I remember one mother’s day years ago when my grandpa came home to my grandma with a beagle puppy as a mother’s day present. Grandma didn’t want her. Grandpa said she’d be a good hunting dog and let us kids (his grandchildren) play with her. Grandma didn’t have a chance. The dog had a white diamond on her forehead and a little pink nose. Grandpa said we should call her diamond, but Grandma said Pinky. We chose Pinky because for the most part, Grandma got her way. Dad wouldn’t let us have a dog, so Pinky was the closest animal I had as a pet for many years. I would walk over to Grandma’s house to go play with her all the time. I loved that stinky little dog.
Then, it happened. Our bikes were stolen from our shed in the back yard. Luckily at the same time, a friend of my sisters had a dog that needed a home. That’s how Nyack, the Samoyed, came to live with us. I was in 6th grade and as happy as can be. I taught him to sit, lie down, roll over, “slap five”, and play dead. He was the best companion and confidant. I told him all my secrets and he never barked when I snuck out at night during my misspent teenage years. When I went away to college, I would feel so sad that I had to go away without him. He would lick my face as if to tell me he was sad, but we would both be okay. I can still picture the look in his eyes.
About 8 years after I graduated college, I got Scrappy the Wonder Mutt. He was a terrier with the coloring of a schnauzer and one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met. Like all dogs, he epitomized unconditional love. Unlike most people in my life, he never let me down. When the sneaky, lying, cheating ex hurt me, Scrappy was there to hold me together. He even gave the ex the cold shoulder when he came back to pack up his stuff. How much more faithful can an animal be? This summer Scrappy got sick. I would have done anything, paid any amount of money to save him. I wanted to be the faithful friend that he always was. But nothing could be done and when he died, a part of me died with him. I truly believe that a dog’s love is the reflection of God’s love, just as DOG is the reflection of GOD.
So why is the title of this blog of Cats and Men? Be patient, I’m getting there. You had to understand just how much I love dogs. I love all animals, but there is nothing like the love and companionship of a dog. Dogs are unselfish. If they want you to pet them and you don’t feel like it, they’ll just lie next to you. If they are curled up in the corner, sleeping contently and you call them, they will come sit with you. Sure, they have their needs, but they will give you back 10 fold what you give them. Dogs are cool.
Cats on the other hand are very selfish little creatures. They are picky and stubborn. For the most part, they have more of an attitude than a teenage girl I know! Now there are exceptions to this rule. My friend has a big fat orange cat who is the sweetest animal you ever met. Oh yeah, he isn’t fat any more because she put him on a diet. Cats always seemed to be the pet of choice for girls and dogs for guys. Until recently… I’ve met several guys who have cats for pets. And, I’m starting to think I need a new rule.
First there is little D. Now his cat was another exception to the rule. A very cool, friendly but not overly obnoxious Siamese cat. He was more dog-like than cat. But little D, he was a serious commitment phobe who is looking for perfection in his girl. I’m not perfection and I don’t do well with commitment phobes. Cat strike one.
Next there was E. His cat pretty much ruled his life…that should have been my first clue. Dude’s house was a wreck…that should have been the second clue that he wasn’t for me. But I explored the relationship further because we seemed to have so much in common. The cat was pretty much a loner and only came by when he wanted food. Eventually, I realized that E was a lot like his cat. So dang introverted that being with him was like being alone. Cat strike two.
Then there was R. Never was a cat so much like its owner. This cat would just sit and meow at me for no reason whatsoever. It would pester and pester for me to pet it. Then it would bite my feet. When I had sandals on, it would bite at the straps or if I had bare feet, it would bite my toes. I actually hit the cat. I don’t believe in hitting animals or hurting them in any way. But that little bastard bit my toe so flippin hard, I swung at it before realizing what I was doing. Turns out R was pretty much an annoying, needy bastard that made me lose my temper, too. Cat strike three.
I’m thinking the new rule should be no more dating men who keep cats as pets. In my opinion, these men seem just as undesirable as their pets.
I met P and had a nice time with him. He wants to keep our options open, take it slow and keep seeing other people. He has a cat. Says it is his daughter’s pet.
Then there is J, who I just met who has two cats. But he used to have a dog.
So, should I enact the “no cat” rule? Should I give these feline loving men a chance or just save myself the time and angst of dealing with more men who aren’t worthy of a dog?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Then, it happened. Our bikes were stolen from our shed in the back yard. Luckily at the same time, a friend of my sisters had a dog that needed a home. That’s how Nyack, the Samoyed, came to live with us. I was in 6th grade and as happy as can be. I taught him to sit, lie down, roll over, “slap five”, and play dead. He was the best companion and confidant. I told him all my secrets and he never barked when I snuck out at night during my misspent teenage years. When I went away to college, I would feel so sad that I had to go away without him. He would lick my face as if to tell me he was sad, but we would both be okay. I can still picture the look in his eyes.
About 8 years after I graduated college, I got Scrappy the Wonder Mutt. He was a terrier with the coloring of a schnauzer and one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met. Like all dogs, he epitomized unconditional love. Unlike most people in my life, he never let me down. When the sneaky, lying, cheating ex hurt me, Scrappy was there to hold me together. He even gave the ex the cold shoulder when he came back to pack up his stuff. How much more faithful can an animal be? This summer Scrappy got sick. I would have done anything, paid any amount of money to save him. I wanted to be the faithful friend that he always was. But nothing could be done and when he died, a part of me died with him. I truly believe that a dog’s love is the reflection of God’s love, just as DOG is the reflection of GOD.
So why is the title of this blog of Cats and Men? Be patient, I’m getting there. You had to understand just how much I love dogs. I love all animals, but there is nothing like the love and companionship of a dog. Dogs are unselfish. If they want you to pet them and you don’t feel like it, they’ll just lie next to you. If they are curled up in the corner, sleeping contently and you call them, they will come sit with you. Sure, they have their needs, but they will give you back 10 fold what you give them. Dogs are cool.
Cats on the other hand are very selfish little creatures. They are picky and stubborn. For the most part, they have more of an attitude than a teenage girl I know! Now there are exceptions to this rule. My friend has a big fat orange cat who is the sweetest animal you ever met. Oh yeah, he isn’t fat any more because she put him on a diet. Cats always seemed to be the pet of choice for girls and dogs for guys. Until recently… I’ve met several guys who have cats for pets. And, I’m starting to think I need a new rule.
First there is little D. Now his cat was another exception to the rule. A very cool, friendly but not overly obnoxious Siamese cat. He was more dog-like than cat. But little D, he was a serious commitment phobe who is looking for perfection in his girl. I’m not perfection and I don’t do well with commitment phobes. Cat strike one.
Next there was E. His cat pretty much ruled his life…that should have been my first clue. Dude’s house was a wreck…that should have been the second clue that he wasn’t for me. But I explored the relationship further because we seemed to have so much in common. The cat was pretty much a loner and only came by when he wanted food. Eventually, I realized that E was a lot like his cat. So dang introverted that being with him was like being alone. Cat strike two.
Then there was R. Never was a cat so much like its owner. This cat would just sit and meow at me for no reason whatsoever. It would pester and pester for me to pet it. Then it would bite my feet. When I had sandals on, it would bite at the straps or if I had bare feet, it would bite my toes. I actually hit the cat. I don’t believe in hitting animals or hurting them in any way. But that little bastard bit my toe so flippin hard, I swung at it before realizing what I was doing. Turns out R was pretty much an annoying, needy bastard that made me lose my temper, too. Cat strike three.
I’m thinking the new rule should be no more dating men who keep cats as pets. In my opinion, these men seem just as undesirable as their pets.
I met P and had a nice time with him. He wants to keep our options open, take it slow and keep seeing other people. He has a cat. Says it is his daughter’s pet.
Then there is J, who I just met who has two cats. But he used to have a dog.
So, should I enact the “no cat” rule? Should I give these feline loving men a chance or just save myself the time and angst of dealing with more men who aren’t worthy of a dog?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
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