Cats and Dogs

[Mick F]

Mrs Mick F and me have been married 53 years this November.
We had a dog and a cat before we even had children!

So far, 12 cats and on the 6th dog. Cat 10 and Cat 12 are still with us, but Dog 5 (Sailor) sadly died two years ago.
The dogs had always been Border Collies, but we thought we'd like a change, so bought a re-home Cockapoo called Felicity ........... nicknamed Fliss.

Cats
1 Calico
2 Tickety-Boo
3 Ivan
4 Annie
5 Fizzy
6 Teagan
7 Seska
8 George
9 Sadie
10 Nellie
11 Percy
12 Raffle

Dogs
1 Sally
2 Megan
3 Rascal
4 Phoebe
5 Sailor
6 Fliss

How many cats and/or dogs have you had?

[fatmac]

Lots of cats - (but only a couple of dogs, back in the 50's)

[sjs]

Mrs Mick F and me have been married 53 years this November.
We had a dog and a cat before we even had children!

So far, 12 cats and on the 6th dog. Cat 10 and Cat 12 are still with us, but Dog 5 (Sailor) sadly died two years ago.
The dogs had always been Border Collies, but we thought we'd like a change, so bought a re-home Cockapoo called Felicity ........... nicknamed Fliss.

Cats
1 Calico
2 Tickety-Boo
3 Ivan
4 Annie
5 Fizzy
6 Teagan
7 Seska
8 George
9 Sadie
10 Nellie
11 Percy
12 Raffle

Dogs
1 Sally
2 Megan
3 Rascal
4 Phoebe
5 Sailor
6 Fliss

How many cats and/or dogs have you had?

Seven cats over the years we've been together, including three we brought with us at the beginning. Two of them (Bob, 18, and Nelson, 13) still with us.

Sorry to hear about Sailor; it only seems 5 minutes since you introduced him to us, but no doubt it isn't!

[Paulatic]

Also married 53 yrs we’ve had 8 house dogs mostly terriers or labs. A few cats and a lot of working collies. I’m remembering around 15 of them but there will be some who’ve gone from memory.

[rjb]

I saw the thread title and assumed it was raining in Cornwall.

Just checked the BBC weather app which tells me it is raining in Gunnislake.

[hercule]

So far we have had…

8 cats (2 currrently)
9 dogs (4 currently). For me personally, add another 3 to that list. A mix of Golden Retrievers (working stock) Irish Setters (ditto), English Setters (working and show lines), and Shih Tzus.

It’s the 4 that we have currently that are responsible for the fall in my cycling mileage of late! At least they like to come out walking and/or running with me!

[Mike Sales]

One of our cats liked to accompany me the two hundred yards to the village shop. She liked to walk along the top of the walls by the pavement, and would wait by the war memorial whilst I shopped. She also would cross the road to join me waiting at the bus stop opposite.

[Mike Sales]

Another cat would climb into the dog's basket and lie behind the poor mutt. She must have exerted some pressure because eventually the dog would give up the basket to the cat.

[al_yrpal]

Historic rat-catching records show that famous working terriers and historical dogs could kill up to 100 to 200 rats per hour

Our Minnie, a Plummer Terrier, is a breed famous for rat catching. During the recent Birmingham rat emergency members of the Plummer Terrier club were offering to sort it.

Al

[francovendee]

Five in the UK
Gremlin
Weeble
Sammy
Thomas
Tog.
When we moved to France we were down to just Weeble and Tog, both fairly elderly but lived for 4 and 5 years more.
Since then we've has around a dozen, none we've chosen. Cats just turn up, get fed and stay. We're about 1 mile from the village and we think people just dump them here when they don't want them.

Due to hunting many just disappear. The French will fire off at any thing moving, especially after a liquid lunch!
We've 5 at the moment;
Sooty
Pooh
Diana
Obi
Ryan

We took on an old Collie/Lab cross when we came. The owner, a Brit, died and there was nobody to have him.
We had him for 2 years and was 12 when he died in his sleep.
He was a very gentle dog that was terrified of cows. Living where we do it was difficult to find cow-less walks.

[Cowsham]

We have 3 cats the last one we got "Squeaker" is a black and white about 18 months old now. Like all black and white cats is a terrific hunter.

When he was very young I took the opportunity to train him to walk on a lead and go in my cat backpack for the bicycle so I can take him with me to town, vets etc.
This is him about 4 months old in my backpack.

[irc]

Over 39 years

Four cats. Now zero.
Mischa
Charlie
Storm
Tickles


5 dogs

Kashmir
Otis
Paddy
Betty
Harper

Currently down to one after losing Betty at age 13 ten weeks ago. Peak pets was two dogs and two cats. No plans to add any more for as long as our current dog lasts

Betty on the way in to Glen Dhu bothy 2025.

[pwa]

No cats. But two dogs over my lifetime. The first, a boxer, when I was a child and teenager, was an important part of my youth and gave me a love of dogs. But as I started work I was aware that there would be nobody at home for six or seven hours a day sometimes, and for most of my working life I resisted getting a dog for that reason. Dogs are social and need company, and exercise.

But a few years back we decided the time was right for having a dog and we got our whippet, Winnie. Why a whippet? Well, they tick a few important boxes. My wife was not a dog lover, so I wanted a dog that isn't too "in your face" . Whippets are mostly quiet. They are very low on odour and don't smell when wet. They are easy to clean. They are liftable when required. They can live a long time, for a dog, so don't suffer the short lifespan of larger breeds. They have mostly been bred for healthy traits, so don't have inbred health problems. They can do long walks, but they don't need them if you aren't in the mood yourself. They are affectionate with family and generally gentle, except with rabbits and squirrels. And of course, when they run they are a joy to watch. You really should not have a whippet if you don't have places locally where you can let it run freely, at least once a day. Ours loves local fields and the nearby beaches.

How does a dog enhance your life? It sounds a bit sad if you say it keeps you company, like you have a shortage of human friends. But a dog provides a different, simpler sort of company. They accept you each day, as you are, and quietly follow your lead wherever you go. Mine knows my moods, she knows what she can get away with, and she is always delighted when I return home. You really do have a relationship with your dog. Which makes it all the harder when your dog dies, as we know it will. We sign up for that pain when we get the dog in the first place. It's part of the deal. Mine is five and a half years old now, so all things being well, she has another nine years with us, more if we are lucky.