# Your relationship with your pets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911 "2011-03-16T13:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/41 "2011-03-16T18:41:19Z")
All the animals (2 cats and a very small dog) sleep in the bed with us. They all get christmas/holiday presents as well. We don’t cook for them at all but they get a little bit of pumpkin in their food and occasional assorted treats. We don’t dress them up at all except a sweater on the dog when it is cold outside. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/42 "2011-03-16T18:42:04Z")
Cats sleep with me, not by my choice but because they cried their way into it. The 75 pound dog does not get into the bed, unless it’s thundering, then she walks on my head to let me know. I don’t cook special meals for the pets as a matter of course, but I have done mix-ins of veg and stuff, so I guess that counts. It’s purposeful and with some sort of goal in mind. I don’t buy presents for my own pets, but it’s expected to have gifts for the pets of my siblings at xmas. I blame our delayed childbearing. The cats do NOT dress up. The dog has been dressed up for special occasions, such as the doggie Mardi Gras parade, but not as a matter of course. She also has a raincoat because that’s better than wet dog stink. She doesn’t tolerate hats. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/43 "2011-03-16T18:50:29Z")
I said “none of the above” but if I were not allergic I would allow the cats on my bed. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/44 "2011-03-16T18:52:54Z")
No dress up. The cat would probably claw my eyes out and the sheltie already has so much fur clothing would be ridiculous. No cooking special meals unless one of them needs it because of illness or trying (in vain) to get the cat to somehow consume a pill. No presents for holidays, but it’s not like they lack anything they want. The dog doesn’t sleep on the bed because it’s too hot and, with all that sheltie fur, he prefers to sleep in the coolest place in the house (currently the basement). The cat does sleep on the bed because that’s where the cat damn well wants to sleep and this cat does what it damn well wants to. Seriously, I have no control over that cat. I’ve dealt with difficult, aggressive dogs, feisty, troublesome horses, etc. I thought for sure I could manage one arrogant cat. I was very foolish. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/45 "2011-03-16T18:58:30Z")
My dog is too big to sleep on the bed when we’re both in it, but can when there is only one of us. If my wife is still asleep when I leave for work, I let her in to jump on the bed and snooze for a while in the morning. The dogs do get Christmas presents, always bits of food. Our old, genius dog showed us that he knew how to open packages very nicely the first time we wrapped up a present for him, and sometimes we let him open ours. Our dog now learned a little bit about how to, but isn’t nearly as good. No special food except if there is some medical reason, such as rice and cottage cheese for stomach problems. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/46 "2011-03-16T19:06:31Z")
Does “Tuna Tuesday” count for “Making meals for your pets”? Also, what about an isolated incident for putting a chickenhat on them as punishment? ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/47 "2011-03-16T19:12:04Z")
My two cats are adored and spoiled…but they aren’t allowed in the bedroom, they eat kibble from a bag (spendy, prescription stuff, but no cooking involved). Dress them up? Ha no. Okay, tiny reindeer antlers, ONCE. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/48 "2011-03-16T19:13:38Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > For 3, no special meals, but we do shell out for her expensive stupid prescription food for her expensive stupid “delicate” stomach. Bingo! Diego (and by extension, Serafina) eats Royal Canin Green Pea and Venison. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/49 "2011-03-16T19:28:01Z")
Both dogs sleep with me in the bed. They are both small and the bed is high so they wait to be picked up when I climb into bed and will bark if I am not fast enough. I buy them beef rib bones which I parboil so the bones don’t splinter and occasional ground beef. They also get our table scraps. Yes to Christmas and birthday presents and they both wear sweaters in the winter and halloween custumes. So pretty much all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/50 "2011-03-16T19:29:44Z")
The cat sleeps on the bed. We buy her Christmas presents. We don’t dress her up. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/51 "2011-03-16T19:32:42Z")
Cat sleeps on the bed. We don’t get him presents, but he gets them for my nieces. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/52 "2011-03-16T19:33:40Z")
Does giving them human food birthday treats count as cooking them meals or giving them birthday presents? [Mystery](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9624983@N05/3670035032/in/set-72157623434119688/), in particular, loves dairy food, so when her birthday comes around I try to give her a little milk-cheese-tuna platter. [Tikva](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9624983@N05/2437087215/in/set-72157623434119688/) is not so into people food, but she sleeps in my bed at night. I don’t like sleeping alone. In fact, she lives in my room. She has her own little corner set-up for her food and litter, and she likes to be away from other people and near to me. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/53 "2011-03-16T19:35:21Z")
The dogs sleep on the bed. Chiwi likes to wear clothes, but he only has the one jacket. The other dogs do not care for clothing. I occasionally make them treats and they always get to share in bananas, carrots, and green beans. Oh, how they love carrots and green beans! ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/54 "2011-03-16T21:31:28Z")
What does that word “allow” mean? 😛 Our cats do whatever they want, pretty much. Countertops, tables, bookshelves, bed, shower (yes, one of our cats takes showers with us. It was interesting to watch her develop that particular habit… ) We watch where we walk so we don’t step on kitty toys, we let them sleep with us (they don’t really like each other, so they take it in shifts through the night) and we don’t eat unless we clean off surfaces first, and figure that’s a small price to pay to have happy kitties who don’t barf in our shoes at night. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/55 "2011-03-16T21:34:02Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Our cats do whatever they want, pretty much. Countertops, tables, bookshelves, bed, shower (yes, one of our cats takes showers with us. It was interesting to watch her develop that particular habit… ) Cat doesn’t take showers, but he’ll perch on the top rail of the glass doors of the shower, and watch. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/56 "2011-03-16T21:36:55Z")
I love Mrs. Which & Mrs. Who, but they’re cats, not people. Christmas means nothing to them; neither do birthdays. And they don’t want to eat cooked food; they want to hunt, torture, and kill birds & mice, eat parts of the corpses, and use what remains either as a “gift” to me or to terrorize the survivors of their last meals. If I dressed them up, I’d be as sadistic as they would be if I allowed them to be, and if I let them sleep in our bed, they’d punish me and the missus while we slept for restraining their sadism. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/57 "2011-03-16T21:43:20Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > What does that word “allow” mean? 😛 > > Our cats do whatever they want, pretty much. Countertops, tables, bookshelves, bed, shower (yes, one of our cats takes showers with us. It was interesting to watch her develop that particular habit… ) You’ve inspired me to leave the bathroom door open for my next shower just to see what happens. My cat sleeps on the bed most days, unless getting sleep is really crucial for some reason. I don’t give him any human food or cook him special meals, or give him presents on Christmas, or dress him up in clothes. It’s difficult to describe my relationship with my cat. I love him, and I miss him when I’m away, but I get annoyed with his clinginess pretty easily (he’s currently annoying the hell out of me with his endless pitiful meowing for attention.) I love cats, but I’m not an obsessive cat person and I’m not obsessed with cats… I don’t attribute human emotions to animals and I’m pretty sure my cat could care less whether I lived or died as long as he’s got a warm lap to sleep in. I just think he’s really soft and silly and entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/58 "2011-03-16T21:54:01Z")
I adore my dogs beyond the telling, but after 15 years of it, I had to admit to myself that dog hair in my bed was disgusting and I didn’t want it anymore. So they get a 5 mnute visit once in a blue moon. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/59 "2011-03-16T21:55:59Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > You’ve inspired me to leave the bathroom door open for my next shower just to see what happens. > > My cat sleeps on the bed most days, unless getting sleep is really crucial for some reason. I don’t give him any human food or cook him special meals, or give him presents on Christmas, or dress him up in clothes. > > It’s difficult to describe my relationship with my cat. I love him, and I miss him when I’m away, but I get annoyed with his clinginess pretty easily (he’s currently annoying the hell out of me with his endless pitiful meowing for attention.) I love cats, but I’m not an obsessive cat person and I’m not obsessed with cats… I don’t attribute human emotions to animals and I’m pretty sure my cat could care less whether I lived or died as long as he’s got a warm lap to sleep in. > > I just think he’s really soft and silly and entertaining. Mine does this annoying head-butting thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911/60 "2011-03-16T22:18:21Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Mine does this annoying head-butting thing. Yeah, mine too. And somehow the little bastard always ends up in my lap. Spoiled and evil, they are. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-relationship-with-your-pets/574911.md?page=4)