<p>I have two cats. They are almost two now. (I just sat and figured that out and wow, they are getting old). I got Tadhg first, as an eight-week-old kitten in response to an ad on craigslist. He was tiny, but he’s enormous now, a tiger cat with yellow eyes. He doesn’t really like to be held, but he likes being petted and he likes to try to chew on things occasionally. I</p>
<p>got Elphaba because I thought Tadhg seemed lonely. She was abandoned, and somebody in the place I was working at the time found the litter in her yard. When I brought Elphaba home, she was five weeks old and weighed less than two pounds. She couldn’t eat kitten food, so I had to buy her baby food. She’s a tiger cat with splotches or orange and green eyes, and she loves watching light on the walls. She is also polydactyl, which means that she has thumbs. :)</p>
<p>My parents (which means I still kind of consider her mine) have an aging cat named Mica, which is short for Mi Casa – because she showed up at our house and wouldn’t leave. She likes to hiss at my cats when we are staying there. She is an incredibly affectionate and cuddly cat who used to sleep in my arms and I think she’s spoiled me.</p>
<p>Well, let’s see . . . at the moment, we have horses, a miniature dachshund, several cats and five rats , one of which is hanging out on my desk eating as I type this (believe it or not, they make great pets). We’ve also had several dogs (my favorite was a loveable gentle giant Old English Sheepdog), more cats, an assortment of birds, fish, mice, gerbils, ferrets, reptiles and a pygmy goat. Would it surprise anyone to learn that my daughter, the cause of all of this, is studying to become a veterinarian?</p>
<p>Currently we have 2 dogs, an 8 yr old black westie-poo and a 1 yr old mini-labradoodle. Best buds, both love me, the mom who does everything for them. The mini-labradoodle is named Kitty, mostly because I really wanted a cat. Both dogs are really good, mind well, and we are working on saying “shhh” when they want to alert me to changes out the front door. We are down to a bark and then restrained whining with 360 degree turns at the front door on a periodic basis. Like every half hour.</p>
<p>1st dog was a lab who was wonderful. She went to the end of the driveway and brought us the newspaper every morning. If for some reason we didn’t open the door immediately upon her return, she would drop it at the door and go get another one. Obviously not ours…</p>
<p>Our last dog was a westie, a wonderful feisty, soccer ball-loving runner who barked most ferociously at any cardboard box whether it be carried in your arms or empty on the floor. Any time we had a baby visit, she would sit beside the playpen or seat as close as she could be. The one time the baby got loose, the dog lay down, closed her eyes, covered her nose with her paws, and didn’t move an inch while the baby rolled back and forth over to the top of her. </p>
<p>My parents have a giant breed dog, an italian spinone, and he is a quiet sneak. He nudged the pantry door open at my house and got into a box of dog biscuits… I was wondering what that noise was when I found him bumping into the chairs in the dining room. His head was completely wedged in the empty box… which had previously been nearly full.</p>
<p>Me & my sisters are allergic to dogs & cats so there are no pets in our house obviously. Which makes me sad, because I love animals. so my boyfriend’s dogs are essentially my adopted pets. :)</p>
<p>Pokey is a brown dachshund. He is getting up there in age… probably 11 or 12 now. Still hops up on the couch like he’s a little kid. When he gets excited he’ll crawl around on the floor, sliding on his stomach… it’s adorable. And he will sleep with just his head under the blanket.</p>
<p>Rusty was adopted about a year ago from the pound. He is a sight… he looks kind of like a Westie, except a little bit bigger, tan, and not quite as cute. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that one ear sticks up, the other hangs down, and he has two snaggleteeth that stick out of his mouth when it’s closed. We’re pretty sure he was abused by his last owner, not only due to his appearance, but also because at first he would shy away when you tried to pet him, but now he is much more comfortable with everyone and is one of the sweetest dogs ever.</p>
<p>^^^Oh, no. That has to be bad, being allergic and all. But my mom is allergic to cats and when we had ours (Kiekio), she would get a bath on a weekly bases. But i guess it depends on the breed as well.</p>
<p>I’m allergic to cats and have had one for the last 6 years. I stopped being allergic to him after about 6 months. Those 6 months were pretty rough, but now he doesn’t bother me at all. I still get bad around other cats, though. Some cats are worse that others. The orange tabby we took in will sometimes rub up against my face and I will break out in a bad blistery rash.</p>
<p>^^^^ It depends on the breed as well. Since KieKio’s breed (linx simese), is quiet different from other breeds in the coat and such. Constant grooming helps.</p>
<p>Icedragon, Siamese cats are also supposed to be fairly “hypoallergenic” so I’m sure that helps too. I would never be able to survive with a cat or dog in my house!! My allergies are just too bad. Once I get out of college and start making money I hope to get allergy shots so I can have pets.</p>
<p>We have a golden retriever who is now 6. We got him as a puppy from a breeder and have been in love ever since. Blonde coat, extremely tall and rangy. Has a thyroid problem that made him heavy - but now that it is under control, he is back to about 75 pounds. Eats three meals a day - a 1/2 pound raw chicken (plus other stuff) patty each meal. Also loves fruits and nuts - banana and peanut butter being his favorite treat.</p>
<p>Definitely the smartest dog I have ever had - my daughter spent a lot of time training him as a puppy and as a result, he has a vocabulary of nearly 200 words (yes we counted one night). Commands can be like - go get your chipmunk - and he can pick out the right toy from the 20 or so items in his toy box. He also knows each room in the house by name.</p>
<p>Like most Goldens, huge bark and no bite. Chases squirrels, birds, cats and anything else that touches down in his yard. Unlike most Goldens, hates the water.</p>
<p>^^^LOL, Jenny is like that when it comes to squirrels. We have a large backyard and deck, and she’ll be standing there on the deck survaing her kingdom. Then she’ll spot one and take off after it. She hates using the stairs, and prefers to jump straight off. Its only about 2 ft high. Our back yard is sloped so she’ll take the long way to get back up instead.</p>
<p>One time she was chaseing a squirrel and it bombed her with its poo. I was the one stuck with the job of cleaning her up, so straight into the bathtub she went. It was terrible.</p>
<p>Our dog Jack is a senior citizen. We adopted him from the dog pound 12 years ago.
He is a strange mix of what appears to be bassett hound and rottweiler. He is shaped like a few inches taller than normal bassett but has the coloring and features of a rottweiler. He is so cute. People always ask us what he is. He is by far the smartest dog we have ever owned. He knows quite a few words and can be depended upon to be left at home ever making a mess of any kind. He loves car rides.</p>
<p>He and S2 were roommates fr. the time he came home with us. When S2 had bunk beds, he slept on the top bunk and Jack slept on the bottom. Jack was really annoyed when S2 outgrew the bunk beds and got a reg. bed. So we got him a dogbed and put it in the corner of S2’s room. Jack and S2 spent many years watching the Simpson’s every night as they drifted off to sleep! </p>
<p>S2 just finished his first year of college. Jack was pretty lost without him at first but has adjusted finally. For the longest time, Jack wouldn’t sleep in S2’s room anymore. Instead he slept in the hall at the top of the stairs as if waiting for S2 to return.
He has recently returned to his bed in S2’s room. </p>
<p>He is getting old and creaky now. I have already told dh that there will not be another dog when Jack is gone. There can never be another as good as he has been.</p>
<p>^^Have you tried giving him pet supplimental vitiamins? They have them for senior dogs (jenny doesn’t like this kind, she likes the regular), and its specially formulated for them. You can find them at petsmart or petco. It might help with his creakyness. </p>
<p>I swear by this stuff. Jenny can be picky sometimes, and she can’t go without eating or else she has seizures. This stuff keeps her healthy as well. Its made her coat look better, she’s much more active, and seems to be healthier. It smells like it has molassass in it. But she seems to like it.</p>
<p>We had our first beagle for 16 1/2 years, he was our first “baby” and we raised him from age 6 weeks. He grew up very well loved ( and spoiled) and loved everyone in return. We now have our second beagle ( I never met a beagle I didn’t like, or something like that). We got her from rescue after at least two prior homes and we suspect abuse at one point and not enough socializing as a puppy. She doesn’t like young boys (except S), and is afraid of many other dogs. Very sweet but unlike beagle #1 won’t sit in our laps and is not really affectionate. Still I wouldn’t give her up for the world.
I have enjoyed hearing about all of your pets. Thanks to all of you who have adopted your pets from rescue/shelters.</p>
Thats nice of you getting a friend for your cat.</p>
I would never be able to survive with a cat or dog in my house!! My allergies are just too bad. Once I get out of college and start making money I hope to get allergy shots so I can have pets.</p>