CATS

[Heresy488]

What is with Brian and his friends and all their intense love affairs with cats!?

Brian has cats. Buddy Dan has cats, I'm pretty sure everyone Brian knows has at least one cat! Cats are stupid, they're messy, they're jerks!


A dog is at least evolved enough to learn and understand orders. A dog is useful, they can be trained, they can provide companionship - a cat is an under-developed poor excuse of hair and meat.



Cats! Ugh!

[Flarecobra]

I've seen cats learn to open doors which are latched. My own came when called, I taught one how to fetch. They were low-maintance, we could leave them alone for a weekend and not worry about them making a mess, or starving. We've left food for them, and came back to find that they still had some left over. They are remain small, and perfect for laying in your lap. Also, I've been very sick before...and my cat was there to comfert me. Helped me feel better.

Also, cats are EXTREMELY clean. I met this one cat when I was stuck in Kuwait during Christmas...and that thing was about the cleanest outdoor cat I have ever met. And given that it was living in a desert envirenment....well...that says something.

May have opened up quite a can of worms there.

[batgirl]

I'd love to hear your explanation as to why you think cats are stupid and jerks. Cats are pretty smart and are very trainable. They are affectionate yet independent in the sense where they will cuddle with you, but you can leave them alone and they can fend for themselves.

Perhaps you can provide specific examples as to why cats are underdeveloped poor excuses for meat and fur?

[Archbio]

A dog is at least evolved enough to learn and understand orders.

Cats are advanced enough to learn and ignore orders.

[Kim]

Cats are advanced enough to learn and ignore orders.

Just like people!

[Mike McC]

Also, cats are excellent for keeping mice away. They have a very important job on farms because of that.

[bluestarultor]

I fail to see how cats are messy, either. They're easily litter trained. Sure, you can take a dog out in the yard, but you still have to pick up the poo, and it's all over the place. Cats poop in one confined area (or more, if you have more than one litter box), and all you have to do is grab the handles, tie it up, and toss it in the dumpster.

The only mess cats make is shedding, and dogs do that, too.



Plus, you can train a cat to do anything you'd train a dog to do. Ours do tricks, like jumping through a hoop. :D

[The Wandering God]

"Why do you a lot of people love cats instead of dogs?"

Because they are comparatively quiet creatures that don't want/need constant attention. Also, they are sometimes smaller and can be kept indoors so that can be a factor as well.

But mostly it's the 'tude.

Oh, it is on!

The Wandering God

[krogothwolf]

Cats can also want and crave attention. My cat greets me when I get home, and will sit in my lap while watching tv and playing games while nuzzling my hand and or leg.

Plus his name is Optimus Prime so he's also bad ass!

[Lady Cygnet]

Cats bury their own urine and feces, can catch and kill mice, can be trained, can be loving and gentle even with babies, and are intelligent enough to amuse themselves without humans having to be present. I find them to be better and more personable companions than dogs. That being said, I would never call a dog a poor excuse of hair and meat, even though I'm not a big fan of them. You may not like cats, Heresy, but it would behoove you not to disrespect those of us who do.

[krogothwolf]

I love both animals, but out of my 2 dogs and 2 cats, the cats are far more intelligent then my dogs. The respond better to their names then the dogs, they are far better trained.

I use to hate cats and love dogs more but since owning Cat's i've found them to be easier to train, smarter and more calm then dogs.

If you want energy get a dog, if you want a pet that'll lay in your lap and be there around you get a cat.

Think about it this way, you train the dog to go outside, it goes everywhere outside. You train the cat to go in the litter box, it wont even go in that litter box if its different litter and will hold it in till it has to because it's trained to go in a certain type of litter. Cats are also, from the young to the old, much more relaxed then dogs. Dogs are almost always high on energy unless you get a specific breed of dog. Dogs usually wont stop eating till the foods gone. Cats are smart enough to eat what they are hungry for and stop eating after that.

I've also noticed cats generally tend to be able to read the mood of a human. If I'm sad for whatever reason my cat comes up to me, nuzzles me paws at me, and lays in my lap quicker then if I'm fine. And he also stays around me till I'm feeling better. I've never had a dog do that before.

[BitVyper]

On cats: Cats are awesome. I love cats. They're also very trainable so long as you actually have an idea of what you're doing. Most pet owners don't, sadly. I think the problem is that a lot of people get cats under the impression that they'll just take care of themselves. That's fine if you've got barn cats or something, but you can't just toss them into the burbs and expect them to sort things out to your personal satisfaction themselves. Just because they aren't as social doesn't mean they don't need anything from you.

On dogs: There is a pretty long list of jobs dogs can do that we can't actually come up with a better way of doing. Most of the animal labour we use has been replaced as our technology got better. Not only is this not true with dogs, but we keep finding other things they're good at (like being able to detect cancer with ridiculous accuracy). Also I'm pretty sure Collie Sense is even more potent than Spider Sense.

Canids have been with us pretty much every step of the way almost as far back as we could reasonably be called "human." And dogs basically grew up with us. As species go, they're more or less our foster family.

Funny cat story: I was delivering to a house. On the walkway, there was a cat that more or less resembled Greebo. I'm talking OLDSCHOOL tomcat here. Mangy fur, nasty squint in his eye, couple of scars etc. This is the sort of cat that will get into a fight with the sun convinced that it can win. It was giving me the "FUCK YOU!" squint.

So I make my delivery in as non-threatening a manner as I possibly can. I walk past the cat on my way to leave, fully aware that this is the most likely time for it to go after me.

I hear a hiss.

I wasn't a normal hiss. Not the quick "HSSS" you'll get from a pissed off cat. This was slow and inevitable, like a rising tide. Not forceful, but ominous. It sounded a lot like the Xenos from the Aliens movies. I turned around just in time to see this little monster launch itself at me. I stepped back, so it just caught my leg. The fucker started trying to climb up me. I managed to throw it off (my pant leg in tatters, and my leg cut up a bit), then chased it away, but god DAMN that was a mean old tom.

Also in response to the thread's title:

Move Zig.

[Mashirosen]

H.P. Lovecraft says you're dumb, tasteless, and probably you smell. (http://rca.vmk.zhdk.ch/lovecraft/html/catsdogs.htm) Just putting that out there.

[01d55]

I was going to make a joke about not relying on ol' H.P. as an authority due to racism, but then I read the link and saw that all the jokes are already there.

[Azisien]

Hahaha, oh man Lovecraft is silly. He thinks just cause I prefer dogs I attach value to humanity. Really, it's the opposite. I have realized from the nigh-perfection of my dogs that humanity, and most other organisms, are quite inferior! Silly Lovecraft, stick to being inspiration for awesome board games.

Come, my fellow canine lovers, we gots some ugly-shedding-jerkish-annoying felines to slay! TO THE WAR PATH!

http://www.hot-screensaver.com/wp-myimages/adorable-puppies.jpg

[katiuska]

"Why do you a lot of people love cats instead of dogs?"

Because they are comparatively quiet creatures that don't want/need constant attention. Also, they are sometimes smaller and can be kept indoors so that can be a factor as well.

But mostly it's the 'tude.

Oh, it is on!

The Wandering God

I keep hoping for this thread to turn into an excuse to post a bunch of cat pics.

Re: the relative intelligence of cats and dogs. Because cats aren't pack animals (though they can be social) they aren't as receptive to social cues the way dogs or humans are. Dogs are fairly social intelligent. On the other hand, cats have memory retention and problem-solving skills far beyond dogs and a lot of other mammals. (This is to say nothing about individual variation--my current cat is dopey as hell, cute as he is, while my childhood cat continued to manage whatever he wanted to achieve even when he barely had a viable body to do it with.) That's as much as I'll add. I'm fully in the "cat" camp, but I'm pretty much sick of these arguments on both sides.

[BitVyper]

H.P. Lovecraft says you're dumb, tasteless, and probably you smell. (http://rca.vmk.zhdk.ch/lovecraft/html/catsdogs.htm) Just putting that out there.

Yeah, but he says that about everybody.

[DarkDrgon]

but cats make me unable to breathe.....

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I love cats.
Dogs not so much. I don't like people/animals who mindlessly obey pointless orders by shouting idiots.
Some dogs are okay, though. But they're rather rare.

Cats on the other hand are awesome.

I love cats.
Venetian Snares has a whole album dedicated to his cats. It's called "Songs about my cats" Check it out.

[BitVyper]

I don't like people/animals who mindlessly obey pointless orders by shouting idiots.

See, just shouting orders and expecting results is pretty much how you fail to train a dog. Or any animal for that matter. Dogs and cats are trained essentially the same way. The major difference is that dogs get us a little bit better due to having lived with us for somewhere between fifteen and four hundred thousand years.

Then again, there's a lot more people around who work with dogs, and social constructs based on working with dogs. People don't really get cats for the purpose of training, so it's hard to compare the two in that vein. I guess the biggest difference with cats is that, being less social, they tend to be less interested in what you have to say, so it takes a bit more work to hold their attention.

[Mashirosen]

Yeah, but he says that about everybody.

Well, you know what they say about stopped racist (lol I am the first person to make this joke ever) clocks.

[Meister]

Dogs are hyperactive and unbuddhistically restless creatures who follow only their most basic impulses and will readily eat floppy, smelly animal organs, their poop and your material posessions.

Cats are suave, sophisticated animals who hold themselves to the highest standards, but are still affectionate and thoughtful of others.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1931/waincats.png (http://img190.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waincats.png)

It is an easy choice.

[Lumenskir]

Heh, I like that a lot of the anti-dog sentiments (stupid, needy, unthinkingly loyal) are pretty much the exact reasons I love my dog. However, that first post reads a little over-the-top antagonistic* to warrant all of this earnestly boisterous "My pet is better"-posturing.

*As in, the only thing he forgot to include was the 'fact' that cats merely befriended humans so that they could eat the eyeballs of their owners when they eventually die.

[Flarecobra]

Let's not forget: Cats historically been worshipped as gods. Ancient Egypt comes to mind, where when the cats owned by high-profile people/leaders died, they were mummified as well.

[Si Civa]

Let's not forget: Cats historically been worshipped as gods. Ancient Egypt comes to mind

Anubis.

This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puss_in_Boots_(fairy_tale)), however, just proves why cats rule. The only problem with them is though that I'm allergic to them, which kinda takes away the charm.

[Meister]

Anubis has a jackal's head though.

[Kim]

Yeah, jackals make terrible pets.

[TheSparrow]

Dogs are hyperactive and unbuddhistically restless creatures who follow only their most basic impulses and will readily eat floppy, smelly animal organs, their poop and your material posessions.

Cats are suave, sophisticated animals who hold themselves to the highest standards, but are still affectionate and thoughtful of others.



It is an easy choice.

Sure because its not like there are cats that run around the house likes maniacs on crack, destroy furniture, pee all over everything, have hissy fits about new animals, kill animals and leave half eaten carcasses all over.

Let's not forget: Cats historically been worshipped as gods. Ancient Egypt comes to mind, where when the cats owned by high-profile people/leaders died, they were mummified as well.

Cows are worshipped as sacred around the world. Don't make them quality animals. Tasty, yes.

[EVILNess]

I don't want a cat because they will eat you if you die.

Also, I am allergic.

[Mashirosen]

Thoughts on the subject from a much better poet (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?GRid=9761461&page=gr)than Lovecraft:

"Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains of one
Who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
If inscribed over human ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
BOATSWAIN, a DOG
Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,
And died at Newstead, Nov 18th, 1808.


When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rest below:
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been:
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth:
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.
Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power,
Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye! who perchance behold this simple urn,
Pass on --- it honours none you wish to mourn:
To mark a friend's remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one, --- and here he lies."

[Si Civa]

Anubis has a jackal's head though.
Small details, psft hpft.

Yeah, jackals make terrible pets.

Actually, when you think it that way, it's not suprise that Anubis is god of death.

[Azisien]

Let's not forget: Cats historically been worshipped as gods. Ancient Egypt comes to mind, where when the cats owned by high-profile people/leaders died, they were mummified as well.

I can't decide whether this is support of cat superiority or human stupidity, or both. I'll think it over while I walk my awesome dog!

[Lumenskir]

I'll think it over while I walk my awesome dog!
Oh man, isn't walking dogs just great? Also, if the picture you posted was from your actual life, those are seriously adorable dogs.

I would attempt to post a picture, but it seems that my dog is afflicted with a very rare Weimaraner disease. Where most of her breed can just genetically pose for art-pop photos, she merely becomes aware that a camera is facing her and will automatically, without fail, cock her head to the side, let her mouth drop and her tongue loll out, and generally end up looking like the most brainless creature on the planet. I cannot give the cat lovers the ammunition.

[Flarecobra]

Cows are worshipped as sacred around the world. Don't make them quality animals. Tasty, yes.

Dogs are tasty too.

[Azisien]

Dogs are hyperactive and unbuddhistically restless creatures who follow only their most basic impulses and will readily eat floppy, smelly animal organs, their poop and your material posessions.

Cats are suave, sophisticated animals who hold themselves to the highest standards, but are still affectionate and thoughtful of others.

I've suddenly had a double take on this thought. My cat cares about two things ever: how full his food dish is and how often I pet him. Now, if that's not basic impulses then I don't know what is. I think all this hub-bub about cats seems to be because they slink around in 'stealth mode' all the time. Yeah, okay, cats are stealthy, oooo.

Oh man, isn't walking dogs just great? Also, if the picture you posted was from your actual life, those are seriously adorable dogs.

Oh yeah. Well, everything I do with my dog is great. Sadly those aren't my puppies, just the cutest things to pop up on Google Images, but I assure you my dog is the smartest, most loving, and surprisingly docile canine I've ever encountered. And usually poodles are considered yappy and hyperactive, but my cat is the yappy one.

[bluestarultor]

If you think walking a dog is great, try walking a cat. Seriously! I walk my cats and people always think it's totally awesome. Everyone walks dogs. Cats are even better, and they don't use the time to make messes.

[Azisien]

Well that just puts me into one-up mode and I kind of want to walk my fish. Well he'd be swimming I guess, and I'd be walking. So that'd be swilking?

[bluestarultor]

Well that just puts me into one-up mode and I kind of want to walk my fish. Well he'd be swimming I guess, and I'd be walking. So that'd be swilking?

Good luck trying to collar a fish. You'd have to put a string through its gills, which I'd put down as just cruel. Besides fish never STOP swimming. That's just some crazy dude dragging a fish tank down the street, which is more likely to get you stared at for all the wrong reasons. XD

[BitVyper]

Good luck trying to collar a fish. You'd have to put a string through its gills, which I'd put down as just cruel. Besides fish never STOP swimming. That's just some crazy dude dragging a fish tank down the street, which is more likely to get you stared at for all the wrong reasons. XD

Nah, you don't need to collar a fish. See they can't really get away from you on dry land, so it's all good.

Yeah, jackals make terrible pets.

Like YOU'VE ever tried to raise one =P

[Michie]

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l115/michie638/Angel2.jpg

My puppy. She's 10 weeks old and knows how to sit. :whee:

I like both dogs and cats. I don't have any cats atm though.

[bluestarultor]

Nah, you don't need to collar a fish. See they can't really get away from you on dry land, so it's all good.

They can't breathe very well on dry land, either. Hence why you'd ultimately need to walk the fish tank. _|,,, (<- point)

[Archbio]

Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
BOATSWAIN, a DOG
Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,
And died at Newstead, Nov 18th, 1808.

In a keen synchronicity, I (without paying much attention) caught a bit of the Antiques Roadshow earlier today (Canadian edition I'm pretty sure), and someone had the collar that I think was said to have belonged to the Newfoundland dog that influenced Byron into adopting Boatswain, originally.

[Fifthfiend]

I like cats because I'm super-allergic to cats and I guess God thought it would be a funny dick move to go "let's make him like this type of animal and then make him allergic to them, lol."

[BitVyper]

I like cats because I'm super-allergic to cats and I guess God thought it would be a funny dick move to go "let's make him like this type of animal and then make him allergic to them, lol."

If it's the fur/dander that gets you, there is stuff you can get to help, but I'm not aware of much you can do about the saliva.

[katiuska]

If you think walking a dog is great, try walking a cat. Seriously! I walk my cats and people always think it's totally awesome. Everyone walks dogs. Cats are even better, and they don't use the time to make messes.

My old cat never took to his leash, but he was happy to tag along, so it worked out. He was actually easier than our dog, who liked to take off. Eventually my parents just stopped trying to walk him because we had a massive yard (seriously, I can still find that house right away in satellite photos because it's the one with the huge freaking fence).

[Archbio]

If it's the fur/dander that gets you, there is stuff you can get to help[...]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/2_week-old_Female_Sphynx_(Suki).jpg

[BitVyper]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/2_week-old_Female_Sphynx_(Suki).jpg

hehe, I love the Sphynxes. Their faces have a really interesting construction.

They're actually one of my favourite cats.

[Heresy488]

My family has had both cats and dogs. And without fail or exception, this has been the way they've behaved:

Dogs: usually a German Shepard or similar breed - learns their name and to come when called very quickly. Friendly. Playful. Obedient. Understands the words "walk" "leash" and "food". Protective. Clean.

The last two are important. My dogs will place themselves between myself and any other dog that comes our way during a walk. It's a small, subtle, and often unnecessary move, but damn it's cool to see. It's really really cool to see my animal aware of it's surroundings and to identify and understand potential threats. Also, my dogs will roll in the dirt and such, pretty much whatever entertains a 5 year old will fascinate my dogs. But they sure do clean up nice, and they learn to not defecate in the house where I live.



Cats: prima donnas without fail. Constantly giving the "what the fuck are you doing, where is my food?" They appear when they want attention. When you need them out of the house so they don't piss over everything, marking their territory, they can make you late for work as you chase the stupid beasts. They make freaky noises. They hiss and fight back. A cat being cool and interesting is the exception - my cats have never stealthed around the house often enough to warrant the inevitable nuisance they were.

We did have one cat, Foxy, that was awesome. He was a kitten that had been de-clawed we adopted from the shelter. He would stealth around, and pounce, and really did a lot to give cats a good image. Christmas was awesome, because he'd climb up the tree or hide under the wrapping paper and jump out at us. Too bad he disappeared one day and we never saw him again :( But even Foxy had real problems understanding when was outside time and when was inside time. He didn't behave very well either, he was just a better performer.





I can sum up my feelings about cats with this phrase: The only good cat is a lolcat.

[katiuska]

Sphynx

Alternatively, there's that.

It's cute, actually, in a hideously ugly kind of way. I'm not even sure how that works, but there you go.

Also:

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4265/catlx0.jpg

[Satan's Onion]

MORE CUTE PICTURES DAMMIT

Especially of kittens. Puppies are nice, but kittens are my Kryptonite. (I've been raised with cats most of my life, so I must confess a certain bias in this matter.) They're cute even as the little "kill" light goes on in their head and they sink all their claws into your forearm with the intent of devouring your hand, one adorably tiny chunk of flesh at a time. (But only after the fact. Long after the fact.)

[katiuska]

AS YOU COMMAND.

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/8994/foursleepingincrate2up2.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4702/scanzw9.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5117/hpim0964.jpg

He's cute even as he turns on the eye lasers.

[Odjn]

H.P. Lovecraft says you're dumb, tasteless, and probably you smell. (http://rca.vmk.zhdk.ch/lovecraft/html/catsdogs.htm) Just putting that out there.

Ha, sensitive aristocrat philosophers.

Also, rescue dogs are awesome, and I've always had fun playing with dogs. They may not be high art, but when you wanna have a good time a dog is the way to go. They are so much more affectionate and loving than cats and part of me has always appreciated how a dog will defend a caring owner against invariably fatal odds.

[Naoki]

More cute pictures!? Meet my cat, Salem.
http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp218/Arcelius/n1273497320_30374163_7110088.jpg

http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp218/Arcelius/n1273497320_30223327_5969.jpg
"Ugggggh, I was just trying to sleep"

Oddly these were taken months apart...

[Azisien]

Oh yes, it's unfathomable to have a cat sleeping in two pictures spread apart by months.

[BlackMageGirl!]

katiuska I am so saving that first picture to use as potential avatar material.

Wait. Are we allowed to post dog pictures in this thread too? Since we're arguing for/against them...

Also everyone should surrender their cats to me.

[Flarecobra]

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7407/excelblue.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7452/excelwink.jpg


Those work?

[Tev]

I almost can't see your cat's right eye. It's lost in the coloration of his fur.

[Flarecobra]

She actually winked.

[Mirai Gen]

That picture is amazingly cool.

[Tev]

Especially since it looks like you can see the cat's eye through the eyelid (because of the flash maybe?) which gives it an even odder effect.

[russianreversal]

Cats are suave, sophisticated animals who hold themselves to the highest standards, but are still affectionate and thoughtful of others. They're also douchebags with little patience and a wide range of foul temperaments. That's probably why I like them so much more than dogs.

Also, the wink was faster than the shutter, so it caught both eye open and eye closed, which is really cool.