Cats and Dogs

A fish tank was a prominent part of my life at a particular stage in my youth. Of course, that ended once I went on the road as a Pius Itinerant, chasing dreams of folk music glory. My next experiment with pets was the enchanting but dictatorial Clancy J Bumps (aka the Grey Menace, that damned cat, the monster, and other titles). Clancy had a strict “thou shall have no other pets before me” rule.

I once dated a girl who had a small menagerie of reptile pets. The introductions did not go well. What an understatement! And the relationship did not progress. A few relationships with women with dogs were dead on arrival. Arrive for the meet with Clancy, watch him torment the great Dane, German shepherd, or mutt, and then listen to the yowls. After that, I did not need a gift of prophecy to predict that he’d be the only pet in the house.

After Clancy, the elegant and petite Smidgen came into our lives. She enjoyed having pets of her own—tropical fish. She’d perch on top of the tank and dangle one paw into the water, and watch the guppies with a relentless focus. We had to curtail some of this after a few incidents of her falling into the tank. But the fish remained a feature of the living room until our first son hit true toddler status and began to “feed” the fish Cheerios. That ended the fish tank. Smidgen got over the loss of the fish as our number one son became her number one source of goodies tossed down from the high chair.

So it appeared that cats would rule in our house forever. This changed when we bought our current home, and it was decided that with an entire house and yard, there was enough room for a cat, four children and a dog. So off to the animal shelter we trotted as a family ( less the cat). Our selection was a seven year old shepherd collie cross named Toby. Our four children took to him instantly. On the way home, my wife and I strategized how to introduce cat to dog. Happily they actually seemed to like each other. We later found out that Toby had been “raised” by a black cat. He knew the rules.

Smidgen seemed pleased to have someone who answered to her in the household hierarchy. It was clear that Toby loved us but obeyed the cat. After Smidgen died, Toby was lonely. And after about six months, we brought two kittens into the house. Toby immediately assumed the job of raising them.

Currently, we have a cattle dog, Max, and two Bengal cats, Marcus and Sabrina. Max, considers the two cats to be his siblings. He has an especially close relationship with Marcus, and those two play together constantly.

The best pet? Well for us its cats and dogs. But I’ve had friends who swear by their snakes, rodents and one friend who has a room full of birds. Like so many things in life it’s what fills your, and hopefully their lives with pleasure.

But of course I am sitting here writing this under the observant gaze of two cats who want me to give the political correct answer: cats. There are you two pleased!?