"everybody's got this broken feeling..."

[lizzytysh]

Hi Tri-me ~

I also thank my dog for protecting me, with his barking at people at the door.

Have you been somewhere that a cat has to use the toilet instead of a litter box? Of course, while they're younger, that's a great option ~ if you can convince them to do it. It could be akin to trying to herd cats, though . Cats being as they are think they're pretty hot stuff when they do something like that. Some have even learned to flush. Of course, if a cat wants to go outside to go, that's fine, too. My cats are indoor-outdoor, as they choose.

I believe that what you're saying underscores the importance of people researching different breeds before they choose a pet. Choosing one whose natural disposition and temperament suits yours is pretty crucial. Then they can be themselves, and you yourself, and get along great! My understanding that even with humane society or pound, mixed-breed animals, the breed that the animals looks like is the one whose characteristics it will most likely emulate.

I'm not sure I'm understanding Suzuki's quote .

Love,
Lizzy

[Tri-me]

Oh yes cheers I agree totally.

I would love to have a dog where I live, but it is not practical and you do have to researdh the breed and temprement of any animal and pet a human wants to have any tyoe of relationship with, we need to appreciate the true nature of all living things. My ex-man managed a kennel and trains dogs, I am a mini expert by proxy we dog sat often. My Himilayan (which I am recieving through a friend who is disabled and benefits from massage therapy, she breeds these cats...) will be an indoors cat will be very happy here and will use a litter box. I have talked with people who trained their cats to use the toilette, I would not like to come home to a cat that has accidentally fallen in. I could talk for hours about this, pets and animals. I love all the animals, I must have been in the animal realm in my past life as a spoiled pet.

I have learnt and am learning to appreciate the nature of individual humans too! Especially (still learning to appreciate) the ones who make me crazy with their stuff or karma

What David Suzuki meant (I think) was that as far as the ecosystem goes, if humans went instinct it would have little inpact on the environment, mist likely it would improve it . If a species of ant goes instinct it throws the ecosystem out of whack. Whack a good scientific term. I do not hope for the human race to go instinct.

[margaret]

Maybe I've been reading this discussion wrong, but I thought it was an error when the word instinct was used in the earlier quote. I thought it was meant to be extinct, which to me made more sense, as in certain species becoming extinct and having an impact on the ecology of the planet.

We just this week found an old vetinary certificate showing that our cat is now almost 16. Thankfully, she is still quite healthy.

[Tri-me]

I meant extinct.

How is your cat's health? My Felicia was 17 and had arthritis pretty bad in her back legs, she had stopped eating. I know it might appear that I got another cat fast, but Felicia had been living with my parents for the past 12yrs. When I moved here i had to give her up due to living arrangements. She was spoiled by my parents and had a great life with them, a nice yard to "hunt" in and they even heated her wet food up a bit in the morning so she would feel like she had hunted it or somehting. Thanks PBS special on cats. She was happy and remembered me, she would raise her face to kiss me (exchange glandular excretements). I miss her and writing this gets me emotional.

I met my new kitty on a road trip. We had the kittens on a trip (won't go into details) Mine was the second I picked up. He was so sweet and liked it when I blew in his face nuzzled under my chin and slept on my chest. I was melted. When he woke up again i said., "You are so cute if you were mine i would name you Leonardcohen" I would love if the real Leonard Cohen nuzzled under my chin and fell asleep on my chest . Like a friend of mine said, "The line starts here."

looking forward to having him home with me

[lizzytysh]

Ah, yes, extinct. Now, it all falls into place.

[Teratogen]

i see i've lost control of this thread. but that's ok, i guess. you all go and continue with your interesting animal planet discussions. this just lets me know i'm not needed here anymore to continue this conversation.

[Tchocolatl]

T. my instinct tells me that you are needed here and there. Just write what you wanted to write before thinking that you "have lost control" (you never had control, so you can not have loose it, like for all of us, control is just an illusion) If you have nothing to add but are just complaining because others do, well.... maybe your illusion is very strong. . But Ey!

[Teratogen]

naw, i didn't mean, i had "control" of the thread, but i figured since i started the thread that i'd be able to keep it on topic. whatever, no worries. if this is what people want to do, so be it. all i meant was that i was done here. unless someone else has a question or wants to say something to me directly, there is no reason for me to continue with the current subject. that's all.

[Tchocolatl]

OK. So how do you do now, after a few days? Is the cat still running from you? Is this dog still acting like Garfield's dog? Maybe you can begin to like him a little/help him stand on his 4 paws/increase his IQ a little? I don't know. Have a nice day.

[Teratogen]

i'm ok. i still often think of jake from time to time, just randomly though. but it doesn't bring me to tears anymore to think about him. the cat always runs from me, and i don't know why. i don't really care either. all that has to happen is for her to see me, and then she bolts. i could just be standing there, doing nothing. the other dog (his name is norman), he is a lost cause, like i have said before. but i equate him to a retard. it's not like charly from "flowers for algernon" (or if you haven't read the book, cliff robertson from "charly"), where i could help him become normal. it's not even worth it anyway.

[Tchocolatl]

A cat named leonardcohen, now a dog named norman. The circle is completed.

You know T., Hanibal the Cannibal was absolutely scary by just standing up.

Thanks to have given me news, it is good to see that you are OK. I did not see the movie, I read the book, years ago, when I was a young teen, it was one of my favorite book, at the time, mainly because it was written like if Charlie himself had done it. You can see the slow rise and the quick dramatic fall, and all the steps between, and the traitment was sensitive and sooooo realistic. It shows how "intelligence", as we understand it in our culture is not the alpha and omega for a being and how harmony, balance, is necessary for hapiness, among other things. That was really an amazing story, I remimber having cried hot hearty tears while reading this book, which was a rarety in my regard of books, 'cause, they never had targeted my heart before, just me head.

Have a nice day!

[Paula]

T - Norman you have given your dog a naff name it is no wonder he appears retarded. Probably all the other dogs in the street point at him and call him names, he is being bullied because of his name and is probably depressed. His street cred is out of the window. Try calling him a more street cred name and see if it improves his personality. Poor sod

[lizzytysh]

Don't too much, though. In approximately 1975, I acquired a cat from a guy I knew. He had named him Lucifer, and his personality was quite similar to his name. I felt he laboured under too heavy a burden with it, and searched the Bible until I found one more pleasant, and renamed him Joshua. His personality began to change, and he became a very loving cat. Of course, my immediate cessation of his prior owner's habit of picking him up and throwing him against the wall when the cat would waken him may have been partially responsible, too.....however, who will ever really know.

Give it a try, Teratogen. Try calling him Bud. It has positive connotations, as well as being okay for the street.

[Tri-me]

I feel happy when I call out Leonardcohen. We project our feelings to animals they have a wisdom about the people they own.

[Paula]

A dog has masters, a cat has slaves