# Your boundaries with pets in your home **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356 "2010-12-16T13:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**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 17, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/81 "2010-12-17T20:15:39Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I like animals but I do realize they are animals. Monster! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/82 "2010-12-17T20:45:50Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > In what language? Just curious. I’m not sure, since I’m hardly awake, but she sure gets her message across. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/83 "2010-12-17T20:55:19Z")
We have seven cats. They’re allowed in most of the house, with the exception of the spouse’s office room, my office room (neither are cat-safe, and we don’t want the cats messing with our stuff), and one of the bathrooms. They’re indoor-only and they go pretty much where they want, including kitchen counters (we don’t cook much, but when we do we carefully clean off the counters). They also sleep with us–I’ve always found it very relaxing to have little furry creatures snuggled up next to me while I sleep, especially in the winter since we don’t keep the heat on much. It was a little rough during kitten days (they weren’t all kittens at once, thank goodness!) but they’ve all pretty much settled down now, spending most of their time sleeping or playing with each other. I readily admit that seven is probably too many, but now that they’re here we love them all, so they’re here to stay. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/84 "2010-12-17T23:30:20Z")
Don’t have a pet at this time, but I’ve generally had half a dozen or so about. They could go anywhere. Following the admirable St. Francis rather than the despicable St. Dominic, I regard all animals as little brothers or little sisters; with all the rights that entails. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/85 "2010-12-18T00:43:11Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Right now I have cats, and no rules–but for some reason, I’ve never had cats that particularly wanted to get on my counters. I’m sure there are some rules, and if they violated them I’d…do…something. > > They did absolutely wreck a brand-new rug I got for the living room. I was thinking my next rug might be catskin. However, in reality, that won’t happen. I heard some guy at a party bragging about his Russian Blues that cost $800 apiece and I’m thinking, “If you deduct the cost of the rug, my cats are worth that…” > > However, when I have dogs, I have a few more rules. And unlike cats, dogs will follow the rules, for the most part. > > The fish have no rules. sounds like my house. at casa scubaqueen, the superkitties have full run. they don’t seem to be interested in getting up on the kitchen counters even at meal time, which is fine with me. otherwise, they sleep on my bed and the furniture and visit me while in the tub - or on the throne. 😃 years ago, when i had dogs, they also had the run of the house - as well as all human beds belonging to me, mother, and sister. a former SO had a freakin’ menagerie at the time: four dogs, and when we first got together, four cats! all of whom either slept on the bed with us (thank og it was a king-sized bed) or near us on the floor of the bedroom every night. life as usual. OTOH, his bird, a giant greenwing macaw with feathers and Attitude, had no rules. 😃 she did as she damn well pleased. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/86 "2010-12-18T15:57:46Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > A bed without a cat in it is a cold, lonely bed. At the very least there should be a cat in the room somewhere. I have a husband, no need for a kitty for that. 🙂 > [@Gus\_Gusterson](#): > > I don’t care if other people want to have animals in their houses, but I won’t have one in mine. That’s me. I tolerated having a Lab indoors for several years after we got married (he was Hubby’s dog) and it really wore on my nerves, chasing after all that hair and stuff. But the poll response kind of doesn’t match - if the pets are outside, then they aren’t “pets in your home”. We have one dog left, she lives outside. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/87 "2010-12-20T04:41:51Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > I have a husband, no need for a kitty for that. 🙂 That is a valid point. I do not have a husband, a boyfriend, or any other human being sharing my bed, so that’s what Tikva’s\* for. Speaking of Tikva and beds, she’s right now sitting on the stairs, yelling at me to go up already. \*Can’t get on to Flickr now. Sorry. She’s an torbie with a white nose. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/88 "2010-12-20T04:58:35Z")
Cats are not allowed in bedrooms. They may go in any other room, and in the basement when we feel like letting them down there. They may not hang out on the back of the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/89 "2010-12-20T05:54:01Z")
2 small dogs. No dogs upstairs. Oakley the Diva is the most prim and proper looking house dog, but she’s actually part troll and lives under the house, only coming in during torrential rainstorms at night. Cheeky sleeps inside. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/90 "2010-12-20T09:09:38Z")
Everywhere. Everywhere! One cat even learned how to open the kitchen cabinet doors, so she could nap inside. And my wardrobe doors. I brush my folded clothes down with a lint roller before I go out. The other cat pretty much likes to sleep on our pillow. I think I woke up last night with a face full of cat. She was furry and warm and nice, so I went right back to sleep. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/91 "2010-12-20T17:40:53Z")
I voted no rules, because the pet in question is a budgie - he can come out of the cage pretty much any time he likes (the only exceptions being if we have windows open, or guests who are nervous of him). He does not cause any trouble, or do anything particularly unwelcome when he’s out. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/92 "2010-12-20T23:40:27Z")
You forgot: I’m typing this while they strut across my keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/93 "2010-12-20T23:48:57Z")
My cockatiel is fully flighted and has free rein over the apartment, but he stays on his cage until I get home. He knows he’s not allowed on the table while we’re eating, near the laptop, on the couch and on top of the fridge. He’s only a destructive little brat when I’m home, go figure. Miss Gnomer…I can’t wait to own chickens! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/94 "2010-12-21T02:17:17Z")
The cat isn’t supposed to go on tables or countertops, but this seems to be translated in her mind as “not when we are looking” - the doors are kept shut to closets (to prevent clothes climbing and clawing) and my daughter’s room (hamster TV is way to fascinating - and she CAN knock over the cage. She sleeps with us, but I have no issues throwing her in the basement with the door shut if she’s annoying about it (she scratches the carpet in front of the door if she isn’t let in - but the basement has a remanent she is free to claw to bits). She also gets locked away if she gets annoying (she bullies my mother’s dog) or is threatened (a friend’s dog thinks she’s food). Our dog is only permitted on the first floor, more due to bad hips than rules. He does sleep on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/95 "2010-12-21T04:16:32Z")
I wish it was “pets allowed indoors but only in certain areas, all other verboten,” but due to my lovely other, what we’ve got is “pets given free reign, but with a few forbidden areas.” ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356/96 "2010-12-21T07:09:40Z")
I’ve never been without a dog in my life. I absolutely adore them! My Mini Schnauzer goes just about everywhere with me and is allowed anywhere in the house except when I’m in the bathroom. Actually she never follows me in there because that’s where the BIG bad doggy baths happen so she avoids the bathroom. Two things I do HATE about some dogs, though… I HATE to be stared at by a dog, any dog, while I’m trying to eat a meal. My girl knows to go off somewhere else until I’m finished eating. Only then will she follow me to the kitchen when I’m putting my plate away. She knows I’ll save her a bite of something good. I HATE dog hair in the house so I’ve always had dogs that don’t shed. Terrier breeds are great. Except once I had an Australian Cattle Dog that stayed in during the cold months. I swear he had enough hair for ten dogs. I truly believe if he shed one hair, ten grew back in it’s place, only to be shed the following spring or fall. They have a short inner coat and a longer outer coat. I hated that. Spent most of my time vacuuming or picking dog hair off my clothes when I had him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-boundaries-with-pets-in-your-home/564356.md?page=4)