There’s cat people. Then there’s dog people. If I ever met a person who combined the two I don’t remember. Not saying they don’t exist, and I have never denied the possibility of Sasquatch nor Skinwalkers, but I have never seen one!
Cat people
It has been said no one owns a cat, the cat owns the person. Or maybe I just made that up.
The person the cat owns is there to provide food when needed, pet and stroke the cat when the cat wants. Beyond the occasional providing a leg to lean against while walking back and forth, humans provide very little a cat may desire. Or so it would seem.
Now cats are not to be confused with kittens. Kittens are much more lovable, have a greater desire for human affection and enjoy playing with humans or other kittens immensely. Kitten’s demeanor and behavior can turn a human frown to a smile, the grumpiest into a blubbering baby-talker. Then the kittens become cats. Make no mistake, the average kitten does not grow up to become an older kitten, they grow to become cats.
If they bring nothing else to the table, cats have personality. And tons of it. Like people, feline personalities can run the gamut from cat to cat, and multiple personalities exist within one cat. Some are loving as displayed by the purrrrrr and the ease with which it is provoked. Some are stand-offish and would rather observe or “stare” (if through sleep glazed eyes) at their human or human’s guest from a distant perch, but ever ready to spring and run if approached. Some can morph from one to another instantly and unexplainably.
Cat people are different, also. Not bad, just different. They “get” the cat and seem to relate to the aloof approach of them. And when you blend any person’s personality with a cat, or a group of cats, the outcome can be quite unpredictable. Those human’s owned by less than three cats develop a symbiotic relationship where it is unclear who benefits most from the connection. I have friends who are owned by a flock, feeding wild cats at dumpsters, building strange “cat cities” and become familiar as Jane Goodall was with feral chimpanzees.
Then, defying all definition above, there is the American Barn Cat. He or she is feral, an unsocialized outdoor cat who has either never had any physical contact with humans, or human contact has diminished over enough time as to have lost any relation to a positive memory. Still known by the species Felis Catus, the animal goes by the vernacular of alley cat, stray cat or tom cat (male). Valued as an addition to any rural home with a barn or livestock, the diet of rats, mice, squirrels, lizards and the occasional bird, they serve a purpose in pest control on the average farm. They have no people and no people have them. They exist to survive and fight to exist while serving a vital role in Farmer John’s ecosystem.
Dog people
Dog people run a whole different scale and scope than cat people, as they should. Not superior, not inferior, just different.
My observation is dogs are simple people. Well you know what I mean.
Some are trained for specific tasks and others just seem to inherit the characteristics of their lineage (most will call it breeding). Many times the breeding characteristics compliment the training they receive for their tasks. This particularly refers to police dogs, guard dogs and those assigned for specific duties due to inherit skills their breed has.
First, there are big dogs and there are little dogs and of course all sizes in-between, but we (dog owners) usually fit our dogs into one or the other category. Some big dogs bite, and some little dogs bite too. And vice-versa.
The first difference between canines and felines is that a dog does definitely have an owner. And, unless he has been abused or abandoned, the dog knows who his owner is, especially when raised from a pup by one person. Even if there is some strange reason for a change of ownership, the dog will know either at the same time or before the humans know who his owner is. Don’t ask me how or why, but just watch who they follow, who they look at in moments of confusion or when they are scared (thunder, lightening or gunshots).
Dogs tend to be loyal. Dogs seem to have the capacity to love, to adore their owner, to protect him/her and their family. More intelligent breeds will sit outside the door nearest where they hear their owner indoors. Dogs have acute hearing and can alert or alarm due to sounds humans haven’t heard.
The bond between a person and their dog can be intense. They know when you are leaving without them. When you arrive home, they may exhibit they have been on guard during your absence. They may walk up and present their head for an acknowledging rub or pet on the top.
Lap dogs, as I call them, are the smaller indoor version. As named, they are in-home nearest their owner or their spouse. Honestly, they can appear sometimes to be a version of a cat who gives a damn about his owner. As such, they become more personal and endear themselves at a higher level to their owner. Were I a house cat I would be mimicking the lap dog,
The average dog has personality, and a great deal of it. Under usual and customary circumstances, they can be expected to act, behave and respond the same, time and time again.
A dog is an open book. His tail wags when he feels relaxed and is a reflection of his owner. A tail not wagging shows your dog is unsure and usually watching his owner for direction. And a dog with his neck and back hair standing is relying on his instincts, Spidey-sense if you will, that something is afoul, not right, or otherwise may require his defense of those he loves.
We kept my son’s dog once. In a good exchange with my son’s dog, my dog got defensive of me as I think my son’s dog did as well. I tried my best to break up the fracas but, nastily, I wound up at the ER and nine staples later returned home. To this day I am unsure which tore through my thumb muscle, but can blame neither.
I do know if I slap my tailgate and say “load up,” Andy is inside with one leap. If I do the same on my golf cart, he is there having to be pushed over to give me room to sit.
I also know if my wife is out of town and a thunderstorm arrives, her little buddy Otis is stuck to me like glue.
In conclusion and with no malice….
I would rather have a good dog than a good cat.
I would rather have a bad dog than a good cat.
Cats use people, dogs love people.
Prove me wrong.
For kicks and giggles, read the below and for bonus points (worth nothing) name the dog and the cat in this Hoyt Axton song.
If that cat could talk, what tales he’d tell about Della and the Dealer and the dog as well. The cat was cool and he never said a mumbling word.
