Field Day

"Cats, conversely, have kept their dignity. They remain aloof. They remain in charge."

There's your problem right there, cats are aloof, they are unemotional, so although dogs are stupid and have foul breath at least they appreciate it when you come home :-)

But Stu, the cat you live with leaves you 'presents'? surely that's a sign a affection and appreciation?!

I think Caroline that the cat leaves those presents more in comtempt and dislike rather than love and affection!

Hi Disco Stu and Caroline,
By 'presents', presumably you're referring to the same thing that some people are referring to when they say: The cat's let you a little 'message'!
Tim

Cats. For two very good reasons. They are intelligent enough to look after themselves and they don't stink like a brainless pooch does.
There's always a debate in our house as to which - cats or dogs - are more intelligent.
"Cats" is the answer.
The evidence put forward for canine intelligence is that they can be trained to do things like fetch sticks. So that means they must be really, really clever then? Nope. I once heard an experienced dog handler say that the thicker the dog the easier it was to train; countering the argument of the dog lover that dogs are more intelligent. The woman went on to say that smart animals do what they want and not what the trainer wants so clever dogs don't make the grade. In fact dogs have been bred to be so stupid they are totally dependent on humans for everything. I find this trait annoying. While our cats come and go as they please the dog, left to his own devices, would go to pieces. He probably wouldn't survive a single day.
On to the second matter - the stink. Our dog is called Fishpig because he smells like a trawlerman's welly at the front end and the rest of him smells like a boar's backside - mmmm nice.

Hi Chin-Chiller,
That sums dogs up perfectly - they "go to pieces". Cats are adaptable and resourceful.
Tim

Brought up with both cats and dogs, but have cats myself now. I would have dogs too if my lifestyle allowed it.

Cats are less high-maintenance! They are also absolutely adorable.

Hi mutterings and meanderings,
Cats are indeed less high maintenance. Although, mine are going into a cattery next week for the first time - I can't help worrying about them!
Tim

Have you got pet insurance yet?.....especially if they are going into kennels.

Cats and intelligence doesn't come together in my mind.

I've made no bones about my intolerable hatred towards cats - pesky creatures, particularly when they are intent on digging their claws into your thighs when they feel the need to grace you with their presence.

Give me a dog any day. However, I do mean a real dog, not some half rat-half chav dog that wears a pink sparkly collar sat under Paris Hilton's arm.

I've grown up with dogs; Boxers, Collies, Terriers and now I have the pleasure of sharing my home with Kizzy - the most beautiful Japanese Akita - she is graceful, powerful, a great protector of the family home. She never barks, simply graces you with a one of howl when you enter and keeps herself perfectly clean.

The Collie - Gem - on the other hand, is mad, spoilt by my mother, but so clever. Agility is her thing, will catch any ball in mid-flight and so fast.

And no need for dog sitters or kennels with our two, they are more than happy to stay with other people, particularly my grandmother.

So I'm sorry Tim, once you've seen the pleasure a dog can bring to a family home there is no going back - keep the cats on the farm to catch the rabbits, mice and rats (although a good Patterdale Terrier can do just that) and out of the kitchen, living room and definately your bed!!

Chrissie,
Golly, you really don't like cats do you!
I met a Japanese Akita at the Game Fair last year - it had extremely thick fur!
Tim

Tim

No afraid not!!

Think it might have something to do with I having a wild one attack me when I was a nipper, never liked them since.

There's also nothing better than going for a long walk across the fields with a few dogs running round your heels - now you can't take your cat out for a run can you??

Hi Chrissie,
That's a fair point about not being able to take cats out for a run.
That said, I did see this story the other day about one woman who does just that...
Taking the cats for a walk
Tim

"‘wall of death’. (Sadly, along with the sofas, the walls and the stairs, I am one of the walls.) "

Hahahaha - there's a human who knows his place :)

Hi Squeaky,
I definitely do know my place as far as the cats are concerned.
The first day they arrived, one nearly tripped me up on the stairs... I sensed then that the balance of power was changing in the house!
Tim

A couple of quotes:
"Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
Sir Winston Churchill
"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat."
Ellen Perry Berkeley

Personally, I have two dogs and three cats. I also have two ducks, four hens, two guinea pigs, ten canaries, a rabbit, a gerbil and a shoal of goldfish. They are all equally wonderful and debates about relative merits are like trying to decide which of my two children I prefer.

But I have enjoyed the discussion!

Pete

Hi Pete,
Thanks for dropping by - like your quotes.
Sounds more like a zoo you've got than a home!
I enjoy your column in the Weekend Telegraph, incidentally.
Tim

I was arguing with my friend(shes a dog owner) and you know what youre right cats are cool, dogs are just......Plus you gotta pick up dogs crap-which totally sucks.

I mean cats do have emotions my cats listen to classic and opera he hates rock and metal and gives me such a annoyed look when i listen to rock. He also is very spoilt and adorable.My cat is very well trained he does not poop,ruin the furniture and does not jump on the worktops and table :)
Dogs are okay i guess.still prefe cats,^^

You suck!
Dogs are clever.
Cats are retarded pets who sit around, stcratch you up,
plus your couch.
Dogs are loyal plus they listen to you when you tell to and they sit, shake, roll over, and other neat stuff. Also, big dogs rock!
You can ruff up with them, and run with them.
And I might ad, they have big contests on dogs all the time. You don't see cat contests, do you?
Lesson:When talking about cats, never insult dogs because peolpe like me are going to tell you your dead wrong and tell you cat people are crazy and get really insulted when someone talks about there cats.

Plus, your a clean freak, you can't get get just a little bit dirty?

Austin - wouldn't you prefer a pet that can actually think for itself?

Dogs eat and roll in fox poo - how much more do you need to know?

i cant believe there are some people arguing after reading that.
its obvious cats are smarter
and they do have emotions.they love .okay they may not cry and huddle in the corner when u tread on there paw but thats just cuz they can take the pain.

Tim,

I came across this wonderful photo of your kitty on a ladder, and I'd like to ask permission to use it on the website I maintain for Friends of Feral Felines here in Maine, USA.

I'm looking for a photo to attach to the job description for our volunteer project leaders (http://www.feralfelines.net/volunteer_jobs.htm), and a kitty climbing a ladder seems to be just the thing. We also place feral cats in barns, so the hay in the background is ideal.

The kitty currently representing this position is my top-cat, Cosmo, but his glare atop "The Lucifer Principle" seems a bit imposing for what we hope to be gentle leaders.

Thank you or your fun blog - - I'll be browsing as I wait for your response.

Lisa

What is there to discuss?! Come on! It is OBVIOUS A MILLION TIMES THAT CATS ARE SMARTER!! You would love a pet that can't live a day without your care? You would LOVE a pet that eats others poo? You would LOVE a pet that licks you after he has done that, plus which needs walking even when there is a hurricane outside? And a pet that needs so much time, training? A smart animal thinks for itself. A stupid one has to learn. A dog can bring a stupid stick back. So?
Cats can play, but they do it differently.
Cats sleep too much.
So?
It means they leave you to do what you want. Dogs stupidly bark the hell out of you. You can always wake the cat up. There are many breeds that have different energy levels. If you want an active one, get a Somali. You want a lazy-ish one, get a Persian. Want one that can be trained to fetch? Get a Manx.
Dogs help you be fit.
So?
You can take a cat for a walk too. Or are you too lazy to go out to walk yourself??
Cats are not so much trouble, either. You don't have to train them commands if you don't want to.With a dog, you NEED to do that, even if you came back from work and are as exhausted as a badger that did cartwheels all over the place.
Cats scratch.
So???
Dogs bite. And scratch. But what can you do? Train. "Ohhh... my dear daughter, please train the dog for me!"
You cat declaw a cat. Or actually- GET A SCRATCHING POST!!
So again, it is obvious cats are best!
KITTIES RULE!
DOGGIES DROOL...
EVERYBODY KNOWS
KITTIES ARE COOL!!