05 Dec I May Be a Dog Owner, But I’m a Cat Slave

There are many differences between cats and dogs. Anyone who has had both knows what I mean.  Although they both fall under the term pets, that’s where the similarities end.

It has been said that while dogs have owners, cats have slaves. That sure seems to be the case at my house. Now that spring has arrived, our cat, Ginger, believes that my sole purpose in life is to not only care for her daily requirements but also to be a constant door opener. And I am.

Does she sit demurely at the door awaiting the moment when it will magically open so she can launch herself into the wild? Of course not.  She parades around the house meowing incessantly until she drives me to distraction and I launch myself towards the door to let her out.

So then does she head for the door with great gusto knowing that she has rung her bell and I have leaped into action? Of course not. Ginger takes the longest circuit possible around the furniture and then the kitchen island just to take pleasure in making me wait upon her. Thus, she has been dubbed, Her Nibbs.

Sailor, our Border Collie, uses different means to get my attention.  He simply sits at my feet and stares at me. Avoiding eye contact is the key. If I don’t look at him, he will eventually tire and wander off to his favourite spot. He’ll try again later when he figures the conditions are ripe…like when the cat has dragged me to the door yet again.

In the morning, Sailor is quite content to be let out shortly after we get up no matter the time. Ginger on the other hand has become our morning alarm clock. Unlike Bill, another cat we had who would wait until he heard us speak before he made any demands, Ginger begins her plaintive cries shortly after dawn; a time when getting up is the last thing I am thinking.

Although I’ve yet to see it, I am certain that she makes her customary route through the house which includes journeying over our bed. She leaps up on hubby’s side and then pounces on me. I have one question about that. How does a cat know so much about physiology that no matter how I am laying, she manages to land squarely on my bladder?

As if that wasn’t bad enough she begins that ‘padding the bedding’  behaviour that cats are famous for. Once satisfied that she has disturbed me, she jumps off and heads for the door in her round about way, meowing – dare I say howling – all the while. Oh, if only she came with a snooze button!

At least she can go out by herself and stay for a good part of the day. Sailor, on the other hand, makes quick trips in and out to the backyard but to be out for any length of time, he needs to be walked.

That is quite the adventure – for me anyway. Hubby often puts him on his leash and takes Sailor along with him for his run. This works well when the leash is short. it  seems like they’ve come to some kind of meeting of the mind and both get satisfaction out of the exercise.

For me, taking Sailor for a walk really amounts to my taking him for a drag…or he takes me for the drag. I don’t think there is one single leaf, branch or dirt pile in a four block radius of my home that Sailor hasn’t sniffed and lifted his leg. How does one possibly work up a great cardio workout when every step or two your arm feels like it’s being pulled from its socket?

I know; I know. I should have gone to dog training classes. I would have learned how to behave.

When we initially got Sailor at six weeks of age, we did buy a terrific How to Train Your Dog book.  We just couldn’t get Sailor to read it! And what we tried to do, didn’t work easily so like many, we quit. I did learn one thing from the book though. There are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners.

Ginger has managed to get under Sailor’s skin.  Many times we’ll be working in our office, only to hear Sailor bark followed by his brisk entry with a look that can only be read as, “YOUR cat is driving me crazy!” He settles at our feet and before much time has passed, Ginger saunters into the room wearing her Cheshire grin.

Although she’s working on four paws, I am sure that on the inside she is rubbing the front two together with a maniacal glint in her eye.

Yes, these two critters sure do ‘manage’ me in their own ways. And I love it.

The enjoyment and companionship they provide far and about out-weigh their demands…rather the cat’s demands and the dog’s requests.

The Smarty Pants Way:  Pets bring abundant joy and relieve stress even though they might have their own quirks.