On Fri, 31 Mar 2017 02:19:04 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Friday, 31 March 2017 08:55:01 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
On Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:25:19 +0100, "Mark" wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
news On 28/03/2017 21:38, wrote:
On Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:02:32 UTC+1, I wrote:
Which shows how wrong God was as Cat is perfection in a soft furry coat.


although there was a ferret on the bus this afternoon which was quite
sweet too.


you have probably seen this
"Cats do not need the attention a dog does but when it gives you attention
is not false. They select who they want to be with."

Exactly ... hardly great credentials for something that is supposed to
be a 'companion animal'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39440934

Maybe these are 'new men' ... those more in touch with their feminine
side or just want 'a pet' they can let out into (or have free access
to via a cat-flap) other peoples gardens to use as a toilet or bother
to walk. They certainly don't want something they could take out with
them all the time and be required by law to clear up after and to be
'in full control of'.

Again ... "They're cute, usually cuddly (if you respect their wishes)"

Great, a pet that chooses when you can pet it. ;-(

But that seems to be part of the appeal for some people ... it's like
they don't actually want a real 'companion animal' but just something
they are loosely responsible for and only ruins some of their
belongings. [1]

Cheers, T i m

[1] We have been given all sorts of furniture over the years and the
last (via Freecycle) was a very nice 3 seater leather sofa and two
leather side chairs that looked like new. I asked if they had ever
used them and they said yes, for 15 years and that included by the
Labrador puppies that the bred. Anything given to us by a cat owner
was generally ripped up somewhere.

If you ever get any real understanding of cats, let us know.

I have a full understanding of cats mate because I haven't had my
brain turned to mush by close contact with them (as in 'owning one').

In any case, it's nothing to do with what they are it's what they
would give / offer *me* .. and that is no more than a rabbit, guinea
pig or rat.

And I don't hate cats, as they know as they are often on my lap as
soon as I sit down in any house that has one (their idea), but just as
daughters (rescue) dwarf hamster is 'cute', it is a nasty little
'b*stard' with a powerful bite and again therefore, not something O
would want regular / close contact with. One of her two rescue rabbits
is quite a character and is very friendly (enjoying being stroked etc)
but would be no use to me whatsoever (the same as a cat / guinea pig /
rat etc) as a 'companion animal'. Neither have ever even shown the
slightest need to scratch or bit me though, even if they didn't want
to be stroked or picked up, unlike nearly *every* cat I've ever come
across.

I also appreciate all of the 'cat' family (big or small /
domesticated) for the features that make that species different but
that doesn't make me want one as a 'companion animal', any more that
I'd have pot bellied pig or lama. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. FWIW, outside the duty of having to look after other people
responsibilities when they go on holiday and don't take their
'companion animal' with them (as we always did), we don't currently
have a pet of any sort and that's the way I intend it to stay (because
of the commitment / cost / responsibility etc).