Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Nothing Beats a Warm Puppy

I've been talking about my cat a lot, lately. I think that's because it's really an odd thing for me to be attached to a cat. I've never owned one before (unless you count the one we had when I was around four, but we didn't have it for very long, because the neighbors thought it was fun to torture the cat in order to torture me, so we had to get rid of the cat to keep them from escalating to killing it, which, evidently, they told me they were going to do (I was four, and I don't really remember all of that; however, I do remember them tying it to their ceiling fan (on their front porch) and turning it on until the cat flew off)), and I never actually wanted to own one, so all of this with the cat is new to me.

I grew up having dogs, and I feel like I've been neglecting my dog in my blog posts of late in preference to the cat, not that the dog knows this, but it makes me feel bad. After all, nothing beats a warm puppy.
I'm not sure there is anything cuter than that, my little foxy dog. Well, except maybe this:
Speaking of warm puppies, we have the Snoopy Ice Skating Arena here where I live, and they have a cafe attached to it: the Warm Puppy Cafe. See, you can't beat a warm puppy! Here's the real proof, though:
Yeah, that's me after the dog has put me to sleep, because she does that. She's so warm and cozy, if she gets in my lap, she just puts me to sleep. It's like she secretes endorphins right into my brain, and I can't resist. It's a pretty awesome feeling. As close as I'll ever get to what it was like to nap with my kids like this when they were babies, that is until they have grand kids. And as much as I want that, I don't want it for a very long time, so the dog works pretty well in the mean time.

It's been a long time since I've done any of my "Let's Go for a Walk" (with the dog) series,
so expect another one of those sometime soon. I still haven't told y'all about the ruins.

So... I love my cat. Man, that is so weird to say. Wait, let me try that again: I love my cat. Yeah, that's weird. I worry about him, because he's out and about during the day. I don't worry about the dog like that. I don't have to, because she's right here with me all day long. Most often, she's curled up in her little bed down by my feet, and I love having her right here. If I want to get some cuddle time in, she's right here, and I can go sit on the couch with her while I try to work out what's happening next to Tib. [Speaking of Tib, the next part of Shadow Spinner, "Part Thirteen: The Clearing," should be out this next Monday, January 21, and it marks a whole new direction for Tib. If you're all the way caught up through part 12 (like you should be), you'll know that something happened at the end of that one, and nothing will be the same after.] So, as much as I love my cat, I love my dog. I want to say I love my dog more, but I think I just love my dog different. She's always here for me.

And, well, even the cat likes the dog, that's why we ended up with the cat to begin with.
(That's my younger son, who just turned 12 against my will, getting into the picture there.)

23 comments:

  1. I'm a dog person myself, but cats are pretty cool. They're so stealthy!

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  2. Don't think you can control aging. Believe me, I've tried.
    Nothing beats a dog. They are always happy to see you, even if you just stepped out to get the mail.

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  3. I am not a cat person, but am owned by a Chihuahua. :) Great pics of your dog and the first pic, she looks like a fox. Even though I don't like cats, I'd never think of hurting one. That was sad reading how those folks tortured your cat. :(

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  4. Dogs are so much better. Cats are too snobby.

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  5. I routinely use my two dogs as heaters so I'm with you on the warm puppy thing.

    But my cats do not like my dogs.

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  6. Yea dogs just have more spunk and personality.

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  7. Cats are cool. I'd have one but I'm allergic to the cat hair. But I think they are great pets.

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  8. Dogs don't get anywhere near as much Internet love as the should. Glad you gave yours a moment in the sun.

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  9. Hey Andrew, great pics! I like cats and dogs and have had both. I think they're great in their own ways..I don't really think one is better than the other, they're just different. I still have the cat I adopted from the SPCA in 2001 when she was 7. She has such a cool personality and back when we had her and two large dogs, she was the clear boss! Everytime I have people over, she'll pick someone to sit right next to (she always sits high, like on the back of the couch) and just stare at them. If they ignore her, she'll put a paw gently on their cheek and meow softly....she's definatley a weirdo!

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  10. Great picture! My doctor has a little white dog she takes to the office with her, because animals are known to relax and lower patient's blood pressure. I have to admit, seeing that little puppy, always makes me smile and a little less likely to hate being there.

    I now own a cat, after years upon years of owning dogs. Never in a million years would I have predicted how much I'd love a cat. But she is awe-some! And hands down, best pet I've EVER had.

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  11. Bonnee: Well, I'm a dog person, too. I tend to like just about any dog, but I only really like this one cat.

    Alex: But I want to control it! Doesn't the fact that I don't want to use to keep myself young count for anything?
    And my dog waits for me when I just get up to go to the bathroom, but I already posted about that.

    G_G: It was sad. That cat had a very tragic life.

    PT: I don't disagree with you.

    M.J.: That doesn't surprise me. There aren't any other cats around here that like my dog. He's just a... different sort of cat.

    JKIR,F: Well, I'm not entirely sure about that. This cat has a lot of personality. I think they are just different personality types.

    Michael: This one is certainly a great pet, but I don't know if I would say that about all cats.

    Rusty: They don't! And I really don't get it, because it's not like cats are more cute than dogs. They are more insane, though, so, maybe, that's what it is. Like being fascinated with Lohan.

    Eve: The other day, the cat was laying next to me on the couch, and the dog hopped up on me. The cat looked at the dog, looked at me, looked at the dog and, then, very deliberately placed one paw on my leg. It was definitely a statement of possession. The dog didn't notice. heh

    jaybird: I know! I never thought I would own a cat! I wouldn't say Jack is the best pet I've ever had, but he's certainly up there, which is surprising considering the number of dogs I've had.

    randi lee: Me, too! She's so great!

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  12. I see you have a naptime friend. You'll never want a blanket, that's for sure.

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  13. I am 100 % a dog person- but good for you for loving your cat :)

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  14. Oh man I have to tell you, I was never a cat person until my little grey tabby (Ruby). Now I wouldn't have it any other way!!

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  15. Jeanne: Oh, I still need a blanket. I get pretty cold. So does she, actually, so, often, she is under the blanket with me.

    cestlavie22: Well, I would have said that, too, a few months ago. I suppose I'm 99% dog, now.

    OE: It's amazing, isn't it? I would never have imagined.

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  16. We've had cats' we've had dogs. Love 'em both. Right now, we have two very spoiled cats. With an empty nest and all the grandchildren living much too far away, these cats are like our kids. One of the best things about cats is we can go away for a few days without having to worry about boarding them. Put out extra food, water, and litter box, and they're good to go.

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  17. Susan: I'm not sure I could bring myself to do that. Do cats really ration the food out? I know if it was a dog, the dog would everything it could to eat all of the food all at once.

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  18. Dog person here. My little dog loves to burrow up especially on these cold, cold days.

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  19. Rebecca: Mine, too. Sometimes, I can't find her, because she burrowed down into some blankets somewhere. I'm running around the house calling her trying to figure out where she could have gone to, and, when she finally pokes her head out, she has this look, "What? I was right here. What you freaking out about?"

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  20. The neighbours who abused your childhood cat sound like terrible people. How did they sleep at night and look at themselves in the mirror, knowing they tortured an innocent animal, who was unable to defend itself? =(

    I have 2 cats myself and they are my everything, I love them to bits and pieces. One of them (Pepper) is a very nice cat. He's so gentle, never aggressive to us, our family members, or his little brother-cat. The kitten (10 month old Tiger) is very affectionate. Always follows me around the house, sleeps in my lap, meows for attention when he is being ignored. I love his body warmth on a cold day.

    I've grown up around animals, we had rabbits, turtles and 2 other cats as children, I can't imagine a life without pets.

    I absolutely ADORE dogs and would love to have one, but can't due to religious reasons. =( I think they are beautiful creatures. So loyal, friendly, and wonderful companions.

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  21. Sadaf: Well, you know, and I hate to say it like this, but I grew up in the South, and, I think, that was pretty typical behavior of a lot of people.
    And dogs ARE wonderful :)

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  22. American Heart Association scientists have discovered that cats and Cat names can significantly reduce stress-related increases in blood pressure. Other scientific studies have confirmed anecdotal evidence that pets help fight loneliness and depression. Similarly, pets have a wholesome effect on those suffering from long-term health problems.

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