Interesting Things about Dogs and Cats

Dog - man’s best friend

If you’ve ever had a dog or cat as a pet you understand they are an endless source of entertainment and comfort. But dogs and cats are strange creatures that have some unusual traits that often make us wonder what is going on inside their brains.  There are some interesting things about dogs and cats that many people don’t know and may bring some light onto those many questions we have about our pets.

Dogs; man’s best friend; this may be one of the truest statements ever made.  A dog will know exactly what time you come home from work and will be waiting at the window or door for you to come in.  They can’t tell time, but they do know this by some strange force of nature.  Dogs also get bored and when they get bored they chew and when they chew it’s usually something of yours that you are rather fond of.  They will chew one shoe; not both.  They will shred a sofa to pieces.  They will chew the legs off an end table.  They know they aren’t supposed to do it because when you come home they are nowhere to be found; hiding somewhere and trying to think up a way to escape the punishment that awaits them.  The thing is, unless you catch your dog in the act of doing something, it is pointless to punish them.  For example; if you come home and see that your dog has urinated on the floor and you call him over to you, show him the puddle of urine, and then scold him, he has no clue.  He thinks he is being scolded because he came to you.  So, this gets embedded in his memory and thus every time you call him to you he is going to think he is being scolded.  Here are a few facts you might not know:

• There are more than 5 million puppies born in the U.S.A. every year.  That’s a lot of puppy chow.
• Puppies are born toothless, deaf, and blind.
• Dogs sweat through the pads on their feet; not by salivating.
• The oldest dog ever recorded was 29 years old
• The greyhound breed of dog can run as fast as forty-five miles an hour; my mother doesn’t even drive that fast.
• To date, there are over 8 hundred different breeds of dogs.
• The spotted Dalmatian is born spotless; the spots begin to appear as the dog gets older.
• If you smile at a dog he thinks you are bearing your teeth in aggression. 
• The Basenji breed of dog is the only dog that cannot bark.
• In the United States there are approximately sixty-eight million dogs that have owners.
• Dogs hate for you to blow in their face but love to hang their head out the window when you drive; that one always puzzled me.

Here are the top dogs in America; the most popular breeds that people own:

1. Beagle  
2. German Shepherd      
3. Labrador Retriever          
4. Dachshund         
5. Golden Retriever       

I have personally owned Labradors during my life time and am quite fond of that specific breed of dog.  However, beagles come in a close second and make excellent pets for children.  Dogs really can be man’s best friend.

Cats - always thinking of ways to get away

I would like to say I have the same admiration for cats as I do dogs, but I just can’t get there.  I don’t dislike cats but after working many years in the veterinary business I came to the conclusion that cats are always thinking of ways to get away, use their claws, or just totally ignore you.  Many cats have their own very distinct personalities; some like to be held and snuggled while others will come around when they feel like it.  Kittens are great; who doesn’t love a kitten?  But kittens grow up to be cats and you never know what kind of personality your cat is going to have until it gets out of the kitten stage and becomes a cat. 

One thing I know for certain; cats and water are a bad combination; I have the scars to prove it.  Cats also will often prefer to use your potted plants for their litter box instead of the fancy hooded litter box you paid big bucks for.  It is my belief they do this on purpose; just because they think they can.  Cats can actually climb the wall and hang there for some time; I’ve seen it with my own two eyes and this cat was not a happy cat; I let him hang there until he got tired and then made my move on him; that’s yet another set of scars to show for my actions.

But, there are many people who own and love their cats; they really aren’t as bad as I put on; only in very stressful situations do cats get extremely aggressive.  However, they are territorial and don’t like any disruption in the household routine.  They will show their unhappiness in most unpleasant ways by leaving “little gifts” in places you sit or sleep.  It’s just the only way they know how to show humans that we better get our stuff together or else.  The really funny thing about cats that are outside cats and natural hunters is that they will catch a mouse or bird, kill it, and then leave it on the doorstep for you to find.  It is a trophy for them and they want to make sure you know they are protecting your land. 

Cat Facts

• Cats, as domesticated animals date back some 8 thousand years.
• The Maine Coon cat is the largest breed of cat and can weigh up to 24 pounds.
• Cats tend to sleep ten to fourteen hours a day; now that’s some kind of cat nap.
• Cats that are born white and have blue eyes are usually deaf.
• You can detect cat urine by using a black light; remember what I said about leaving “little gifts”?  Invest in a black light.
• When a cat continually treads his paws in one place, usually on his owner, he is marking his territory because the cat sweats from his paws which leave his territorial mark.
• Cats are very intelligent and can understand and interpret his owner’s emotions and feelings.  

Most Popular Cats

1. Sphynx                    
2. Siamese            
3. Maine Coon            
4. Persian           

Dog and cat owners alike agree that their pets are a part of their family and many dogs and cats get royal treatment.  Studies have proven that elderly people whom own a pet tend to live longer and have a better quality of life.  The affection the pet gives to the owner and the affection that the owner gives back to the pet is shown to lower blood pressure and generally speaking just gives the pet owner a great deal of satisfaction.