Why do so many people have dogs/cats and pets in general?

[TruePaige]

OP...you are a troll.

I'm done with this thread, if you don't "get it", then you are missing something great in life, and I'm not going to try and explain it to you.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Didn't Arcadio have a similar thread? I wonder if this is his second account, lots of retarded threads.

 

[Vic]

I love cats and I've always had one. And the worst part is hardly the feeding and caring for them. It's the fact that you always outlive them. But even knowing that, and even having lost a cat of 12+ years just a bit over a month ago, I went out and got another kitten. I just can't live without one.

And cats not wanting to play? That's crack smokin'. Cats love to play. I think the issue there is that cats don't always bond with their people as easily as dogs. Unlike with dogs, it takes a little effort on the human's part. If you don't put in that effort, then you won't have that bond.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Dude, I'm not saying this to be a smart-ass, but you seem to have some issues that may require professional help. Assuming you are being genuine.

It may not even be pet-related, per se. Perhaps you have oppositional-defiant disorder or something, as the more we extol the virtues of sharing life with a pet, the more you push against it.

 

[ruu]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Well, first of all, a well-trained pet doesn't make a mess of the house.

Second of all, living space cleanliness is not a universally shared value. People have house parties or intimate gatherings for a few friends; that kind of event creates extra mess as well. I'm pretty sure most people's priorities in life do not simply consist of the command "minimize living space mess and clutter."

Finally, I agree with your sideways assessment that many people who are pet owners are not fit to be pet owners and should never have been able to adopt said pet. However, a healthy pet-owner relationship brings many benefits to both parties. Some people, though, just don't like animals. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
control? are you serious ? control????

LOL, I scoop cat shiat out of an expensive little box affectionately refered to around here as
"The Poo Poo hut" I refill said box with an expensive product known as scoopable cat litter. I regularly replace charcoal filter on said hut.

I clean and maintain a water drinking fountain that is run by electricity which I pay for, I clean and fill a feeding station with both wet and dry foods.. wet foods are heated in the microwave prior to serving.

I shop and pay for feather dusters,cat nip mice, fancy collars, we transport to/from the Vet and pay him.

When it's -5 degrees outside.. the cat gets to go lie on my bed,complete with heated mattress pad, egypitian cotton sheets and a down comforter.. I get to put on boots and trudge off to work.

So tell me who's controlled? me or the cat?


I have a cat because it allows me to experience the thrill and beauty of the lion... on a much smaller scale

GOD that's beautiful! I knew i liked you for some reason.



That routine you describe sounds eerily familiar.

Our cat's official name is Miss Kitty but I also call her "The petite puma" because watching
her prancing around here it's clear that she thinks she's a fierce, large jungle animal. Lol, I think the best part of cats is that many of them don't realise how small they actually are.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

If you want to get really specific, the most untidy people I've ever lived with are children..but they grow out of that as they get bigger and learn.

my filthy home


the petite puma who lives here.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I have a cat because it allows me to experience the thrill and beauty of the lion... on a much smaller scale

"The cat is a dilettante in fur.
Dynasties of cats, as numerous as the dynasties of the Pharaohs, succeed each other under my roof. The memory of the cats we have lost fades like the memory of men.
Sometimes he sits at your feet looking into your face with an expression so gentle and caressing that the depth of this gaze startles you. Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!
It is a matter to gain the affection of a cat. He is a philosophical animal, tenacious of his own habits, fond of order and neatness, and disinclined to extravagant sentiment. He will be your friend, if he finds you worthy of friendship, but not your slave. He keeps his free will though he loves, and will not do for you what he thinks unreasonable; but if he once gives himself to you, it is with absolute confidence and fidelity of affection.
God has created the cat to give man the pleasure of caressing the tiger."
-- Théophile Gautier

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: JMapleton

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JMapleton


Thoughts on this, or am I just weird?

Yes, you're weird. Pets are enjoyable.

But my question is, are they worth the trouble? Or are the inconveniences of owning a dog overshadowed by society's acceptance of them?

What if no one had a dog or pets in general. And one day you said, "see this thing of the wild? I will capture it and raise it as my own child!" What do you think the response would be?

The history of dogs and humans is more noble than that. You are an ass.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JMapleton

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
it will give you unconditional love.

I disagree with this because I think it's an illusion. A pet does not know or can understand what love is, so any concept is receiving love from a pet is moreso a false sense of having received love.

You're probably best off just stopping right there. Besides, you sound like some emo high school kid.

Seriously. We still haven't forgotten about what you think you're owed, either.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I have a cat because it allows me to experience the thrill and beauty of the lion... on a much smaller scale

"The cat is a dilettante in fur.
Dynasties of cats, as numerous as the dynasties of the Pharaohs, succeed each other under my roof. The memory of the cats we have lost fades like the memory of men.
Sometimes he sits at your feet looking into your face with an expression so gentle and caressing that the depth of this gaze startles you. Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!
It is a matter to gain the affection of a cat. He is a philosophical animal, tenacious of his own habits, fond of order and neatness, and disinclined to extravagant sentiment. He will be your friend, if he finds you worthy of friendship, but not your slave. He keeps his free will though he loves, and will not do for you what he thinks unreasonable; but if he once gives himself to you, it is with absolute confidence and fidelity of affection.
God has created the cat to give man the pleasure of caressing the tiger."
-- Théophile Gautier

I love the Gautier quote but also like this one

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats.
- - - Albert Schweitzer

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: badkarma1399
I have chickens. They're pretty dumb though.

Cats aren't terribly smart, actually. I once raised 1/2 dozen chicks while living on a farm. They grew amazingly fast and it was my intention to eat them! But I could not do it. They were like my best friends. When I'd get home from work on the farm they'd all come rushing up to greet me. How could I eat them? :laugh: Come to think of it, they were the last "pets" I've had, although my original intention was to raise some food.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Problems with orders and messes (along with problem behavior) can be solved without much fuss unless you are lazy and/or stupid. Smell can be addressed with proper cat litter and litter box placement, proper cleaning of litter box and training the cat when it's a kitten to use the litter box properly (some are so trained to use it they will only use the litter box even if they go outside). There is a gel for hair balls that you squeeze a little on your finger and the cat will happily lick it off. Brush your damn cat and you have a vacuum for a reason (even better, get the proper fitting and train your cat to not mind being vacuumed).

Toy dogs I do not understand (there are small breeds that have a purpose), but for most it's a matter of 1-loyalty, 2-unconditional love/affection from animal, 3-protection.

With cats, you have to screw up big time to have any sort of rodent problem, they can have free roam of your house without much trouble allowing them to interact with you all the time while you're there, though small dogs are able to do this too. There they are also cleaner if you have a small yard (or none) as their waste is easily managed.

Now OP, what you probably want is a ornamental pet. Something that is more of a hobby then a responsibility. I recommend starting with fish, if you can keep those alive then move onto something like a turtle.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I recommend starting with fish, if you can keep those alive then move onto something like a turtle.

Fish are pretty easy, although you have to pay attention to certain things, and some fish are easier than others. I didn't take care of our tropical fish, my dad did. I never had much luck with turtles, myself. Maybe I didn't do the right things. I think a parakeet might be pretty easy if you feed it right and clean its cage. I've always thought it might be fun to have a talking bird. Parakeets can be taught to speak but it's relatively tough. I was pretty convinced that mine did finally say "hello" (and loudly) but I wasn't certain. It was thrilling, actually.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Try this-

Lock you girlfriend and your dog in your trunk for 30 minutes. After 30 minures, open the trunk and see which one is happy to see you.

This is why people like dogs.

lol

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: JMapleton

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: JMapleton


Thoughts on this, or am I just weird?

Yes, you're weird. Pets are enjoyable.

But my question is, are they worth the trouble? Or are the inconveniences of owning a dog overshadowed by society's acceptance of them?

What if no one had a dog or pets in general. And one day you said, "see this thing of the wild? I will capture it and raise it as my own child!" What do you think the response would be?

Worth the trouble?

Hell, our pets are far less trouble than our kids ever were...

Are pets inconvenient? Perhaps, to a point.

If you go on vacation, you have to make arrangements for their care, but then again,
I only wish I could have put my kids in a kennel when we went on vacation.


I can guarantee that the kids in my neighborhood cause more damage than my cats do.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Jesus Christ, don't you have better things to do during study hall than this?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Jesus Christ, don't you have better things to do during study hall than this?

Jesus posts in ATOTl?! :Q Whoa... I always thought is was just people who think they're Jesus Christ...

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Hardly no one in this thread has brought up the fact that most animals make a mess of your house, cause odors, shed, often times leave "gifts" on the carpet. Is anyone concerned about a clean house, from the looks most "show me your desktop" threads I don't think most people here keep their house very clean.

Jesus Christ, don't you have better things to do during study hall than this?

Jesus posts in ATOTl?! :Q Whoa... I always thought is was just people who think they're Jesus Christ...

We know that's shens...Hay-sus don need no stinkin study hall.