Pets

[Padraig]

As children we had a cat. To this day my sister always has at least one resident pet cat, and provides a sort of refugee centre for cats passing through. I have had dogs, though I love cats too. Apart from the practical points mentioned against having either, there is the sadness to cope with when a pet dies. I'm afraid my wife and I have had enough of that. She lost two dogs as a child, and together we have had four pets die - a fox terrier, two red setters and a black lab - the last two broke our hearts. My two daughters have, respectfully, two dalmatians and a king charles, and I have great fun with them - at a distance. I tend towards the 'man's best friend' end of the continuum, but I respect MrGongGong's utilitarian position, though I suspect he's just showing off.

I'm very grateful that several tons of bricks have not descended upon my head. As penance, I'll leave the abomination in place for anyone to see and enjoy/splutter.
respectively yours etc etc

[Richard Tarleton]

keep the local rodents at bay.

...and birds

What good reason is there for keeping rodents at bay, alpie? Rats and mice on your premises possibly, but field voles, bank voles, common shrews, pygmy shrews...? Domestic cats simply indulge in senseless slaughter which has become disconnected from any need to eat.

We live in the country, have spent decades encouraging the local wildlife, only for our neighbours to acquire feral rescue cats which spend most of their time lurking under our bird feeders.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...and birds

Our cat is too lazy to bother with birds.

[MrGongGong]

Can't think of any downside,

Your house smells of cats?
(some folks like/don't mind and my house smells of garlic so I'm not saying that it's a bad thing for everyone)

[richardfinegold]

As I read your post, I was expecting your sentence to end '... and had none left for the dog'. I know, I know, it says more about me...

[EdgeleyRob]

I wouldn't be without a dog.
Much better company than a lot of people I know.
As regards bad behaviour and fouling I'm afraid it's the owners that are at fault.
How anyone can leave dog mess behind when walking their pets is beyond me.
You don't always have to pick it up for heaven's sake http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6mhjxj but I always do anyway.
We have two rescue dogs,they came with some bad habits as they tend to do.
All it takes is a bit of training and patience,to stop them running up to and frightening people.

[Nick Armstrong]

dog mess ...
You don't always have to pick it up http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6mhjxj

"Stick and flick" wouldn't go down very well (except down people's front areas) in the streets of West London, I don't think (not that I've tried it).



...

In fact, I imagine it would be a very good way to start a fight!



.

[teamsaint]

I wouldn't be without a dog.
Much better company than a lot of people I know.
As regards bad behaviour and fouling I'm afraid it's the owners that are at fault.
How anyone can leave dog mess behind when walking their pets is beyond me.
You don't always have to pick it up for heaven's sake http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6mhjxj but I always do anyway.
We have two rescue dogs,they came with some bad habits as they tend to do.
All it takes is a bit of training and patience,to stop them running up to and frightening people.

i'm sure that even non dog people such as me have enjoyed hearing of your two dogs progress since you took them on, ER.
Our two cats were rescu e cats, and it has been great giving them a Good home.

We took ours on because,insanely, black cats are hard to home because they aren't photogenic, and thus hard to find homes for.

Crazy.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Do you have children, LMP?

2 daughters, aged 32 and 14. Only the latter still at home. Apart from her horse (NB not kept on premises), our cat and dogs, she keeps and breeds guinea pigs. Only 7 at the moment and they do reduce the lawn-mowing

[LeMartinPecheur]

. . . which is exactly why cats are so perfect. They spend 70% of their lives asleep, keep themselves clean and well-groomed and keep the local rodents at bay.

Our recently inherited Tonkinese (aetat. c.16) has shown no interest in rats and mice but has seen off quite a few smaller, harmless garden rodents this summer

She came to us with the name Sassie but we've rechristened her Voldemort.

[Zucchini]

In fact, I would imagine it [Stick 'n Flick] would be a very good way to start a fight!

Yes, when a group of West London Chihuahuae meet another group of West London Chihuahuae and they start yelling "Our poo's smaller than your poo, so we're svelte and sophisticated - chances of fat slobs like you fitting in a handbag are zilch" Etc

[Nick Armstrong]

My nephew has an appalling hysterical yapping little terrier that appears hyperactive

Nonetheless your nephew may have the last laugh in the event of bear ingress:

[gradus]

Re Gongers comment above, I don't think cats themselves normally have a smell that you can detect in a house except of course if like any animal, humans included, they are not kept clean. Fortunately many cats are quite fastidious and groom regularly.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Whose "channel"?! (Any royalty cheques in the post?)


Or should that be "reality check"?

[MrGongGong]

Re Gongers comment above, I don't think cats themselves normally have a smell that you can detect in a house except of course if like any animal, humans included, they are not kept clean. Fortunately many cats are quite fastidious and groom regularly.

I guess you aren't a sommelier then
People who have cats have houses that smell like cats
which is NOT to say it's unpleasant to everyone at all (IMV)