Dogs proven superior to cats.

Main Coons are big to begin with but that is one porker of a cat.

thejokeriv wrote:

Gee - it took a study to figure that out?

tohostudios wrote:

Main Coons are big to begin with but that is one porker of a cat.

I dig that cat.

SAHB Healer wrote:

A recent study published by New Scientist magazine claims to prove that Dogs are superior pets compared to Cats according to a study invloving 11 different "scientific" criteria. "Dogs showed greater ability to understand commands, problem solve, and were generally more helpful" it was said.

My take on this is that since the study also suggested that Cats "overall had more powerful brains" than Dogs, that the Cats undersand commands just fine, they just usually decide not to comply with the command.

Growing up, my father taught all our cats every standard trick dogs do. The cats I grew up with were far smarter than any dog I've ever encountered.

Eyesore wrote:

SAHB Healer wrote:

A recent study published by New Scientist magazine claims to prove that Dogs are superior pets compared to Cats according to a study invloving 11 different "scientific" criteria. "Dogs showed greater ability to understand commands, problem solve, and were generally more helpful" it was said.

My take on this is that since the study also suggested that Cats "overall had more powerful brains" than Dogs, that the Cats undersand commands just fine, they just usually decide not to comply with the command.

Growing up, my father taught all our cats every standard trick dogs do. The cats I grew up with were far smarter than any dog I've ever encountered.

It's all about motivation. Dogs will do anything to please their owner; you have to convince cats that there's something in it for them if they obey.

tohostudios wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

SAHB Healer wrote:

A recent study published by New Scientist magazine claims to prove that Dogs are superior pets compared to Cats according to a study invloving 11 different "scientific" criteria. "Dogs showed greater ability to understand commands, problem solve, and were generally more helpful" it was said.

My take on this is that since the study also suggested that Cats "overall had more powerful brains" than Dogs, that the Cats undersand commands just fine, they just usually decide not to comply with the command.

Growing up, my father taught all our cats every standard trick dogs do. The cats I grew up with were far smarter than any dog I've ever encountered.

It's all about motivation. Dogs will do anything to please their owner; you have to convince cats that there's something in it for them if they obey.

My father used to fold up a bunch of pieces of cardboard—usually from scratch tickets; the dude was addicted—and then one red piece from a pack of Marlboros. He'd throw the red piece to the cat, Sam, a few times, and he'd fetch just like a dog. Then my father would throw all the pieces, and Sam would chase after them, swatting them all around until he found the red one. Then he'd bring it back.

It was all pretty awesome. Our cats flat out ruled!

Eyesore wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

SAHB Healer wrote:

A recent study published by New Scientist magazine claims to prove that Dogs are superior pets compared to Cats according to a study invloving 11 different "scientific" criteria. "Dogs showed greater ability to understand commands, problem solve, and were generally more helpful" it was said.

My take on this is that since the study also suggested that Cats "overall had more powerful brains" than Dogs, that the Cats undersand commands just fine, they just usually decide not to comply with the command.

Growing up, my father taught all our cats every standard trick dogs do. The cats I grew up with were far smarter than any dog I've ever encountered.

It's all about motivation. Dogs will do anything to please their owner; you have to convince cats that there's something in it for them if they obey.

My father used to fold up a bunch of pieces of cardboard—usually from scratch tickets; the dude was addicted—and then one red piece from a pack of Marlboros. He'd throw the red piece to the cat, Sam, a few times, and he'd fetch just like a dog. Then my father would throw all the pieces, and Sam would chase after them, swatting them all around until he found the red one. Then he'd bring it back.

It was all pretty awesome. Our cats flat out ruled!

IMO, cats just flat out rule period.

Dogs are essentially "lackeys".

Cats are independent and they know who they are. They only do what they want to do and as an "owner" you have to earn their trust and respect.

TheNazgul wrote:

Now THAT is some serious kitty!

Awesome pic, Nazz. Our older cat (who is sadly no longer with us -- R.I.P. my feline brotha!) was a Maine Coon mix of some sort. He had the body type (i.e. chunky) and the fluffy fur and poofy tail but his markings were different, he was black & white as opposed to the tiger stripes Maine Coons have. (We called him our "Cow Cat." Haha.)

I'd never had much experience with cats till my then-girlfriend (now my wife) and I moved in together in the late 90s and "Lester" came along with her. He was weird with me at first and kept his distance but eventually he decided I was OK. (Probably because I was the guy in charge of feeding and litter box...haha). Eventually he'd flop on the floor in front of me in a pose very similar to your cat's pic, like "OK pal, make with the belly rubbin'." When we got another cat a year or two later, he became "my" cat while the "new" one became my wife's. He would sit in my lap while I watched TV, follow me around, etc., etc. He's been gone going on two years now, and I still miss the fuzzy little b*stard.

this is Squeak and she ruins everyone's s*** all day long. She cannot make typical cat noises and instead only manages a..squeaking sound. She comes to greet me home from work every single day and sometimes jumps in the car. She is upset when the other kitties approach and hisses because I am her human-thing. Who needs a woman? If she only made dinner. And wasn't hairy, and a cat.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

this is Squeak and she ruins everyone's s*** all day long. She cannot make typical cat noises and instead only manages a..squeaking sound. She comes to greet me home from work every single day and sometimes jumps in the car. She is upset when the other kitties approach and hisses because I am her human-thing. Who needs a woman? If she only made dinner. And wasn't hairy, and a cat.

We had a Maine Coon like yours named Olivia and she did that same squeak sound you mentioned so it must be a MC trait... she also like to roll around on the ground when your walking somewhere trying to be all cute.

If Max feels like he's losing, he just takes over the board.

The brown one is Godiva, a Havana Brown I adopted from a rescue group. She was rescued from an illegal cattery. The black and white one is Tux. He was part of a litter of feral kittens we trapped at work. I volunteered just to help socialize them but I ended up keeping him.

I like dogs more than cats, but I think cats probably take less maintenance than dogs. Thing is, I've never had a cat that liked me, and they don't really give you that warm fuzzy feeling that my dogs have been able to get out of me. Cats are just plain snooty. Dogs are friendly, unless they are mean then they need to get put down if they can't be trained.

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

Toho - I forgot one of your cats looks like my cat - here's Scully:

tohostudios wrote:

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

I would consider a cat if I knew it would be like Godiva, and I didn't have to put up with stinky high maintenance litterbox, and I was assured the cat wouldn't pee in my house, and would be nice to me. I think that is asking a lot out of cat.

Love that spot on the nose. Makes him look snooty.

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

I would consider a cat if I knew it would be like Godiva, and I didn't have to put up with stinky high maintenance litterbox, and I was assured the cat wouldn't pee in my house, and would be nice to me. I think that is asking a lot out of cat.

Scooping the litterbox once a day is a lot less maintenance than walking a dog several times a day IMO. And a good way to assure your cat won't pee in your house is to neuter it. Most cats that pee outside the litterbox are un-neutered males who are marking their territory.

The "being nice to you" part is strictly up to the cat (assuming you do your part). As I said, my 2 cats react completely different to me. Godiva is a major lovebug while Tux is your typical standoffish cat. I treat them both the same and love both equally so it has to be that they just have different personalities.

TheNazgul wrote:

Love that spot on the nose. Makes him look snooty.

She's a kitler

thejokeriv wrote:

Toho - I forgot one of your cats looks like my cat - here's Scully:

Scully's very similar to Tux. I've come to find out that there's a whole "subculture" of people who have Tuxedo cats. They even have their own calendars. I just like the way Tux is marked; his white markings are almost perfectly symmetrical. The only parts that aren't are his paws.

tohostudios wrote:

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

I would consider a cat if I knew it would be like Godiva, and I didn't have to put up with stinky high maintenance litterbox, and I was assured the cat wouldn't pee in my house, and would be nice to me. I think that is asking a lot out of cat.

Scooping the litterbox once a day is a lot less maintenance than walking a dog several times a day IMO. And a good way to assure your cat won't pee in your house is to neuter it. Most cats that pee outside the litterbox are un-neutered males who are marking their territory.

The "being nice to you" part is strictly up to the cat (assuming you do your part). As I said, my 2 cats react completely different to me. Godiva is a major lovebug while Tux is your typical standoffish cat. I treat them both the same and love both equally so it has to be that they just have different personalities.

I would consider rescuing a cat, but the thing about that is that, rescue cats are probably other peoples cast offs, and buying from a pet store is probably very expensive, plus you still don't know what you will get.

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

I would consider a cat if I knew it would be like Godiva, and I didn't have to put up with stinky high maintenance litterbox, and I was assured the cat wouldn't pee in my house, and would be nice to me. I think that is asking a lot out of cat.

Scooping the litterbox once a day is a lot less maintenance than walking a dog several times a day IMO. And a good way to assure your cat won't pee in your house is to neuter it. Most cats that pee outside the litterbox are un-neutered males who are marking their territory.

The "being nice to you" part is strictly up to the cat (assuming you do your part). As I said, my 2 cats react completely different to me. Godiva is a major lovebug while Tux is your typical standoffish cat. I treat them both the same and love both equally so it has to be that they just have different personalities.

I would consider rescuing a cat, but the thing about that is that, rescue cats are probably other peoples cast offs, and buying from a pet store is probably very expensive, plus you still don't know what you will get.

You'd be surprised.

As I said, I got Godiva from a rescue group and she's an extremely rare breed. The group took her in as part of a bust of an illegal "kitten mill". There are lots of purebred dogs and cats in shelters if people want to adopt a specific breed.

I actually was simply looking for a dark colored cat to go along with Tux and his black and white markings; I wasn't looking for any specific breed. I went to petfinders.com and entered in the criteria of what I was looking for. When Godiva popped up, I had no idea that she was a rare breed; I just liked her look and her story.

Moral of the story is that just because you adopt from a rescue group doesn't mean you are getting other people's castoffs; you may be getting a rescue from an illegal breeding facility.

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

bgast1 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Godiva is the most "dog-like" cat I've ever been around. She follows me around, she "talks" to me but only when I talk to her, she greets me at the door when I come home, etc.

But Tux is your typical cat; feed me, scoop my box and pet me when I want to be petted, otherwise leave me alone.

I would consider a cat if I knew it would be like Godiva, and I didn't have to put up with stinky high maintenance litterbox, and I was assured the cat wouldn't pee in my house, and would be nice to me. I think that is asking a lot out of cat.

Scooping the litterbox once a day is a lot less maintenance than walking a dog several times a day IMO. And a good way to assure your cat won't pee in your house is to neuter it. Most cats that pee outside the litterbox are un-neutered males who are marking their territory.

The "being nice to you" part is strictly up to the cat (assuming you do your part). As I said, my 2 cats react completely different to me. Godiva is a major lovebug while Tux is your typical standoffish cat. I treat them both the same and love both equally so it has to be that they just have different personalities.

I would consider rescuing a cat, but the thing about that is that, rescue cats are probably other peoples cast offs, and buying from a pet store is probably very expensive, plus you still don't know what you will get.

Scully is a rescure cat and my dog is a rescue dog

tohostudios wrote:

There are lots of purebred dogs and cats in shelters if people want to adopt a specific breed.

My dog is a pure bred, full blooded Golden Retriever and we got him from a shelter. I don't know how he ended up there but when we saw all the breeder paper work and other info that came with him when we adopted him, we were like "Wow, you cost somebody a lot of money, fella."

Fat Freddy wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

There are lots of purebred dogs and cats in shelters if people want to adopt a specific breed.

My dog is a pure bred, full blooded Golden Retriever and we got him from a shelter. I don't know how he ended up there but when we saw all the breeder paper work and other info that came with him when we adopted him, we were like "Wow, you cost somebody a lot of money, fella."

Yep, people would be surprised at how many purebred dogs and cats are stuck in shelters.

Last time I did a nationwide search of purebred Havana Brown cats, there were less than a dozen in the entire country. Yet I was able to adopt one from the rescue group run by the guy in the cube next to me at work. So you never know; if you're looking for a specific breed of dog or cat, try your local shelter first and you might be surprised.