John Pearson reflects on cats and dogs.
Alas, poor Inca, I knew him well … for about six months at any rate.
Seldom has this column courted much feedback … half a dozen responses, mixed, nothing too violent. Maybe this time some fur will fly, as I reflect on cats and dogs? A picture of my new dog in Portholes drew two supporters, one detractor, so no picture this time, I’m thinking. Max grows in both age and stature. Soon surely he must have the proper hairdo identifying him for sure as a Bedlington Terrier. For now, he looks a bit wild still, a puppy-style appearance which my wife prefers to the close-clipped, tight-curled grown-up version, and certainly prefers to the fancy cut given to the ‘show dogs’ of his breed.
Anyway, enough of him for now. Who’s Inca? Inca, a kitten whose life was cruelly cut short by a lorry, was our first foray into caring and sharing with a small defenceless creature – some years before the kids came along, as they say! I am not altogether the hard man I may seem and fell for Inca when visiting a friend’s house. And so began a 30-something year relationship with cats. Next came Inky, for 14 years, and then the twin kittens (each daughter had to have one of their own) – another 13 year sentence in all. Anyone else share my problem … the kids grow up and go to university or the like, Mum and Dad left caring for the cats? I reckon my wife and I have ‘done’ cats, and are now for the first time ‘doing’ a dog.
Cat or dog? That is the question. There are around 17 million pet-owning households in the UK. There are some 12 million cats and, coincidentally, 12 million dogs. So people’s furry friend preferences seem evenly matched. 34% of households include a dog, 28% a cat (some having both and one or more, of course). It is a big jump from here to the next most popular inmates, indoor birds (2.9%), rabbits (2.4%), hamsters (1.5%) and so on. Pigeons, though a staple companion of the Northerner, come in at a mere 1%.
Cats can certainly be companionable, if you want a companion who lies around most of the day, when at home, allowing the occasional stroke if in the mood. You cannot easily share your life with it, outside your own garden that is. I am learning that a dog (mine at any rate) wants to share my life most of the time; leaps quite literally at the chance to go out and about; enjoys long walks with me in the countryside, by the sea or even through the city. My wife parades him proudly around her parish (a useful ‘icebreaker’ on occasion). The dog-collared twosome are becoming a familiar sight!
Max seems appreciative of human company, all over me when I arrive home and joining me in the sitting room at every opportunity. Sometimes it is a relief when he wants to be calm, lying on the settee or sitting in my favourite chair. He seems to genuinely enjoy being part of the family, whereas my daughter’s cat, when I am cat-sitting, behaves like an unruly teenager; out all hours, sometimes calling in for the meals I put out … and never a word (hug) of thanks!
The average cat’s life expectancy is 13–17 years though it can stretch to 20 (costing you up to £12,000, it is said). The average dog’s life expectancy is said to be 10–14 years (at a suggested cost of £21,000) but there are variations. It is a sobering thought that, from what I hear from other ‘Beddy’ owners, Max might just live till 17. By then he will have slowed down a bit hopefully, in line with my 85 years! Perhaps he and I shall still be seen out and about – on sedate walks, tottering along at our respective ends of a lead! Maybe I should have got another cat?
As I said, I planned not to have a picture of my new best friend. However, ‘Oh, go on!’ I seem to hear 2/3 of you say – so this is him, immortalised in the pages of Sofia. One in 12 million!