# single ladies: enough with the pets! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 4, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914 "2010-12-04T06:47:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/41 "2010-12-05T04:15:05Z")
All the single ladies (all the single ladies) All the single ladies (all the single ladies) All the single ladies (all the single ladies) Go put your dogs up šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/42 "2010-12-05T04:29:12Z")
I guess itā€™s a damned good thing that Iā€™m married then. I have 9 cats, 7 horses, and two dogs. And a husband who loves me in part _because_ of my love of animals. If I were single and dating, attitude towards animals in the hose would be a prime filter point for me. You donā€™t like pets? Thatā€™s fine, glad to have met you, bye now, have a nice life. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/43 "2010-12-05T04:35:42Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Some of us girls donā€™t like pets. Right now my only pet is one gecko. Of course, I am not single, but weā€™re out there. This makes no sense at all - as you say, geckos are pets. Unless you also mean you donā€™t like your gecko. Actually I understand you to mean you donā€™t care for _mammalian_ pets ( because I remember from previous threads that you donā€™t ). But donā€™t demean your poor, sweet gecko so :). At one point when I was a younger man, I had a multitude of pet snakes. Talk about a babe magnet :D! But like many onetime herp aficionados, I eventually gave up on the slitheriness and stuck with the considerably more demonstrative furballs. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/44 "2010-12-05T05:12:51Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > All the single ladies (all the single ladies) > All the single ladies (all the single ladies) > All the single ladies (all the single ladies) > Go put your dogs up > > šŸ˜ƒ Iā€™ve had this stuck in my head all day since I saw this thread. 'Cept my last line goes ā€œSo put your cats downā€ šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/45 "2010-12-05T06:10:26Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > Iā€™ve had this stuck in my head all day since I saw this thread. 'Cept my last line goes ā€œSo put your cats downā€ > > šŸ˜› Itā€™s been stuck in my head all day, too - so much that Iā€™ve been singing it and annoying my kids! ā€œMom! Look at the ring finger of your left hand.ā€ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/46 "2010-12-05T07:06:04Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I know a woman who lives alone and has five dogs. Her life revolves around the dogs and their needs. And yes, she is bat-poop crazy. So, how long have you known my sister? Bat-poop, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/47 "2010-12-05T15:15:12Z")
**Tamerlane** , Iā€™m one of those odd women who likes reptiles. Iā€™d have probably thought your snakes were really cool. I love animals. I canā€™t imagine being with somebody who doesnā€™t. Itā€™s a dealbreaker for me; you have to at least like them. At least some of them. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/48 "2010-12-05T15:30:15Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > I canā€™t imagine being with somebody who doesnā€™t. Itā€™s a dealbreaker for me; you have to at least like them. At least some of them. I love 'em. Especially when theyā€™re broiled. What? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/49 "2010-12-05T15:38:51Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > **Tamerlane** , Iā€™m one of those odd women who likes reptiles. Iā€™d have probably thought your snakes were really cool. > > I love animals. I canā€™t imagine being with somebody who doesnā€™t. Itā€™s a dealbreaker for me; you have to at least like them. At least some of them. Also forgot to add: my username derives from my collecting salamanders when I was a boy. I used to create mossy environments in shoeboxes and keep my little orange pets in there, and have them run all over my arms (imagine how my mom loved watching that!) and I thought they were beautiful and cool. Thatā€™s my idea of a good pet actuallyā€“quiet, easily maintained with minimum daily or hourly attention needed, no fecal duties, no smell at all, no shedding, attractiveā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/50 "2010-12-05T16:15:29Z")
Likes animals does not equal crazy cat/dog lady. I have one cat. Iā€™d like to have a second as company for her BUT I simply donā€™t have room, so she gets lots of attention from me when Iā€™m home. I canā€™t imagine having more than two, ever. Leopard geckos make fun little pets, and theyā€™re even nice enough to use one specific corner of their enclosure as a litterbox, making cleaning up so easy. Theyā€™re also really pretty little guys. Iā€™ve had a couple of them. For fish, Iā€™ve had several bettas. They are awesome little fish. Nothing like the inch-long fish threatening to kick your ass, even if all he actually does is nibble your finger! ---
**Author:** ![wipetheclock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b19c9b/32.png) [@wipetheclock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wipetheclock)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/51 "2010-12-05T17:09:29Z")
**Pseudotriton ruber ruber** where is the line? Most people would agree that the situation in your op is nuts and not very many pet owners are like that. Later in the thread it seems that you consider it ideal to keep a dog/cat outdoors primarily with access to the house limited to non-living areas (basement, mudroom, laundry room). Is there a middle ground you consider acceptable? Perhaps allowing the pet(s) in the main living area but not the bedroom and not on furniture? I ask because your ideal is going to be rare for women with dogs living in a city. Between apartment and condo living without a yard to a home with a fenced yard but complaints from neighbors over dog barking. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/52 "2010-12-05T17:35:16Z")
All five of my critters (three cats, two dogs) were acquired while I was in a relationshipā€“I threw the misbehaving human out and kept the animals. Best decision EVAR. Iā€™m not at all enthusiastic about the idea of dating, but if I were non-acceptance of my family (which includes my animals, my kids, my grandkids and the various family dogs I often babysit) would be a complete dealbreaker. I already had one isolating asshole who acted like paying attention to anything but him and his imaginary greatness was some sort of betrayal, why in hell would I want to sign up for that special hell again? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/53 "2010-12-05T18:50:33Z")
Actually, I do sympathize. I feel the same way myself, somewhat. single men: enough with the kids! Last few men Iā€™ve dated all have little boys, girls, teenagers, etc. and itā€™s gotten to me. Iā€™ve gotten clawed while in bed with said man, iā€™ve stepped on various children, Iā€™ve declined the chance to cook dinner at his place because of the omnipresent toys all over every surface of his kitchen, and Iā€™ve gotten generally grossed out by kids at every turn. Iā€™m not a kid person, and when Iā€™ve been, Iā€™ve found a way to limit the kidsā€™ presence to a part of my house, or to the outdoors, or something of the sort. I could make it a dealbreaker. ā€œHello.ā€ ā€œHi, Do you have any kids? Yes? Goodbye.ā€ And maybe I should. But I was hoping to get lucky. The emotional dependence on children bugs me, too, or maybe even primarily. ā€œI canā€™t get away for the weekend unless I find someone to take care of Tyler, and Taylor, and of course Skyler. Tyler has special needs, so itā€™s almost imposible to find a good caretaker for him, of course, and Taylor smells almost as bad as Skyler lately, so I understand why no one wants to take him in for even fifteen minutes, and Billy and Bobby are twins so how could I possibly split up that pairā€¦ā€ THEYā€™RE YOUR FUCKING KIDS, BOY, NOT YOUR ENTIRE BASIS FOR LIVING. Iā€™ve had men tell me sad, sad tales about their problems finding any sort of gal to go out with, despite their obvious handsomeness and smarts and charm and wealth and sex appealā€“meanwhile Iā€™m going ā€œHave you looked at the fucking nightmare kidzone youā€™re living in? Of course no one wants to get involved with the fucking daycare youā€™re running here. Are you totally delusional?ā€ But instead of expressing that thought, I just nod my head and softly intone, ā€œYes, yes, itā€™s a puzzle, isnā€™t it?ā€ But here, in the safety of the SD, I will offer this advice, gratis: If youā€™re a lonely single man who canā€™t figure out why women tend to shy away from you despite your abundant attractive qualities, and you have kids, think about it. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/54 "2010-12-05T19:06:23Z")
Thatā€™s a horrible, horrible analogy, and your point is being crushed under the weight of all that false logic. I may not feel quite as strongly as the OP about it, but I have to confess when I go to a girlā€™s house for the first time and she falls to the floor to nuzzle with her cat, it _is_ a bit of a turn-off, to say the least. Maybe itā€™s because guys want to know theyā€™re dating someone who doesnā€™t need the affection of a pet to survive, I donā€™t know. But having pets is fine; itā€™s when it gets obsessive that it gets scary for us. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/55 "2010-12-05T19:08:31Z")
> [@DooWahDiddy](#): > > Thatā€™s a horrible, horrible analogy, and your point is being crushed under the weight of all that false logic. Iā€™m afraid you may have misplaced your sense of humor. Please let me know if you find it, so I can stop looking. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/56 "2010-12-05T19:27:38Z")
Yā€™know what I like best about animals? They donā€™t criticize, they accept you as you are. I never yet heard a cat say "when Iā€™m at a girlā€™s house and she falls to the floor to nuzzle with her boyfriend, it is a bit of a turn-off, to say the least. Maybe itā€™s because cats want to know theyā€™re with someone who doesnā€™t need the affection of a man to survive, I donā€™t know. But having men is fine; itā€™s when it gets obsessive that it gets scary for us. " ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/57 "2010-12-05T19:35:22Z")
Iā€™m, um, just going to go over here and join a conversation where people actually have something to say, rather than just copying posts and randomly exchanging one word for another thinking theyā€™re making a pointā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/58 "2010-12-05T19:40:16Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Iā€™ve had women tell me sad, sad tales about their problems finding any sort of guy to go out with, despite their obvious beauty and smarts and charm and wealth and sex appealā€“meanwhile Iā€™m going ā€œHave you looked at the fucking nightmare menagerie youā€™re living in? Of course no one wants to get involved with the fucking zoo youā€™re running here. Are you totally delusional?ā€ But instead of expressing that thought, I just nod my head and softly intone, ā€œYes, yes, itā€™s a puzzle, isnā€™t it?ā€ > > . You should tell them why then. It might help them in the future. ---
**Author:** ![skylar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@skylar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/59 "2010-12-05T20:37:53Z")
Does anyone have the opposite problem? I am female and my boyfriend has two cats. He was kind of forced to take them in by his obsessed animal-loving PETA freak future sister-in-law, but he grew to love them and now theyā€™re like his kids. Iā€™m not actively trying to get rid of the cats, but if, say, they die prematurely or something, Iā€™m not voting to replace them. I understand the OP completely. I donā€™t hate animals, but things are WAY more sanitary without them, plus these cats meow & whine all damn night when weā€™re trying to sleepā€¦ I believe weā€™ve had a tiny, tiny, TINY taste of what it might be like to have a kid and thatā€™s enough to put me off kids for a lonnnnnnnnnng time (like a few decades). The aforementioned future sister-in-law has canceled plans (even a weekend vacation) because her dogs/cats were sick or she couldnā€™t find a pet sitter or somethingā€¦ I believe thatā€™s the point where the animals are running your life, and thatā€™s not okay with me, either. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914/60 "2010-12-05T20:43:14Z")
Itā€™s interesting. I do have cats though Iā€™m going to be down to only one in the near future and I wonā€™t be looking to get more cats after my one old guy dies. But I wouldnā€™t get seriously involved with someone who didnā€™t like pets simply because Iā€™d like to have the option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-ladies-enough-with-the-pets/562914.md?page=4)