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Always had dogs, then a cat turned up one summer. I assumed it was a new neighbour's cat and while I was gardening he lazed close by. I can't say I didn't like cats, I wasn't used to them. Anyway after a few days I realised he was a stray and I allowed him to move in. That was over 25 years ago and to date I have owned more cats than dogs. I tend to own one dog at a time whereas I tend to own two or three cats at anyone time.
I own three cats, a dog and a rabbit.
I suppose it makes sense that a certain type of person is attracted to a particular pet but I think that the choice of pet is more likely to be due to a person's lifestyle.
Amber is pretty much like Jasper. But I think you are reading FAR too much into that post in order to suggest that jasper12 (or I) are owners as you describe Category 1 who see their cats as "furniture". That post is not in any way in opposition to Category 2 treating pets as family, so I can't understand at all why it would provoke that response.
It's a perfectly good question. I totally get where jasper12 is coming from. The question posed is "Why take a pet into your home?" not "Why treat a pet as family?" Why do we take pets into our homes when for practical purposes what they do is cost us time and money and heartache? It's an interesting question, ruined by that response.
I think that you took my response in a way that it wasn't intended - and that is that you saw me as writing it in a tone that was sarcastic or malicious.
However in a response - I don't think that anyone in what I view as the Category 2 generally views their pets as something that just cost them time, money and heartache.
I think that you took my response in a way that it wasn't intended - and that is that you saw me as writing it in a tone that was sarcastic or malicious.
Perhaps, but...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kittymom4
However in a response - I don't think that anyone in what I view as the Category 2 generally views their pets as something that just cost them time, money and heartache.
...there's an important word in bold there that you are making up on your own that nobody said.
In practical terms, which is what I wrote, pets DO cost us time and money and heartache. (So does a child!) Is it not true? But nobody ever said JUST those things, and obviously so, for if it were truly JUST those things there would be little reason left to have a pet. Why does recognizing that these practical costs exist and there is little practical reason to have a cat mean I think cats are like furniture?
There are people in Category 1, of that I have no doubt. It's just that your sorting is a bit off. Just because I can see that it's rather impractical to have a cat in the first place doesn't alone suggest that I do not regard the cat much more highly than a lot of people, treat it like a member of the family, etc. I don't use the terms baby or kid for the cat; I find that a little too cutesy. But I made sure for example even 15 years ago that she had a name that would also be acceptable for a person. (I read baby name lists to help figure it out. ) I keep on top of her health care. I agonize over the foods, even if sometimes she is still eating junk. I try to learn more and more about health and nutrition for cats so that I know what to expect. I don't take her everywhere with me, but then she's plenty old enough to stay home by herself for a few hours, even in human years. She is the center of our attention here, probably more than she wishes sometimes. I'm not sure how that could not be considered part of the family. I care more about Amber than some people who really are relations....
I don't want to go too far off topic, but if I treated a pet like furniture, I would not have spent as much money, time, and hassle to move Jasper across the country last summer, I could have just left him at the apt, along with a few old chairs. So, no, Jasper is not treated like furniture.
However, I don't elevate pets over people. Jasper is a cat, he is not my son.
I will admit, I got him specifically because I knew Beau, our other cat, was not healthy. I got him solely for my daughter, not that Jasper could ever replace Beau, but to make her happy.
Don't know how scientific this study was, but seems that people were polled and cat people are:
11% more likely to be introverts
17% more likely to have a graduate degree
25% to prefer George Harrison as their favorite Beatle (dog people like Paul)
21% more likely to prefer ironic humor and puns (dog people like slapstick)
So---we should pat ourselves on the back for being classy, deep, introspective types!
This is supposed to be "fun", after all. I wouldn't rely on the Reader's Digest for any scientific information. Anyway, my takes on it:
I am rather introverted.
I have a graduate degree.
I like Paul more than any other Beatle, but what the heck, I'm a bass player!
I like all three kinds of humor, from the Three Stooges to irony.
So I suppose it gets 2.5 out of 4. BTW, I don't hate dogs, but I much prefer cats.
Introvert, check.
Graduate degree: nope, try no degree at all
Favorite Beatle: hm, never really thought about favorite, but I wouldn't say Paul necessarily, although I have seen Paul in concert
Humor, definitely not slapstick, check
So 2.5 out of 4 again? And yeah I don't hate dogs either. I enjoy interacting with a dog now and then, but I don't seek it out on a regular basis. For example, there are specific rules on volunteer training at the shelter, and I've only done the cat training. I have no particular inclination to go there to walk and play with the dogs. I wouldn't likely bring a dog into the house myself. But I certainly don't dislike them. Seems to me cats inspire more dislike than dogs, despite the fact that in the US we keep overall more cats than dogs, heh.
OK, as long as we're playing. I consider myself a straight-down-the-middle dog/cat person, at one time a dog person who liked cats but didn't want to own one.
More to the introverted side of the spectrum.
No graduate degree.
In the early Beatle days when I was a kid, had a crush on George, later when their music changed and I became a hippie, favorite was John.
Like ironic humor, slapstick sometimes, puns...uh, no.
Next contestant?
introverted - check
graduate degree - two year only
Beatles pick - don't like them at all (gasp!)
Ironic humor - check - sarcasm is my middle name though.
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Just because I can see that it's rather impractical to have a cat in the first place doesn't alone suggest that I do not regard the cat much more highly than a lot of people, treat it like a member of the family, etc. I don't use the terms baby or kid for the cat; I find that a little too cutesy. But I made sure for example even 15 years ago that she had a name that would also be acceptable for a person. (I read baby name lists to help figure it out. 
) I keep on top of her health care. I agonize over the foods, even if sometimes she is still eating junk. I try to learn more and more about health and nutrition for cats so that I know what to expect. I don't take her everywhere with me, but then she's plenty old enough to stay home by herself for a few hours, even in human years. 
