My daughter’s dog is trying to train us by using phyics powers when it comes to eating. Our cat could care less, unless when he wants some attention. Comes running at a can opener thinking of tuna water.
I beg to differ a tad. No dog I’ve ever met thinks it’s in charge of humans, at least unless its place in the pack order isn’t well-established. At most dogs go their own way with or without our reckoning.
Cats, on the other hand, don’t rent; they own. Cinnamon, the gentle and intelligent Siamese living across the street from me, obviously owns everything and everybody in sight. Toughest dictator you’ll ever love, I’m tellin’ ya…
Ratatouille put it best. Dogs look up to people; cats look down on people; rats treat people as equals. Unfortunately for the rats, people don’t return the favor! :)
“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.” - Aldous Huxley
It’s true that a dog will be pretty content with whatever its position in a hierarchy, so long as that position is well established. The problem comes not when the dog thinks it’s an alpha, but when it thinks it’s a beta: Not “Master/mistress, spouse, children, other two-legs, ME”, but “Master/mistress, ME, spouse, children, other two-legs.” That’s asking for trouble.
If you keep the dog for home security, then “Master/mistress, spouse, children, ME, other two-legs” is OK, but you have to be careful.
As for cats, I’ve never understood the appeal at all. Their function seems to be primarily decorative, like throw-pillows that rearrange themselves on the furniture…
I’m with yyyguy. I think that is the best description of a cat I’ve ever heard. I have a few friends who have been or are still being owned by cats. I’ll have to use that definition on them.
Some of us like self-arranging throw-pillows, though. Some of us would like tribbles if they actually existed.
Non-demanding affection, feline style, appeals to some more than others (maybe it has to do with the human’s relative predominance of Jungian Introverted or Extraverted Feeling). The one thing I’ve never liked about most dogs I’ve known is how they demand so much affection and attention in return for their own. Most cats I’ve known aren’t like that.
Most cats I’ve known haven’t given any sort of affection at all, unless they want to be fed. Some have been downright nasty.
Dogs, on the other hand, require a certain amount of attention, but not necessarily affection; they will lick the hand that beats them.
Some consider this craven, but it seems to me that dogs are simply better Christians; they will repay cruelty with kindness. Cats repay kindness with cruely: “Pet me now! OK, that’s enough!” SCRATCH!!!
most people misinterpret the act of a cat rubbing up against your leg as affection, when actually they are merely marking their property by rubbing their scent on you. It would be so much more convenient for them if we would just stop washing it off all the time.
When cats rub up against you to “mark” you with their scent, that is affectionate. They’re saying “and this is mine”. Would they want to own you if they didn’t like you?
I’m owned by 2 cats, and they can be very affectionate when they want to be. And unlike dogs, they don’t need to be taken out for walks.
pouncingtiger over 14 years ago
Another dog has its day.
tbree over 14 years ago
Wait until cats come along and really show how to turn humans into slaves!
sjoujke Premium Member over 14 years ago
Boy Wolf knows a patsy when he sees one.
kab2rb over 14 years ago
My daughter’s dog is trying to train us by using phyics powers when it comes to eating. Our cat could care less, unless when he wants some attention. Comes running at a can opener thinking of tuna water.
wicky over 14 years ago
Cats have taught humans about “protocol”.
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
Uh-Oh! A wolf in wolf’s clothing.
Tazangel over 14 years ago
I have 4 dogs. They just let me live in denial as to who is really in charge.
Rakkav over 14 years ago
I beg to differ a tad. No dog I’ve ever met thinks it’s in charge of humans, at least unless its place in the pack order isn’t well-established. At most dogs go their own way with or without our reckoning.
Cats, on the other hand, don’t rent; they own. Cinnamon, the gentle and intelligent Siamese living across the street from me, obviously owns everything and everybody in sight. Toughest dictator you’ll ever love, I’m tellin’ ya…
Ratatouille put it best. Dogs look up to people; cats look down on people; rats treat people as equals. Unfortunately for the rats, people don’t return the favor! :)
fritzoid Premium Member over 14 years ago
“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.” - Aldous Huxley
It’s true that a dog will be pretty content with whatever its position in a hierarchy, so long as that position is well established. The problem comes not when the dog thinks it’s an alpha, but when it thinks it’s a beta: Not “Master/mistress, spouse, children, other two-legs, ME”, but “Master/mistress, ME, spouse, children, other two-legs.” That’s asking for trouble.
If you keep the dog for home security, then “Master/mistress, spouse, children, ME, other two-legs” is OK, but you have to be careful.
As for cats, I’ve never understood the appeal at all. Their function seems to be primarily decorative, like throw-pillows that rearrange themselves on the furniture…
yyyguy over 14 years ago
fritzoid, i’m going to have to borrow that description for cats. my brother and his family are owned by 4 of them.
mrsullenbeauty over 14 years ago
When you have to follow something around scooping up it’s leavings, it’s debatable as to who is the master and who is the servant.
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
fritzoid
I’m with yyyguy. I think that is the best description of a cat I’ve ever heard. I have a few friends who have been or are still being owned by cats. I’ll have to use that definition on them.
Rakkav over 14 years ago
@fritzoid: Excellent explanation.
Some of us like self-arranging throw-pillows, though. Some of us would like tribbles if they actually existed.
Non-demanding affection, feline style, appeals to some more than others (maybe it has to do with the human’s relative predominance of Jungian Introverted or Extraverted Feeling). The one thing I’ve never liked about most dogs I’ve known is how they demand so much affection and attention in return for their own. Most cats I’ve known aren’t like that.
fritzoid Premium Member over 14 years ago
Most cats I’ve known haven’t given any sort of affection at all, unless they want to be fed. Some have been downright nasty.
Dogs, on the other hand, require a certain amount of attention, but not necessarily affection; they will lick the hand that beats them.
Some consider this craven, but it seems to me that dogs are simply better Christians; they will repay cruelty with kindness. Cats repay kindness with cruely: “Pet me now! OK, that’s enough!” SCRATCH!!!
senigami over 14 years ago
most people misinterpret the act of a cat rubbing up against your leg as affection, when actually they are merely marking their property by rubbing their scent on you. It would be so much more convenient for them if we would just stop washing it off all the time.
boldyuma over 14 years ago
It’s simple really…Dogs have masters…
Cats have staff…..
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
There’s no way in hell I’d be a cat’s staffer.
Bargrove over 14 years ago
big3469 is obviously not the “master” of the English language. It’s of whom, not who.
krisl73 over 14 years ago
When cats rub up against you to “mark” you with their scent, that is affectionate. They’re saying “and this is mine”. Would they want to own you if they didn’t like you?
I’m owned by 2 cats, and they can be very affectionate when they want to be. And unlike dogs, they don’t need to be taken out for walks.