16.9.09

People often talk about the reasons why they are dog-lovers or cat-lovers (if they are either, that is). Lots of theories there. This isn't one such, but it's related.

The theory is that dogs have the kind of personality and life humans secretly wish they could have, while cats have ones which more realistically resemble ours.

Most people would love to have a life where all they did was run around, and scratch away, and be petted constantly, and be loved by (nearly) everyone, and be fed everytime they looked at somebody else with pity-inducing eyes, and be allowed to get themselves all dirty in the mud, and (of course) be able to hump who they pleased - in public too, natch.

However, what humans really do is create this big mystery about who they really are, and let others in only after they've met some arbitrary and secret standard of acceptance, and pretend to be entirely self-reliant only to come running the minute somebody offers them a warm blanket and some nice food, and still reserve the right to turn around and scratch somebody's nose off - just because they felt like it. And of course, they keep their humping to themselves.

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It certainly would be interesting to see the results of a poll in which people were asked to choose which of the two they would rather be, assuming ideal living conditions. Apart from the overall results, it would be fascinating to see the way the gender vote goes. I have my hunches about that, but let's put it to the test, small test sample though it may be.

Go on, pick one.

25 comments:

Falstaff said...

Cats. Always. Who wants to run around, be petted or get dirty in the mud? Now scratching noses off - that's fun.

Pri said...

what about fish? they be special too. disco wants to sue.

The Bride said...

I was all he's got it backwards until I read the part about cats and realised, heh... he's got it right. Now I'm confused.

@Pri. Ugh fish! How could you even bring those slimy, smelly creepy creatures into this. Disco sue me.

km said...

What? 3 votes and not ONE for the Dog?

Dogs have Buddha nature. Cats are immortalized in bad Broadway musicals.

I rest my case.

//Cat-lovers support terrorism. Scientific fact.

scout said...

cat of course! house-cat, to be precise. laze around, look down scornfully upon humans from my perch on top of the refrigerator, lick, yawn, move lethargically yet regally.. ahh!

Anonymous said...

I like dog cats - cats that behave like dogs. actually, just one specific cat, that behaves like a dog.

I like big dogs, not the ones that can pass off for rats. nothing that fits in a bag. preferably a golden retriever.

brinda said...

Cats, of course. (And like scout says, house cats specifically!)

Anonymous said...

Cats! To be loved, petted, fed etc and still not create ANY expectations whatsoever. Have the freedom to laze around in the sun away from the 'owner' whenever one feels like.

Shammi said...

DOG!

Tabula Rasa said...

all dog, all the time.
(unless the cat is royal bengal...)

Mudra said...

A cat. :)

And very interesting post...

dipali said...

Neither?
I'd love to be a wild stallion:)

??! said...

And so it goes. Excluding Pri, Dipali, and The Bride, and including me - 10 votes in all.

Three men choosing a dog, four women choosing cats (anony - you gotta give us an idea here). I think that point's been proved.

Falsie, Shyam - you're quite obviously the outliers.

Anonymous said...

I hate cats. I routinely throw large pebbles at a cat that comes to my garden. I also kick it sometimes. Go tell RSPCA. I won't tell you who I am but I will tell you I am a girl and I hate cats. If I had a shotgun, I'd shoot them all dead. I am the original Moggie hater.

Cat lovers are slimy and disloyal like cats. Dogs are great.

brinda said...

Recount, recount! How did you count blackmamba's vote? Dog or a cat? (I'd go with cat because she's sitting on the fence beeyewtifully, but maybe she meant dog...) And the two anons?

DewdropDream said...

Cat. I'm called a cat even now, if that's of any help.

Fëanor said...

How about this, then?

Fëanor said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blackmamba said...

Dogs all the way for me actually - but never the small hyper ones.

so my vote: Dogs.

I just happen to love this one cat. but she is an outlier.

blackmamba said...

umm..so I guess I answered the wrong question. I'd rather be a cat. So you did put me down in the right group.

km said...

Black Mamba is having an identity crisis.
That means she is a cat.

Dogs would never ever do that.

??! said...

Oho - so much confusion.

I'm not doing any recount till the first anon owns up to gender, and The Bride confirms which animal she'd rather be. Also Feanor.

Still, preliminary results would seem to indicate that while women and men are both inclined towards being dogs, it is almost exclusively women who would choose to be cats.

There is some really fun etymological analysis that I could do of this, but first those three votes again please.

DewdropDream said...

I can't wait to see this etymological analysis :D

The Bride said...

Ok as per your description I am currently a cat. And also as per your description, I should aspire to be a dog, which seems to be the truly authentic creature. However, cats are better somehow look better dressed, don't they? So I'd have to go with... cat! (but a truly aloof and well groomed one). All my friends must be dogs though.

Cynic in Wonderland said...

There is this psychological test about what kind of person you are depending on some questions like that. forgot the exact sequence tho.

Hmm to answer your question - would rather BE a cat than a dog. Smart, feline and independent ( with nice, sharp claws) rather than bumbling confused dog. Id rather be married to a dog tho. Hmmm. Wouldnt trust a cat an inch.