Who among us can tell me why house animals, dog, cats, hippo's in Josh's case, choose to sleep in the narrowest place they can find; that is threashholds between rooms, doorways, hallways, ect. I live in a motorcoach, so small that I must throw out the cat to have room to cuss him out. I have tried steping on him, dumping iced tea on him, practicing feild goals with him; nothing works. Whos got a real answer/ Again a real answer?

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), May 24, 2001

Answers

Response to dog/cat shrink

mitch, a squirt gun! they get so even if you make a noise like one they head for the hills.House animals purpose in life is to spend [2, 4, 8 ect]years getting in the way and demanding food [ teachs us humans patience ]so that when they pass on we spend months even years missing them.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), May 25, 2001.

Response to dog/cat shrink

Huh! I point the 'super-soaker' at our Cyril (red and white moggy) and all he does is grip the carpet and close his eyes tight!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), May 25, 2001.

Response to dog/cat shrink

We tried using a squirt gun on our two house cats. Their revenge is to sneak up behind me and slap at my heels! While we're trying to understand their actions, they're watching us and wondering why we do the things we do. Seriously, our pets want to do what we ask, but they don't understand and inflicting pain is all you accomplish my stepping on them, etc! For whatever reason, the places they find to sleep are comfortable for them. My 15 pound cat likes to sleep exactly where I walk to the bathroom in the night. I've learned to step around him!

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), May 25, 2001.

Response to dog/cat shrink

The simple answer is that they love you. You are their food, their friend, their comfort, and their source of amusement. My cats INSIST on being in the bathroom with me. Don't want to be picked up, just need to be near. They'll beat the door down to get near me. One of my cats lays at my feet like a dog. However, when _I_ need some comfort, the cats are rarely accessible. Dogs learn to scat easier than cats. Cats have not been domesticated as long as dogs and so are just probably more independant. Enjoy the love and affection. And realize that you are a big playtoy to your Cat Master. You are being trained. :)

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), May 25, 2001.

Response to dog/cat shrink

A real answer? Probably this: cats and dogs like a safe and cozy den- like place for sleeping. Makes them feel secure. Lots of animals are that way, in fact. Our parrots have little tents that they sleep in at night, and the tortoise climbs behind a rock in his enclosure. I think it's about safety, privacy, and hiding.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), May 25, 2001.

Response to dog/cat shrink

It's a control thing - literally. The program is hard-wired (or perhaps wet-wired) into them. You are the most important thing in their lives, no question. They instinctively find a place where they can maintain surveillance - where you can't get by without their being aware of it. Cubs/kits/babies probably HAD to do this, to ensure they got (AT LEAST) their fair share of whatever resources their parents were bringing back. If you were a sheriff keeping track on an outlaw, or a hunter with prey, or a (pick your own simile) keeping track of the most important personage in your life, you'd assume control of a bottleneck they HAD to go through, where you could interact with them, as well.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 26, 2001.

Go out to your local fireworks tent and get a year's supply of snap- pops (the ones that go bang when you throw them onto a hard surface). They're essentially harmless, as long as you take care not to aim TOO close to the puddy tats, and they make a hellacious racket that, if you're careful, does not seem to be in any way coming from you, as the water gun does (the danger in this is that when they see that you have to be there for them to get wet, they just wait until they see you leave and then jump up on counters, drag their glands across your cutting board, and other "irritated puddy" things.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), May 29, 2001.

Guess that one reason I dont allow cats in the house. One control freak per household is enough. animal hair is downright dangerous to your health, anyhow. The kids can go to the barn to pet the animals. lol

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), June 02, 2001.

Yes, cats or any other animals do not belong in human habitats. It makes me sick to see so many cats and dogs imprisoned thier entire lives. You sickos that keep animals indoors think you're loving your pet but the truth is you are IMPRISONING them. The truth is your cat/dog would run for their lives if you left the door open long enough. I've seen so many cats that have never walked on grass, never chased a butterfly, never ever been in it's natural habitat. They live on processed food and crap on processed kitty litter their entire lives. That's ok if you're raising stock for food but you are doing these things actually thinking your cat loves you for it. Let me imprison you all your life and see how you like it. YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK!!!

-- Mike Hunt (longhardroad_us@yahoo.com), June 03, 2001.

Mike Hunt, you are very good at jumping conclusions and ranting, both of which displayed in an inmature manner by your post. First of all my cat is not house bound, he brings me rats and snakes and an occasional bird that he finds in his travels in and about the orange grove. He will walk with me as I go out to feed the cows or check the fences. He is allowed inside because we did live in snow country before returning to Florida. He rescently got between me and two stray dogs 10 times his size and bluffed them. His food dish is inside due to the presence of coons and opussoms,he has a choice of dry food anytime, his choice of leftovers before I put them out for the feathered friends.

I could not count the times I have got up at 3:00 a.m. to let him out or in. Where did you get the idea (the stupid one) that my cat never touched grass??? I do not know anyone who keeps animals house bound and I don't want to know any of those people; I am sure that a very low percentage of people that read this forum keep animals house bound. Think about it, we are farmers and gardeners who need rodent control, we are not the pent house set. Before you come stomping in here again, sling acuzations, condeming us, try engagueing your brain.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), June 03, 2001.

Hey Mike'when I try to send you a post why does it come back as a non existant e mail address? Are youas full of fecal material as your post was? GROW UP CHILD!

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), June 03, 2001.

Now, where did that child come from?? I suppose now that school is out for the summer, we'll have to deal with such foolishness for awhile. Maybe we'll be lucky and Mike will take his hands out of his pants and find something productive to do!

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), June 04, 2001.