sometimes you just want to sit down and eat while watching TV.

And thus your cat will come up, get right in your face, and try it's hardest to get your food.


Funny thing: when I got done eating he came up and sniffed my mouth, then licked my nose until I started giggling. THAT TICKLES!

The perils of breed rescue and pet stores...
 

I adopted dog #2 from the breed rescue organization of dog #1's breed. We learned that she was a pet store puppy, whose first owners gave her up because she tormented their two cats. Rescue is a good thing, right?

*Unlike dog #1, dog #2 freaked out in a crate. She'd paw at the doors frantically until we let her out.

*Bought a nice, open crate. She liked that better, but would pee and poop on the floor and dance in it.

*Got a bigger open crate that would fit both (20+ lb) dogs. This arrangement worked fine (no peeing or pooping), until the day that dog #1 got fed up and dog #2 got a bite on her face. (During a blizzard, which meant Animal Emergency Clinic --$$$$$)

*Moved the dogs to the kitchen with baby gate. They learned to open cabinets and pull "toys" out. Bought and installed child safety latches.

*10 years later, dog #2 is still not fully housebroken. It could be because of her pet store upbringing. Or as the animal behaviorist (more $$$$) suggested, she's just not motivated to go outside. Dog #1 never messes in the house, and looks horrified when dog #2 does. So, I do know how to housebreak a dog, just not dog #2.

Phew! This thread is like group therapy.

Let me start by saying I think the pros definitely out weigh the cons.....But to name a few

Doggie throw-up is nasty
You will never sleep in again past the crack of dawn
Not knowing what is wrong when they are hurt of sick

Wow, is the unconditional love worth that much effort? Its like taking care of an invalid that barks or purrs.

You know, I doubt most of you put that much intesive labor into a significant other. Something to think about.

Haha. Supposedly when animals go crazy like that...they are seeing or sensing spirits/ghosts.

My bird goes batshit crazy like that sometimes and it freaks me out.

Who needs kids when you got pets!!
 

Love my cats (Neo and Agent Smith) to death, but they are just like having kids sometimes

~ Bring something new into the apartment...they MUST investigate it for the next hour.

~ Must be fed twice daily with fresh (MUST be fresh) water all the time

~Thinking of going out of town??? Need to find someone to feed and clean the litter....I had to pay my sister $60 to do it for 2 days while I was in LV....I called twice a day to make sure she didn't starve them and that she played with them too...you'll worry and miss them at the same time...even feel a little guilty for leaving them

~They have to be brushed so that their hair isn't everywhere even though you WILL vaccum 3 to 4 times a week...sometimes more.

~They will make your place a mess by all the crap they knock over while they chase each other for hours at a time.

Children I tell you!!! ;)

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO right James. And when my boyfriend wakes up in the middle of the night to walk MY dog, he is always reminding me of this fact, or when I come home and they are both there and I say hi to him but get all goo-goo-ey over the puppy, yes, "jealously" definately is around us LOL.

and a ton of cattitude...
my boy, shadow, pouted all last weekend because i had to keep him in. a black cat on halloween, of course he stayed safe. and, of course, the weather was wonderful. one unhappy kitty. oh well. i love him to death and agree he's a kid.

I have never had a pet before in my life until I moved out and got my own place! Now I have 4 bunnies lol.

Re: The perils of breed rescue and pet stores...
 

:) I can relate to that part. About once every two weeks I'll get up in the morning or come home from work and hear a thump-thump-thump. Look a little closer and one of the cabinet doors is moving a bit to make the noise. Open the cabinet door and out walks my cat.