# I have the only dog/cat/gerbil/pet who \ **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 4, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160 "2016-04-04T11:45:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/1 "2016-04-04T11:45:47Z")
At the risk of making an unsupportable generalization, I think most of us can describe what we consider to be “typical” behavior of types of pets. In addition, I expect may of us have had or have known critters who do things that fly in the face of such stereotypes. Do share. I’ll start. We have the only dog in the world who hates to go in the car. It’s not like we only use the car to take her unpleasant places - her last few treks have been to my mom’s place where there are acres of new smells to explore and new things to pee on. But if we take her into the garage and open a car door, she does her best to avoid us, and when it’s inevitable, she sits, trembling - you’d think we were approaching her with a flaming cattle prod! What cute or odd behaviors are unique to your critter(s)? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/2 "2016-04-04T11:58:03Z")
One cat chews his way through plastic bags to get to bread, cookies, bagels, etc. These are in the natural state, not buttered or anything. Also another cat hates meat. Only kibble or rarely tuna. Meat causes her to recoil. Wet food can only be fish. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/3 "2016-04-04T12:08:30Z")
Hermes is the only cat I’ve seen who uses a pillow. I don’t mean that he lies on a pillow – most cats do that. Hermes uses a pillow the way a human being does, to elevate his head. He seems to seek one out, in fact. On our couch, he uses little decorative pillows the way people use human-sized pillows. If no pillow is available, he’ll use something else as a pillow. If he lies on the table, he’ll rest his head on a chair back. If he’s lying near you, he’ll use your hand as a pillow. He doesn’t always use a pillow (and when he doesn’t, his head gets contorted into the weirdest configurations), but he frequently does. He also won’t eat any human food, and he likes to play with his balloon (he hasn’t burst one yet), but I’ve seen other cats do that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/4 "2016-04-04T12:13:26Z")
If our African Grey, Rocco, wants attention he will mimic whoever is most likely to get him attention. So if I’m home alone, he’ll say something in my gf’s voice, usually, “hey, hon!” and I go looking for her. When my gf is home alone he uses my voice saying “hello??” to attract her. (We have a big house. When I’m looking for my gf I wander room to room saying “helloooo??”) It’s just a tiny bit creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/5 "2016-04-04T12:21:15Z")
I have a Chihuahua who sits on my shoulder in a parrot-like fashion when I am seated in my armchair or sofa. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/6 "2016-04-04T12:21:57Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Wet food can only be fish. Neither of our cats like fish, and they don’t seem to much like wet food. If I set a dish of it out and come back, all the gravy/broth will have been licked up, but little of the solids will be eaten. I’ve just quit buying it - they seem to much prefer the dry kibbles. \*\*Scumpup \*\*- that sounds too adorable for words!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/7 "2016-04-04T12:29:24Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > \*\*Scumpup \*\*- that sounds too adorable for words!! 😃 The unexpected and wet ear kisses when I am dozing through a movie can be startling. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/8 "2016-04-04T12:37:14Z")
Gordie likes to share his breakfast with his stuffed toys. He’ll drag his food bowl over, spill out some food and put the toy face down in the pile(considering the weird and unatural things he does with them, it’s only right he makes 'em breakfast the next morning.) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/9 "2016-04-04T12:45:47Z")
My husky goes to bed each night at 8:30, and waits by the stairs giving me the look until I go up to the bedroom with her and get her settled on the bed. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/10 "2016-04-04T13:05:35Z")
My golden retriever mix will peruse the garden and delicately pick and eat his selections. His favorites are strawberries, grape tomatoes and string beans. Last year, between him and the wild critters, I got ONE strawberry for myself. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/11 "2016-04-04T14:00:44Z")
My 8 month old kitten loves to play fetch with his toy mice. Before he plays, though, he will dunk each mouse in his water dish, then come and drop it on your lap. There’s nothing like playing fetch with a dripping, soggy mouse! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/12 "2016-04-04T14:24:16Z")
Our youngest dog, Loki, though usually mild mannered, [occasionally lets her other side show.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/superloki_zpsfxxij5bf.jpg) Middle dog, Kali, [has an incredible sense of balance.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/kalirocks.jpg) And eldest, Ella, [loves to wear hats.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/EllaCap_zpsxsbkk94f.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/13 "2016-04-04T14:34:35Z")
My kitteh Ursala has no interest in bags or boxes. No Boxhab for her! She also won’t finish her fuds unless I am near her. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/14 "2016-04-04T14:49:42Z")
One last one here. We stupidly taught Kali to [open gates.](http://vid681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/kalisgatetrick_zps4c93bf84.mp4) Now we have to be certain to latch/lock every gate on the farm. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/15 "2016-04-04T14:50:15Z")
Our cat Cuthbert is the only cat I’ve ever heard of who wants to be put in his crate to go for trips. We had several fire alarms at our last place. Because Cuth is deaf, he’s easy to scoop into a carrier even with shocking amounts of noise, so we scooped and carried him outside. For several days after the last one, he hung out in or near his carrier to see if we’d take him out. If I went and grabbed his carrier now, he’d run to jump in it and be ready for adventure! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/16 "2016-04-04T15:08:30Z")
KatieCat is the only feline who shows absolutely no interest in empty boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/17 "2016-04-04T15:35:40Z")
I have the only dog who likes [to pick up the other dog’s bowl and place it on his bed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=774408). Yes, she’s still doing this. My other dog has a very sensitive stomach. Fortunately, he’s considerate enough to go outside when he realizes he’s about to throw up. I once had the only dog who loved romaine lettuce. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/18 "2016-04-04T15:36:15Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > KatieCat is the only feline who shows absolutely no interest in empty boxes. See post#13 ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/19 "2016-04-04T15:49:47Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I have the only dog who likes [to pick up the other dog’s bowl and place it on his bed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=774408). Yes, she’s still doing this. > > My other dog has a very sensitive stomach. Fortunately, he’s considerate enough to go outside when he realizes he’s about to throw up. > > I once had the only dog who loved romaine lettuce. Nope - mine has favorites (see above) but I haven’t found a fruit or vegetable that he doesn’t love (except for the ones I don’t give him because they’re dangerous to dogs). Bananas, apples, clementines, lettuces, spinach, broccoli, asparagus and more…he loves them all. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160/20 "2016-04-04T15:50:03Z")
A previous cat of mine, Monsieur Bebe, loved potato peels. It was his favorite treat. Didn’t care for commercial kitty treats, was meh about tuna, but if he heard the peeler being used, he’d shoot out to the kitchen and start ‘singing’ for potato peels. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-only-dog-cat-gerbil-pet-who-insert-quirk-here/751160.md?page=2)