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For a considerable period of time -- it may have been years -- a neighbour's large black Tom cat controlled our fairly large garden. Mum's cat Shelley would sleep all day on the branch of a jacaranda tree, and Smokey would reside at the opposite end of the garden to Martin the Tom cat.

Martin would regularly come into our house and eat the cat's food, so that Mum eventually fed him separately.

He was built like a panther with muscles of iron, which you could feel when he rubbed against your leg. He was not fully domesticated because when he caught a bird he would actually eat it, and one day I spotted him crunching on a large, live cicada.

One day I decided to pat Martin. He immediately became a real sook and demanded a stroke and snuggle every day. Obviously he had received no affection from his owners.

On a later occasion I was speaking to his owner who insisted that a cat should be fed only once a day, and so that was why poor Martin was always hungry.

Regarding cats and chimneys, I was lying in bed with a certain girlfriend on one occasion when we heard this strange sound in the chimney. It was her fluffy black kitten which had been locked outside and found another way in.

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Wet his pants and stood outside... I hosed him off with cold water and eventually gave him a bathrobe... He though she'd have something like a poodle or toy terrier... No problem ... no more boyfriend...

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From my experiences both with fishing and keeping fish, I've yet to see any evidence of emotion from them, even when there is what should seem to be a clear and present danger.

Example - Gold fish and pirahna, in same tank.

When not hungry, the pirahna ignores the goldfish. When it gets hungry, it begins to eat a goldfish slowly, in small measures, beginning with those parts which are not vital to its immediate survival; i.e., tail, fins, flesh from face, flesh from along side of and above spine. Eventually the pirahna gets around to more vital portions of the goldfish, the goldfish eventually expires, and the pirahna abandons it.

In this manner, the goldfish remains alive for several days, thereby providing the pirahna with a number of meals of fresh meat.

Now, you might expect the goldfish to in some manner react to the mere presence of the pirahna after the first nibble has been taken. Instead, the goldfish seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that it is even in the company of the pirahna!

Martin graciously agreed to pose for this photo especially for Colin.

http://www.topsciencenews.com/images/Martin_Buddha_rotate_357_40.jpg

[I hope "onbliss" stumbles on this to clarify]

From the limited sampling available to me, I have ascertained that many/most Hindus and Buddhists believe that some humans will be reincarnated as animals.

If this is the case, then some/many animals would actually have human souls.

Personally I don't subscribe to this point of view, although I have no way of knowing if it is any less logical/feasible than the Christian/Muslim notion that humans have a choice between eternal heaven and eternal hell.

Once I was sitting in the bush with a girlfriend and she asked me in all seriousness: "Do ants go to heaven?"

If reincarnation or heaven/hell is based on our character and deeds in this lifetime, then I would think that many people who have posted here would agree that some of their pets were more deserving of a quality afterlife than many humans.

I'm curious as to what views TR members have on these matters as well. We all pretty much know each other as far as technical issues and views, but religion and beliefs extends beyond the logical processes of our brains. So much more of our personalities are revealed when we show our beliefs in life, and the unknown.

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...hasn?t shown up here threatening to take his clothes off as he seems to always mention an odd need to be nude in many of the Misc. topics in which he participates. I think that there?s something strange about that but maybe I?m just reading it all wrong. It could be interesting to know what pets "that kind of person" has or has had.

Seeing as he is online right now maybe I shouldn?t have said anything.

my cat will attack it.

pics of wet cat in post near the end.

Personally, I think that Col's either hallucinating again or has missed his calling.

As for hunting, I both understand your reaction to the wounded rabbit and concur re. wasted kill, having witnessed both.

I grew up in the mountains of central PA, in a family with a strong tradition of hunting and fishing. Of necessity, we relied heavily on wild game as a source of meat. And, while we frequently took more than allowed by law, we never took more than we needed, nor more than the local game populations could afford.

City hunters and farmers generally seem to have no respect for wild animals

The former shoot anything in sight, leave what they don't want, and ruin that which they keep by failing to properly field dress it. My father and I early one morning came across an entire herd of deer that had been slaughtered by "road hunters;" the corpses were all those of does and fawns.

As for farmers, they have a nasty habit of killing deer with impunity, under claim of crop damage, and leaving the corpses to rot, hanging across fences.

While I make no pretense at being an expert on Spiritualism, my personal contacts with both a friend who practices such, and a woman who is an ordained Reverend in the GSA, I do have more than a casual acquaintance with such.

As for your stipulations, in view of what I've witnessed at TR recently, they are no more than I myself would insist on.

May the future be kind.

Dear Dog and Cat:

When I say move, it means to go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so that there are still two of you in the way.

The dishes with the paw prints are yours, and contain your food; the other dishes are mine, and contain my food. Please note that placing a paw print in the middle of my dish of food does not stake a claim for it becoming yours; nor do I find such aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was NOT designed by NASCAR, and is therefore not a raceway. Beating me to the bottom is not the object.

Tripping me does not help either, as I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed; I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will resort to sleeping on the sofa to ensure your comfort. Look at the videos of dogs and cats sleeping; they actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. Furthermoe, be advised that I
know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end, so as to maximize the space used, is nothing but sarcasm.

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom. If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine and try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge of the door and try to pull it open. When I exit this room, I will come out the same door I entered. I have been using bathrooms for years; canine attendance has never been necessary.

The proper order is to kiss me, and then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough. This should be such a simple change for you.

Now, in return for your following these simple rules, I have posted the below message on our front door.

Sincerely,

Your Master ??????

Rules for non-pet owners who visit and like to complain about my pets:

1) The live here; you don't.

2) If you do not want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4) To you, it is an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, and does not speak clearly.

5) Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, do not ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, do not hang out with drug-using friends, do not smoke or drink, do not worry about the latest fashions, do not wear your clothes, do not need a gazillion dollars for college, and, if they get pregnant, you can sell the results.

(anon.)

A Maremma sheepdog called Puku (Maori for 'stomach'). Despite the name, not motivated by food at all, which is unusual in a dog. Pretty, choc full o' character, but most definitely not a committed guard dog.

A sheepdog\staffie cross called Ruby (very fierce indeed towards unintroduced individuals. Our Guard Dog - a post she takes very seriously & is quite fearless - I have no doubt she would die rather than let danger in through the front door)

3 cats - Piglet, Robert and Runty (the smallest of the litter). They (at least pretend to) love my daughter and thus I can forgive them almost anything.

2 Sheep - carter and buddy. Very stupid creatures indeed, although I do like them....I just don't ask them any difficult questions.

A dozen or so chickens, all called Sharon. Chickens have much more character than they're generally given credit for. I like them - quite amusing company of a warm, sunny afternoon, and of course they do supply the eggs.

My daughter has a rabbit (mojay), who lives in a nice little apartment out in the front paddock.

We used to have Cows. They are the most exceptional animals - unless you've leant against a fencepost, beer in hand, with a couple of Cows quietly munching away close at hand, you have no idea how soothing their presence is. Many people (not including me) feel the same about Horses.

Strictly speaking, the Cows weren't pets, but we did rear them from tiny calves and they knew and recognised us all individually. They're damn difficult to manage when they're fully grown, however - all the friendliness of small calves, but with a couple of tons of beef on the hoof behind it all - can be dangerous.