Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Big Scary Man came from a dedicated dog family. And I mean dedicated - we drove to Texas this fall so he could spend a week clearing brush, taking down trees and putting up a fence for his brother's golden, Crash. But he has been telling me since we first met that cats are useless. (I just tell him they are cheap entertainment)

Last week we learned our neighborhood has been targeted by identity theives. Suddenly my habit of shredding junk mail into the wastbasket I use for scooping litter boxes seemed brillant to Big Scary Man.

So I've started a list of reasons why cats are good to have around. Care to add your own?

- works as a bug killer, fly trap, notification its time to call Orkin.

- meat tester - how can you be sure that hamburger is good unless someone tests it? Just drop a bit on the floor, they'll let you know.

- preserves eyesight - too much reading can strain your eyes, why do you think they are so willing to place themselves on top of books, the newspaper?

- baby exceriser - a tail twitching just out of reach is the best incentive for teaching babies to crawl!

How do cats help you in your daily life?

Face-warmer. On cold winter nights CV sits on my face so my nose doesn't freeze off. Such a sweet, thoughtful cat!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Keeping the mice out of the house or at least keeping them inside the walls.

Crash keeps Mya company.

btw: that is funny your BIL has a dog named Crash. How old is his Crash? Mine is 8 yrs old.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

This is Crash old dog. BSM says he is 8 but there is so much grey on that muzzle....I tried taking a couple pictures of Crash and the house, a 1923 bungalow. They each seemed equally weathered.

Crash has a unique claim to fame. BIL use to bet guys his dog could find his hat, no matter where it was hidden. One day, a guy not wanting to lose, tossed the hat up on a garage roof they had been working on. Crash searched the whole yard with no luck. So he went the only place dad had been he had not. Crash went up a ladder to the roof without prompting. He found the hat.

try again....

Crash went up a ladder to the roof without prompting. He found the hat.

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What a GREAT story!
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

Hey your BIL Crash and my Crash are the same age! Isn't that funny. My crash is female.

What a cute story about going up on the roof. Mya climbs ladders. But I hope she never goes on a roof. That is scary.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

I've heard BIL and Crash went to a weed out seminar/training session(?) for potential search and rescue dogs. Crash passed the test. BIL did not.

That was the end of Crash's career as a canine hero.

>>I've heard BIL and Crash went to a weed out seminar/training session(?) for potential search and rescue dogs. Crash passed the test. BIL did not.
>>
>>That was the end of Crash's career as a canine hero.

That is to funny. My Crash is a little upset right now. I have to keep her in a closet (bedroom) for a couple days, so I can monitor Gabby.
I can't put Gabby in there because there isn't any heat. Anyway
poor Doggie Crash's career. I bet he would have gone far lol.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

-An alarm clock
-Fly swatter
-floor cleaner
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Boris's Human, Pam

Foot warmers

Plate cleaners (of course the dog is good at this too)

Lap warmers

Company in the bathroom (to small for the dog or she would too)

Redecorators great at knocking stuff off and moving it around for you
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Tessa Onyx, Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, ShyRaven, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo, Penny (We be house cats at last), and Salem, Wicca and Marmalade (We iz also house cats, we guess)and the 5 porch kits also Riley da goggie and Alex da baby hamster too
Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

They keep me from wasting the day sleeping past 6AM -- even on weekends. A rigid schedule.

After they have me up and out of bed, they keep it warm by promptly falling asleep on top of it.

They keep my papers anchored and flat on the floor with a furry body.

They christen the litter box while it is being cleaned or immediately after so I always have something to do.

But, most of all, they have taught me the importance of a nap. Afterall, sleeping 20 out of 24 hours a day is a must to have the energy to eat, poop, and play.
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

Relaxation machines, a snoozing cat in your lap is a great excuse for kicking back and taking it easy
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PHTessie

I thought of another one.

Security Guard.

Not in the traditional sense, tho. Any loud noise and Pookey is pressed against my leg peeking around to see what happened.

Over the past 3-4 years, Pookey and I have developed a routine. When it is time for bed, I put down my book or shut off the TV and head to the front door to make sure it is locked. He races over. It has become a major petting session. He sits in front of the door and purrs loudly and rolls around and shows me his tummy so I can pet it and tell him what a good boy he is for making sure the door is locked...

I never knew how ingrained this was in him until after his amputation 2 1/2 years ago. He came home after 24 hours (didn't do well not at home) and was very heavily medicated. The first night, he slept away. The second night, 48 hours after surgery, he was in his cat bed on the couch (pulled himself up). I went to the front door to lock it and wasn't thinking. He pulled himself over to the door and lay there. Growling and wincing the whole time. In pain. I pet him on the head and told him he was a good boy and carried him back to his cat bed.

I didn't check the front door in the evenings for a couple weeks after that. But, when I started back up, he was right there and hasn't missed a day yet. He will race from whatever part of the room he is in (usually the room I am in) to the front door as soon as he senses that is where I am heading...
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

My first reaction was to laugh - I tell the girls "Guard the house, it's what you get fed for" everytime I leave the place. And Big Scary Man has a couple of older relatives who are just down right rude - no boundries at all - the presence of the cats makes them hesitent to invite themselves over. They hate cats. I see it as reason to get a 4th.

But it's so sad he thought he had to drag himself out to check the door with you! A little furry sentry, always at the ready, no matter what!

And Big Scary Man has a couple of older relatives who are just down right rude - no boundries at all - the presence of the cats makes them hesitent to invite themselves over. They hate cats. I see it as reason to get a 4th.

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I like the way you think. When I moved from the apartment to the condo five years ago (both two bedroom places), I decided to make the second bedroom and office/spare bedroom, rather than a shrine for guests kept closed up with a full-sized spare bed at the ready. Primarily because I only have two bedrooms. Wanted more use out of the second. So, I have a computer desk, small TV, etc., and a futon in here. Futon gives me more space. I really get use out of the "office". Anyway, the point of the story if you are still with me, when I got the futon, the salesman said, we have a 6", 8", 10", and a deeeeluxe futon mattress with innerspring... I tried them all and went with the 8" as it was better than the 6", about the same as the 10" and comfortable, but not nearly as good as the innerspring mattress. I explained to the salesman that I didn't want family moving in, I wanted them comfortable but ready to leave in a couple days. However, it may have backfired. Everyone says how comfortable the futon is (8" mattress). I should have gone with the 6".
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey