Cat lovers: I have to get this off my chest. It makes me bonkers when people say, “My cat is just like a dog,” or, “He greets me every day at the front door when I come home from work.” I also hear, “My cat is just like a dog,” and, “He follows me around the house all day.”
My question to you is: why do we think these are only dog traits or behaviors?
In my lifetime I have had many cats living with me and sharing my home. Not only have they all been wonderful, they have all been very different. They have been affectionate, aloof, playful and spicy. Some have been shy or timid and others very extroverted- the quintessential lap cat. No two have been quite alike and I can say with 100% certainty, that not one of them has been a dog.
Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I currently share my home with four fabulous felines that my family, friends and Contented Cat Facebook followers have come to know well. Jonesey always takes care of me when I am sick. He makes certain I am warm and snuggly when stuck in bed. Brodie runs to the door every time I cross the threshold with quite the boisterous meow! Finnegan makes me smile everyday with his joy for life and love for all toys ever made (and yes he does fetch!). And, last but never least, Marlin is my office assistant, my pillow at night and my official eye glass remover. I never once thought of them as dogs or dog-like, but it seems I am one of the few.
I think that, like dogs or people or any living creature, cats come in many shapes and sizes and personalities. Do they share some traits with the aforementioned? Absolutely! That still doesn’t mean that those traits are not inherent in cats. I happen to believe that some cats might even be offended by the suggestion and I think that some of you would agree.
Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
So, I would ask that you think again when you see your cat greet you at the door, play fetch or know when you are sad and think “Wow, isn’t he just like a dog?” I would say, no, he is not acting like a dog! He is a wonderful, affectionate, smart, intuitive best friend and loving companion. He is, after all, a cat!
“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”
― Jean Cocteau
Contact Info: The Contented Cat
1 Forrest Avenue Rumson, NJ 07760
