Comments on: Cases Seen http://www.anundonecalm.com/2007/07/10/cases-seen/ me re: my life Fri, 07 May 2010 14:03:20 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jeffrey http://www.anundonecalm.com/2007/07/10/cases-seen/comment-page-1/#comment-932 Jeffrey Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:47:00 +0000 http://www.anundonecalm.com/blog/2007/07/10/cases-seen/#comment-932 Hmm. Okay, semi-related question -- is there a veterinary consensus on the extent to which cats can be "bored" or "fulfilled" in their lives? We have two Siamese, and I probably anthropomorphize them quite a bit, but: I tend to feel bad for them and feel compelled to give them extra attention when they've been alone all day, and conversely glad for them when interesting/new things happen. My impression is that they should be allowed to go outside and be animals, but since we live in a city (Cambridge), they only go out when we can keep an eye on them. How plastic are their psychologies and expectations of life (however dim)?<br/><br/>On the other hand, it could be argued that people would be more fulfilled as hunter-gatherers in small clans, but I wouldn't want to die at 45.<br/><br/><br/>(Is this as bad as asking a human doctor for medical advice at a cocktail party? I don't have any veterinarian friends, or I would have already asked about this.) Hmm. Okay, semi-related question — is there a veterinary consensus on the extent to which cats can be “bored” or “fulfilled” in their lives? We have two Siamese, and I probably anthropomorphize them quite a bit, but: I tend to feel bad for them and feel compelled to give them extra attention when they’ve been alone all day, and conversely glad for them when interesting/new things happen. My impression is that they should be allowed to go outside and be animals, but since we live in a city (Cambridge), they only go out when we can keep an eye on them. How plastic are their psychologies and expectations of life (however dim)?

On the other hand, it could be argued that people would be more fulfilled as hunter-gatherers in small clans, but I wouldn’t want to die at 45.

(Is this as bad as asking a human doctor for medical advice at a cocktail party? I don’t have any veterinarian friends, or I would have already asked about this.)

]]> By: Anne http://www.anundonecalm.com/2007/07/10/cases-seen/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Anne Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:41:00 +0000 http://www.anundonecalm.com/blog/2007/07/10/cases-seen/#comment-931 I think there are a lot of factors at play. For starters cat owners and dog owners are different. For better or worse, cats are a much more "low maintenance" pet and therefore attract a different owner population. Dog owners are used to having to be immediately involved in their pet's care on a twice-thrice daily basis for walks and feedings while cats often are fed free-choice and need a litter box change every so often. Dog owners seem to adhere much better to the idea of the annual check up as well - likely since dogs are more likely to play with other dogs and therefore their owners perceive a higher risk of communicable disease. Most cats never leave the apartment and owners are content to just leave them be. But that's how weeks can pass before they actually realize anything is wrong. I think there are a lot of factors at play. For starters cat owners and dog owners are different. For better or worse, cats are a much more “low maintenance” pet and therefore attract a different owner population. Dog owners are used to having to be immediately involved in their pet’s care on a twice-thrice daily basis for walks and feedings while cats often are fed free-choice and need a litter box change every so often. Dog owners seem to adhere much better to the idea of the annual check up as well – likely since dogs are more likely to play with other dogs and therefore their owners perceive a higher risk of communicable disease. Most cats never leave the apartment and owners are content to just leave them be. But that’s how weeks can pass before they actually realize anything is wrong.

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.anundonecalm.com/2007/07/10/cases-seen/comment-page-1/#comment-930 Jeffrey Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:30:00 +0000 http://www.anundonecalm.com/blog/2007/07/10/cases-seen/#comment-930 Does the larger fraction of euthanized cats vs. dogs reflect something about the way that cats age? Or is it connected to a genuine lower standard of attention/care from owners, like your observation that cats tend to be sicker when they're brought in? That would be sad... Does the larger fraction of euthanized cats vs. dogs reflect something about the way that cats age? Or is it connected to a genuine lower standard of attention/care from owners, like your observation that cats tend to be sicker when they’re brought in? That would be sad…

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