I have been a fan of the feline persuasion literally since I was in cotton diapers.
In one picture of me as a three year old, I am surrounded by no less than 3 cats.
I envision that I was in my glory.
Imagine my surprise, as I grew up, to learn that not everyone shares my adoration for the cat breed.
Cat lovers are few and far between, while dogs seem to enjoy a huge and devoted fan base.
It was only recently, when I acquired my first dog, Ramasus, that I began to understand why dogs are consistently more popular than cats.
Although I will always love my cats, Duke and Duchess, my pooch does everything for me that I always wanted my cats to do (but they never did).
Here are some highlights: 1.
My dog needs me.
My cats are much more independent.
Although Ramasus can be a handful, he makes a great companion.
He requires a lot of care, and he is loyal and eager to give a lot of attention in return.
2.
Dogs show their affection and how much they miss you.
After a long day at work, the genuine excitement my dog feels to see me is clear-not so much with the felines.
Don't get me wrong, my cats are happy to see me-but the excitement is short-lived.
I always tried to turn my cats into lap cats, to no avail.
My dog will sit with me, and he doesn't mind when I pet him-in fact, he wants me to.
3.
It is easier to bring your dog along for the ride, from on a vacation to picking up the kids from school.
This means that they are able to become more of an involved member of the family than a cat.
I really enjoy taking my dog places, and watching other people take pleasure in his always-excited personality and arresting good looks.
4.
While my 8 year old cats are contently napping, I love watching my dog race around at his ultra-fast speeds, experience playing in the snow for the first time, and hanging his head out the car window while his ears blow in the wind like he loves (holding his harness tightly, of course).
5.
At 20 lbs.
, my Cocker Spaniel/Poodle/Shih Tzu mix is a watchdog that will defend us to the death.
He takes his role as protector seriously, alerting us when he hears unusual noises or sees unknown people.
He also disapproves of any play fighting because he is concerned that someone is getting hurt, and he will bark contemptuously at the person he views as the aggressor.
While I always believed and argued relentlessly that cats reign supreme, my opinion changed embarrassingly quickly when I became a dog owner.
Based on my personality and what I like in a pet, the perfect pet for me is what I always said wasn't-a dog, and a small one at that.
I appreciate the calmness of my cats, but the excitement that Ramasus brings to our lives daily is certain testimony confirming why dogs are consistently the more well-liked animal.
In one picture of me as a three year old, I am surrounded by no less than 3 cats.
I envision that I was in my glory.
Imagine my surprise, as I grew up, to learn that not everyone shares my adoration for the cat breed.
Cat lovers are few and far between, while dogs seem to enjoy a huge and devoted fan base.
It was only recently, when I acquired my first dog, Ramasus, that I began to understand why dogs are consistently more popular than cats.
Although I will always love my cats, Duke and Duchess, my pooch does everything for me that I always wanted my cats to do (but they never did).
Here are some highlights: 1.
My dog needs me.
My cats are much more independent.
Although Ramasus can be a handful, he makes a great companion.
He requires a lot of care, and he is loyal and eager to give a lot of attention in return.
2.
Dogs show their affection and how much they miss you.
After a long day at work, the genuine excitement my dog feels to see me is clear-not so much with the felines.
Don't get me wrong, my cats are happy to see me-but the excitement is short-lived.
I always tried to turn my cats into lap cats, to no avail.
My dog will sit with me, and he doesn't mind when I pet him-in fact, he wants me to.
3.
It is easier to bring your dog along for the ride, from on a vacation to picking up the kids from school.
This means that they are able to become more of an involved member of the family than a cat.
I really enjoy taking my dog places, and watching other people take pleasure in his always-excited personality and arresting good looks.
4.
While my 8 year old cats are contently napping, I love watching my dog race around at his ultra-fast speeds, experience playing in the snow for the first time, and hanging his head out the car window while his ears blow in the wind like he loves (holding his harness tightly, of course).
5.
At 20 lbs.
, my Cocker Spaniel/Poodle/Shih Tzu mix is a watchdog that will defend us to the death.
He takes his role as protector seriously, alerting us when he hears unusual noises or sees unknown people.
He also disapproves of any play fighting because he is concerned that someone is getting hurt, and he will bark contemptuously at the person he views as the aggressor.
While I always believed and argued relentlessly that cats reign supreme, my opinion changed embarrassingly quickly when I became a dog owner.
Based on my personality and what I like in a pet, the perfect pet for me is what I always said wasn't-a dog, and a small one at that.
I appreciate the calmness of my cats, but the excitement that Ramasus brings to our lives daily is certain testimony confirming why dogs are consistently the more well-liked animal.