Though I know some people who are equal lovers of both cats and dogs, for the most part people seem to place themselves into one category or the other: Cat Person (CP) or Dog Person (DP).
Often, I believe our aligning with one group or the other has to do with what pets we grew up with. I grew up with cats, therefore I’m a CP. There was pure-white Spunky who we had during my baby and toddler years. Then Sadie, a “big boned” Tuxedo cat, we had from the time I was about 7 through 23. And now, of course, there’s sweet, tiny Dolly.
As a kid I was absolutely terrified of most dogs, and they were EVERYWHERE. It seemed that all my friends and neighbors had them. It wasn’t unusual for the dogs in my neighborhood to escape their yards and wander into the neighbors’. While the owners saw this as a small, silly mistake to let their dogs wander, they also seemed to be of the mindset that “I love my dog, therefore, I’m sure everyone else does too!” WRONG. Playing outside as a kid, at the first sighting of a loose dog, I’d ditch my jump rope or sidewalk chalk and go sprinting into the house. Once while trick-or-treating on Halloween, a gigantic Dalmatian, probably bigger than me, came running out of the house that I was collecting candy from and chased me around the yard, all my candy going everywhere. That sealed the deal—dogs were not my friends!
Sometime around my teenage years, I grew a bit more comfortable around dogs so long as they didn’t jump all over me or weren’t too yippy and annoying. And now, as an adult, there are even some dogs I genuinely like – Corgis, Beagles, or anything that’s big, slow, and bear-like. I once met a Dachshund at the Bell House named Lyle Lovett who seemed to be my speed.
If we could all just exist in harmony, identifying as a CP or DP, all would be swell. But what bothers me, is how Dog People often think they’re so superior. If the world were a high school, Dog People would be the popular jocks and Cat People would be the chess-playing nerds. In general, cats are more introverted, quiet, and cautious; they need time to gain your trust. Dogs, on the other hand, are more often extroverted, and immediately love everybody. Golden Retrievers are like those people who, upon meeting someone for the first time, announce “I’m a hugger!!!” while giving someone a big hug whether they want it or not.
Of course we all remember Robert De Niro’s character in Meet the Parents (a CP) telling Ben Stiller’s character (a DP) how, “A dog is very easy to break, but cats make you work for their affection. They don't sell out the way dogs do.” I know we’re supposed to sympathize with Stiller here, but I never did; De Niro is right.
Too often, I’ve encountered someone who, when he finds out I’m a CP, will puff up his chest and declare that he likes dogs and that cats are snobby and evil. And yeah, some cats ARE snobby and evil. But sometimes that’s what makes them hilarious. Put any small item on a countertop and watch a cat bat it onto the floor, looking back at you with a deadpan facial expression saying, “Ooh, I quiver with fear”.
But, oh! When they want something from you—treats, scratches, or for you to turn the bathroom faucet on for a drink (maybe that’s just Dolly)—their eyes grow to the size of saucers, pleading with you to find it in your heart to give them just a little bit of something.
See? Funny!
Also, I must add, that cats truly are the perfect pets for Indoorsy folk like me, since I never have to take Dolly for a walk outside to do her business on a freezing cold or boiling hot day. Sometimes I think that taking a dog for a walk might be a good opportunity for a meet-cute. It could also be annoying though if lots of people stopped me to pet my dog or engage in conversation about the dog. Or to have to pretend-laugh when a passerby jokes, “who’s taking who for a walk, there?!” Really original; never heard that one before!
Cats are also quite compact and therefore, excellent city dwellers. They’re self-cleaning and can come and go from the litter box as needed. And, sure, Dolly doesn’t kill every pest that enters my apartment, but she’s usually pretty clear to point out to me when something undesirable has entered the room. That’s gotta count for something, right?
But I’m not here to convince DP to convert to CP (though if someone happened to, that would be perfectly fine with me). I just ask that, if you don’t like cats, please don’t shame me for it. And keep your extroverted stranger-hugs to yourself.
What I’m Watching
Below Deck
If you aren’t watching any of the five (!) franchises of this brilliant reality show, you’re truly missing out. Every Monday evening for years now I tune in to watch a crew of attractive young people work on a charter yacht in a variety of scenic places (the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia, etc.), tending to the needs of wealthy charter guests (only some of them are terrible people!). The mix of coworker dynamics, hooking up, hierarchies, egos all around, non-stop chaos, and merciless Mother Nature herself make for a fun, escapist show that is literally never dull. (Mon. 9pm on Bravo! or the next day on Peacock)
Platonic
I’ll admit, I haven’t always been a fan of Seth Rogan; he’s certainly grown on me a lot over the years (though his laugh will probably always slightly annoy me). He has a great new sitcom right now on Apple TV+ with Rose Byrne and a bunch of very funny supporting actors, especially Luke Macfarlane (he recently played opposite Billy Eichner in the movie Bros), who is so naturally funny, he really deserves his own show to star in. What I appreciate about Platonic too is how the women in the show are given just as many funny jokes and plot lines as the men. They’re never dull or forced to play the scolds. It’s a light and pleasant show about the platonic, yet sometimes tricky relationship between the two main characters. It’s the perfect before-bed show. (All episodes currently on Apple TV+)
What I’m Listening To
“Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers”
What’s a late-night comedy host to do with himself during a writers strike? Start a podcast with his brother! This is a very fun and funny podcast hosted by brothers and best friends Seth and Josh Meyers (pictured as little kids below). It’s a pretty basic concept - they have a different comedian guest on each week (Amy Poehler, Pete Davidson, Amy Schumer, etc) and chat about family vacations they took as kids and all the things that went awry. Hilarity ensues. It keeps me entertained during my often-delayed/rerouted/sweaty/terrible subway commutes.