want three, my wife always wants two.

For me, these are project cats. I observe their behavior very closely, looking for and encouraging small changes that accumulate over the course of years. I'm always attempting to build trust and affection, and to some degree great or slight, I always succeed.

Although my objectives are always the same, I find the most effective way to achieve them is to let the cats show me how to get there. For instance, this is Sahara:



Sahara was found on the street in West New York, NJ where I was working at the time. Why would someone abandon such a beautiful cat? Because, I quickly found out, she couldn't stand to be touched by human hands. It's easy enough to imagine why this would be the case ... she must have been mistreated.

So I took her home, gave her space, and watched closely from ever decreasing distances. This process is very time-consuming and takes time away from the tuba, but I always learn interesting things. In the case of Sahara, I discovered that she became more relaxed if I was physically closer to the floor. Why this was I don't know, but when I realized it I started spending time flat on the floor, and when I did, she started coming closer to me; it wasn't just me coming closer to her.

The big breakthrough happened one evening when she jumped up on the bed my wife and I sleep in, and spent the night with us. She is much more confident if she is at our eye level or higher. Since that time there have been many other breakthroughs. Sahara now enjoys being petted. She still hates being brushed; I'm working on that. After eight years we are still learning about each other. This, I think, is about as rewarding an experience I could have with an animal.

Hup

PS: I didn't mean to pick on Bloke just to contradict him – I just have a different way of going about selecting cats. His post is excellent and he clearly has a good understanding of cat behavior. We are kindred spirits on the value of relationships with cats.

[davidgilbreath]

"Dogs have owners whereas cats have staff"

[bisontuba]

Hi-

The one and only Benny the Siamese after some catnip:


The newest member--Daisy the kitten:


Mark

[tofu]

.

[oldbandnerd]

We currently own 2 cats and 1 dog. We got the dog 4 years ago. The cats are older. We have one male and one female cat, both fixed. The female just lays around the house all and hides from everyone. In the summer she will stay outside more. The male cat,even though fixed, likes the outdoors. He's every bit a hunter as though he hadn't been fixed. So much so my neighbor complained about him catching and killing the birds that would come to his many feeders in his back yard. I gave the neighbor permission to spray the cat with the hose or a water gun anytime he same him. It took a while but it worked.My male cat won't go over there anymore.
The cats are typical cats. Aloof and indifferent to the humans they allow to live with them. They are not very loving or even cuddly. Except for when they decide it's time one of the stupid humans needed to pet them. The cats are worthless as pets.
The dog however .... well you decide. Always up for a walk or to play in the yard. We can take him with us almost anywhere,especially camping.Try taking a cat camping. He is very loving and seems very sensitive to our moods. Knows when things aren't quite right and is there to offer his sympathy. He lets me know when someone he doesn't know is outside my house. Ever know a cat to act as security alarm? .
I'll take a dog over a cat anyday!!


Here's a couple pictures of my mixed Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier "Ringo" .

This was taken at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia. He goes with us on every camping trip

Ringo.jpg

[Heavy_Metal]

The cats are typical cats. Aloof and indifferent to the humans they allow to live with them. They are not very loving or even cuddly. Except for when they decide it's time one of the stupid humans needed to pet them.

Well, even though they live with you, they must not be "your" cats.

This is "Lucky". I rescued her 14 years ago, before The Lovely Naoko came into the picture. She was about 1/3 grown at the time, this was taken later.

lucky1s.JPG

Her behavior shows "whose" cat she is. When TLN comes home, Lucky might look up for a few seconds and then go back to sleep- the "aloof and indifferent" behavior you describe. But when she hears me coming up to the house, she runs into the living room, hops onto the front radiator (not the one in the pic though), meowing loudly and finally greeting me at the door when I open it. We go to the kitchen and I get her to stand on her hind legs for her treat. Later, she'll jump on my lap as I sit at the computer and PURRRRRRRR as I pet her.

Apparently in Japan, they don't usually keep household pets the way Americans do, so TLN wasn't used to having a neko (cat) in the house. But we all adjusted. TLN pronounced my vacuum cleaner inadequate for cat-hair cleanup, so I bought a new Dyson which works quite well.

Lucky grew up to become a big, beautiful, laid-back, affectionate cat. I was the "lucky" one, both with her and TLN.

The other thing is, dogs take more daily care than cats, and with my schedule it would be hard to find that kind of time. So for me- cats.

[Donn]

Well, even though they live with you, they must not be "your" cats.

I think my all time favorite cat wasn't my cat. Technically, a neighbor down the next block's cat, a big black one with green eyes, athletic and pretty smart for a cat. He spent a lot of time at our place, in the summer when our doors were open to let the breeze through. Very affectionate - with me, and it turned out with several neighbors, he'd spend the day making the rounds. Never wanted any food or anything, just wanted to be with his favorite people. There's all kinds.

The other thing is, dogs take more daily care than cats, and with my schedule it would be hard to find that kind of time. So for me- cats.

I think that's the sensible bottom line, really. Dogs, particularly some of the breeds people are attracted to, are a very social animal, more than people are, and they can't get by with a half an hour twice a day. The very reason we like them, is the reason most of us probably should not have them. (Some other things in life can be that way too!)

[GC]

My last dog was a border collie mix that thought he was a cat. He'd snuggle with and groom the cats, play with them, and included himself in their dominance games as top cat and arbiter of all other relations. Our outside cat's day was not complete unless he had some quality time with the dog. After the dog passed, the outside cat quickly declined and followed, we think from a broken heart.

[tbn.al]

Wish I had time for a photo but I was in a hurry to leave for an appointment. As I backed out of the drive I noticed our next door neighbor's cat, the vole catcher, sitting on top of the across the street neighbor's shiny new black Honda van, Christmas present for wife. I can vouch for the fact that the cat has not been declawed. I wonder how much paint damage was done and if the car owner will discuss it with the cat owner. I hope he doesn't kill the cat as he has vowed to do in the past because I don't want the voles back.