December chitchat

[agate]

I hope the puppy is a breed that is patient with children. I understand that a kitten isn't such a good idea for a young child but some types of puppies are all right with supervision. Sounds as if the parents have checked out this puppy thoroughly before adopting him.

My impression is that dogs can put up with a lot from their humans but cats have a way of lashing out with lightning speed and can injure a person.

However, years ago some neighbors with a couple of well-behaved boys (about 3 and 7) had a great Dane that was known to be as gentle as a lamb and everybody loved him. Then one day he just bit one of the boys for no known reason. They had to put the dog down after that.

[Virginia]

We have always had dogs in our family. It just isn't a complete family without pets. You do keep an eye on the children and pets all the time. My father had a cat that took up with him where he worked. He thought a lot of that cat, but we had a dog at home.

Chris, sounds like your little bundle might be a cat. Although my husband and I had a very sweet dog and she would get under the Christmas tree and sleep on the skirt. We loved that dog so much.

Tim, your family is just full of talent, no matter where it comes from. Gymnastics is hard, but it sure does make kids strong.

[agate]

my husband and I had a very sweet dog and she would get under the Christmas tree and sleep on the skirt.

Virginia, I can't imagine a cat doing that. Not in a million years. Every cat I've had anything to do with has wanted to climb the Christmas tree or at the very least knock the ornaments off. I came home from my job one day and found the Christmas tree on the floor with all the ornaments shattered. The cat had done it in my absence.

[Virginia]

Joan, I didn't know that. I've always seen pictures of cats curled up sleeping. I guess it must be older cats. I thought they liked to get in a warm spot and sleep their life away. Maybe not their whole life but much of it. I've never had a cat. The reason I never had one is because when I was real young I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I almost died (so I am told) and was hospitalized. I was always told it was because I played with the cats at my Grandmother's and they had caught rats. The doctors told my parents I had been bitten by a tick from one of the rats.

So, Chris do you have a dog or a cat that sleeps under the Christmas tree?

[agate]

Virginia, a mature cat does sleep much of the time--about 18 hours a day, I've heard. A less mature cat, especially a kitten, can be a ball of energy. It depends on the breed and the individual personality of course but quite a few kittens and young cats can be destructive and very persistent about it. They don't seem to think of it as being destructive. It's all a game to them. They see the glittering ornaments dangling from the branches and they just have to bat at them, to see what happens.

I've heard that they often chase mice and other prey, not because they're so hungry, but because they can't resist going after anything that moves.

[Prot]

Happy New Year to you all.

[agate]

Thank you, Tim, and happy New Year to you.