An interesting debate has sprung up in the comments section of one of my favourite blogs, Gawker.com, over the myth -- or is it a myth? -- of the crazy cat lady. And how hilarious is that picture, by the way? I almost weep with laughter every time I look at it. Look at the expression on the cat's face!
Anyway, as loyal readers to RTK know, I have cats. But I was a latecomer to the cat world, only getting my first one at age 35 after a childhood of dogs and a lifetime of cat allergies. Now I am no longer allergic and have three, but only admit publicly to having two, since the third just showed up and is ancient and hideous and a pervert and I am waiting for him to die. First sign of sniffles, he is being euthanized. Three cats, I agree, suggests some sort of mental illness.
However, except for the aforementioned depression I am battling, I think I am quite sane. I don't knit sweaters for the cats like that crazy lunatic above, nor do I feel I have no need for human interaction because of their presence in my life. They aren't replacement boyfriends/husbands, although the young, non-pervy male does sleep next to me on the queen-sized bed with his head on the pillow as though he thinks he is my husband (I have traded a snorer for a purr-er, and the cat never gets randy before bedtime). I don't take lots of pictures of them or send out Christmas cards on their behalf. I don't talk about them very much. But I do like having them around, find them to be fun, sweet, affectionate and low-maintenance pets, and am glad I have them, except for the old dry-humping pervert-kitty.
I was over looking at Tearfree's other blog today and realized, in alarm, she seems to have foresaken RTK for the Scottish Terrier and Dog News. But I know Tearfree, and she's no crazy dog lady. Right, Tearfree??? Or is she? Tearfree -- have you become a crazy dog lady? All doggie blogging, all the time?
I know a crazy dog lady, and she's no Tearfree. She keeps scrapbooks to record every milestone of her dogs' lives, lets them eat off her fork, equates them with peoples' children in conversation (as in: "Little Tommy was very ill last night with strep throat." Reply: "Hmmm ... well, Bailey had a very restless sleep last night as well. She was walking around the house all night!"), and I fear, deeply, deeply fear, that peanut butter might play an active role in this single woman's sex life, and if you don't know what I mean by that, I am sorry, I cannot explain it here, in this family blog.
What I am getting at here is that I believe the average dog lady can often be crazier than the average cat lady. Because dogs require far more of an active role by the humans in their lives. You can't leave a few bowls of water and food around the house, pat the dog good-bye and go away for the weekend the way you can with cats. Dogs, by necessity, become a much bigger presence in a dog-owner's life, and for this I declare that dog ladies can often be far crazier than cat ladies.
But it is open for discussion.
10 comments:
As an unrepentant cat lady, I can tell can tell you that you that dogs have owners, cats have slaves.
No, not a crazy dog lady. It's a business decision. There's more money in dog blogging.
It's niche journalism for the new internet era -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail stuff.
Anyone want to invest? Or any dog lovers want to work for free and get shares in the new venture?
Maybe I am crazy -- just not dog crazy. Business scheme crazy.
Tearfree's other blog?
What am I missing here?
I'm a cat person but if I lived outside the city, we'd have a dog as well.
This city is not healthy for dogs and I don't have the energy any more to keep up with their maintenance.
Granny: I hear you. I'm dying for a dog. But I'd have to be living in the country. And if I was living in the country, I'd also want a couple of ponies, perhaps a donkey, and a goat. And my shrink feels that would be carrying my need to nurture and take care of other living beings to an alarming extreme.
Tearfree: I'm in. What do you need from me?
I read Jacy's comment on the crocs, and thought it could also apply here:
Jacy said...
I think they are acceptable for gardening and/or puttering around the house, but should never be worn out in public.
And, of course, there are all those health hazards Tearfee keeps warning us about.
Jacy, have we told Tearfree what Espanya was wearing on her feet the day we visited?
GT, that's why Tearfree doesn't want to see me when I go through Montreal... It's okay...I'll be fine... le sigh...
In my defense, it was the pregnancy that addled my brain...they were mock crocs...baby wasn't coming out - although he did the day after I bought them!
You didn't wear them out in public. You have nothing to apologize for.
I always had cats growing up, and always wanted a dog.
Finally I have a dog, and wish that I only had a cat.
I guess that makes me a cat person, though I would never knit a sweater for my cat. I might make her a mini-quilt to lie on, but never clothes. Unless she asked me really nicely, then maybe.
Tanya, Tanya, Tanya, I want to see you. I've just been preoccupied. Name the date and the place as long as it's before August 7.
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