Cats 'n Dogs

People say that there are two types of individuals those who like cats and those who like dogs and never the twain shall meet . I must confess to being more a cat person that a dog one .But sometimes we (cat lovers ) , can be caught out . At sometime , as my children were growing up , at a weak moment , following continous pleadings , I must have rashly promised them that I would get a dog 'when I retired ',because a few days after officially informing them that I was taking early retirement I was reminded of my 'promise '.
So RUFUS made his appearence .Not only were we not very original in our choice of doggie names , we were not fussy about the choice of breeds . Rufus was described as a cross terrier , a nice way of saying a mongrel . I , being a cat person was well used to cats' independent ways ,i.e.''feed me , give me a warm bed and shelter and I MIGHT , repeat , MIGHT , decide to stay with you .'' This suited me fine .
But dogs are different . All I knew about dogs , to begin with was , one end barked and the other end s***ted .(I have since discovered the difference between big dogs and little dogs....big dogs bark louder and s**t bigger ).I soon found myself feeding , cleaning , walking , and generally looking after him .Dogs ,as far as children are concerned should be able to do all those things for themselves , just as cats (almost ) , do.Naturally I came to like him and when he was killed on the road a few years later , I missed my companion of my early retirement years .
Cats come and go , in both senses of the phrase , and don't appear to leave any physical marks behind them , but dogs leave all the accoutrements of their , dog-boxes , leads , chewed toys , scratched doors etc....So I promised myself.....no more dogs.!
A cat controls its 'owners' , can disappear for days at a time and one dare not ask WHERE WERE YOU .She ,because they are usually shes , ...takes up her usual place , near the fire , on your lap , on the sofa ...wherever is most confortable and secure .Dogs , and of course , children have no part in her life , unless they pay proper homage to her majesty .The cat ALLOWS you to pet her , but a dog BEGS you to. Dogs are famous for their loyalty , many stories are told of dogs fretting after the burial of their owner/master sometimes until the dog itself dies . Not so with cats , I have never read a tale of a cat sacrificing itself for its owner . No , one gets the impression that a cat will choose its next 'owner' at the wake of its former one .
Even when one goes on holidays a dog MUST be cared for constantly or put in an appropriate Kennel . A cat can pretty well look after irself with a minimum input from humans .
If a stranger comes to call , a dog ,after an initial round of barking will come begging for attention from the newcomer , but a cat will exit stage left at the first oppoptunity and disappear , not to be seen again until the visitor departs......and please don't ask me where I've been.
Finally in a competition between the two again the cat comes out best in a trice she can wind even the fiercest dog around her little paws just so that she can steal his food.....woof..woof,...miaow....miaow...let's paws for now....oh no wait a minute...I haven't told you about Max and Mickey..
Max is a fully grown jet black Labrador (dog , of course ) and Mickey is a young black male (we think ) cat .
Max thinks he is the boss and any time he spots Mickey , Max runs after him , barking ferociously...they disappear around the corner of a shed , Max in in close pursuit , Mickey running ahead , tail erect..from behind the shed comes sounds of , barking , mewling and scoffling .....then they come back into view ..except noe Max is running away , tail between his legs , ears down , whimpering ....and Mickey , the little cat , chasing him , spitting , hissing , fur standing to attention , all tooth and claw ....and the chase only ends when the CAT decides that the game is over.....