I’m Just Talkin’ About… PETS

Jazzy & Rosy hanging out with me in the sewing room

I AM A CRAZY CAT LADY!  At least that’s what some people think of me, I can see it on their face!   OMG!   She’s a weird one, a CRAZY CAT LADY.

We Americans have our PETS.  The first animal that pops into our head when we hear the word PET we think dog or cat.  But some people have a PET in the form of a bird or fishes.  Some even call a horse or a reptile a pet.  And some get into the whole gerbil, hamster, guinea pig and even RATS (my brother had those!)  But I just want to talk CATS (and a little DOG) today cuz those are the most common according to the Humane Society of the United States.  So here’s a sampling of their stats…  

CATS

~86.4 million owned

~33% of US households own a cat/s

~$219 spent annually per cat on vet visits

DOGS

~78.2 million owned

~39% of US households own a dog/s

~$248 spent annually per dog on vet visits

For more stats visit www.humanesociety.org  

Now I did a little surfing on just how much money we PET owners spend annually on TOYS for our PETS, CATS = $21 and DOGS = $43.  And those numbers kinda prove what I really wanna talk about….  The difference between and CAT owners and DOG owners and the way those people are perceived by others.  I think, CAT owners spend half as much on toys because they don't want society to think they are a CRAZY CAT LADY! 

So here’s my story….

I’m a CAT owner.  Two of them currently live with me.  I have been the owner (or caregiver if my kids were the OWNER) of many different PETS.  CATS, DOGS, fishes, hamsters, guinea pigs and birds (that’s the list as best I can remember).  However, in my lifetime I cannot remember a time when I was not living with a CAT.

When a person enters my home I can tell pretty quick if they don’t like CATS by the way they react to my CATS.  Last week a quilty friend came over to raid my fabric stash.  When I opened the closet that contains shelves of fabric the gal gasp, “There’s a CAT up there!”  Which there was… My sweet little Rosy was on the top shelf taking her nap on a box.  I got the impression the gal did NOT like CATS cuz she didn’t make any other comments (like how cute she was or what a perfect napping spot).  Then there’s the gal (a DOG owner) that shared with me her surprise that there are a LOT of CAT toys in my house (I’ve been to her house, seen the dog toys AND petted her dog).  Some people totally ignore my CATS and others acknowledge their presence with talk or pet.

Anyway. It seems like a LOT of people (even CAT owners) think CATS are just a fixture or treat them as an on demand pet but DOGS aren’t often treated that way.  It is acceptable to most people for a DOG to greet company at the door and act as though it should be acknowledged (spoken to or petted).  Dogs’ toys are often strewn throughout the house and yard.  It’s acceptable for a DOG owner to play with their dog when company is present (or the DOG expects visitors to play with it).  Owners take their DOGS on outings to parks and get togethers.  Dogs usually have their own beds or they sleep on the couch or in a favorite chair.  DOG stories are shared and compared… like that of our children and grandchildren. 

But, as a CAT owner…  I get labeled a CRAZY CAT LADY when people see my cats have lots of toys (like a dog) and I actually play with them (like a dog).  I’m always talking to my CATS (like a dog).  AND they often answer me (like a dog)!  They greet me at the door when I come home (like a dog).  They will beg for treats (like a dog) and let me know when they are ready for breakfast and dinner (like a dog).  They get excited when I bring a new toy home for them (like a dog).  They follow me all over the house (like a dog).  They run to the door when someone comes to visit (like a dog).  AND I share stories about them with other people (like a DOG OWNER).

So anyway… I guess my point is… please don’t label me as a CRAZY CAT LADY.  I’m not weird just because I find pleasure is living with a couple of CATS and try my darnest to make their life living with me pleasurable. Like a DOG owner.