[flatline]

I can't help but notice the popularity of cats among those with psychiatric issues.. Everyone in my talk therapy group has a cat, now maybe it is cuz it is so cold here in Canada, but my non scientific inventory of pets, have a lot of cat in it.
Myself I have a 5ish yr old siamese that has pulled me out of sliding further into the funk as the going gets worse.
Yep, don't know what I would do without my Aikido.. david

[racee]

i am not exactly a cat person yet i have one, but i have noticed that a cat will not let you just lay there, they will bother you to no end for whatever reason wanting to go out, food, or to play and they will not give in until you do!
Dogs on the other hand will just leave you alone. you will always prevail over them.

[whenwillitend]

i have cats and a dog. i find that listening to them purr is very soothing. the dog shows more affection, he's my shadow, always wants to be with me, which is nice too. they're both helpful in their own ways. the cats are calming, while the dog wants to play and gets me to be more active and not just sit around.

[Travelinglady]

I find cats to be easier to deal with than dogs--but they can give love in return, too. I like the tee shirt I saw one time that said "My therapist has whiskers"!

[lizardlady]

I wonder if anyone's ever done a study to determine what kind of pets folks with mental ilnnes have? Personally I have cats, dogs and horses. I find all my critters help me maintain my sanity. They love me no matter what.

If it's true that folks with mental illness favor cats, maybe it's because they are lower maintanance than dogs? Cats only need us to put down food and water and change the litter box. Dogs have to go outside, be walked and cleaned up after. just speculation on my part

[flipchart]

hi, i went without cats for years but now thinking about getting two new ones. I am really sad today as i checked so many animal shelters and online "animal agencies" and read so much about these many tragedies that seem to be part of the ordinary animal life even nowadays in so-called developed countries...

I've read that a cat's purring can alleviate depression

[hayward]

I have NEVER been a cat person until it kind of happened with one, and so I got another. I went from actually being afraid of cats to thinking I cannot live without mine. Need I explain?? (see below)

[whenwillitend]

hayward, that's a big fat AWWWWWWW! Those two are just too cute.

[salukigirl]

hayward - I LOVE your pic!

I am most definitely a cat person and always have been. I would love to have a dog but cats are more practical for my and my bf's lives right now. I am constantly going out of town on field work and conferences and, during the semester, am in the lab or class from 8 am to 4,5,6 or even 7 pm. My bf works everyday from 5a-2p so if we had a dog there would be non-stop messes. Not to mention I don't want to leave such a social animal alone for that long.

Initially I had a maine coon and a dog. My maine coon had FIV and had to be put down after a year or so. I went out and adopted another cat, Hera. When I moved I wanted to adopt another dog. I took this dog home bc the people at the shelter told me he was potty trained and came home later that day to find pee EVERYWHERE! Took the dog back to the shelter and they said that, since the dog was 150 dollars, I could either get another dog for the same price OR two cats since cats were 70 a piece, but they couldn't do a refund. So that's how I ended up with 3 cats and a dog. Then I moved to NY to do field work for a few months and, while I was gone, my mom watched my pets. A week into it she called me and was soooo attached to my dog. Then I thought, my mom is almost 60 and retired. She has plenty of time at home to be with my dog and my dog was almost 8 and slowing down so they were at the same pace with each other. She didn't tug my mom around the neighborhood but gave my mom an excuse to get out and exercise.

That's the long and complicated story of me being a cat lady.

[Elysium]

I love both Cats and Dogs...all animals actually, but I define myself as a cat person. It's not that I think cats are better than dogs, I just feel more connected to cats for some reason.

I guess it kind of makes sense to me. I am a person who finds it difficult to enjoy closeness and I appreciate my space and most of the time, if I don't invite you into it, I can get irritated if you enter on your own. Very cat-ish if you ask me. My dog is awesome and likes to snuggle, but she also likes to get in my face and follow me around like a shadow and sometimes I find that irritating....the behavior, not my puppy. But I never have that issue with my kitties. They're always there, even if there off to the side snuggling in a warm chair.

Yeah for cats and dogs!!!

[SlatkaMala]

I'm a dog and cat person.

I have my doggy Slatka who has saved my life by being there for me. My cat Zlato gives me cuddles to cheer me up too.

[PTSDlovemycats]

Lol. It's true. I have 2 cats myself. A 16yr old tabby colored Persian and a 3yr old longhaired Calico. I think they are the ones that keep me sane!

[Winter Moon]

I grew up with both cats and dogs, and after I move out of the house, I am never living with another dog again for as long as I live!

I saw at PetCo once a pawprint magnet that says "Who Saved Who?" and it pretty much sums everything up.

A dog is more shallow, it seems. It'll cuddle up to anyone who has food in their hand. They're completely food-driven. You yell at a dog, and it shies away from you.

With a cat, you work for its affection. It loves you whether or not you're the food provider, the caretaker. It's more sensitive and in tune with your feelings.

The year that I struggled without a cat, after having grown up with them, is the darkest year of my life. I love the sound of my Louis's purr, I can't imagine living without that sound. I love the feel of his fur on my face, the way he cuddles up to me at night. Going to sleep touching him. Waking up with him sprawled out right next to me.

Without him, if we hadn't gotten him from the pound, I can guarentee that I'd be so much worse than I am now. Maybe even dead. And while life is Hell for me, when I'm with him, I can almost forget that for a few minutes.

He's my savior, even if he doesn't know it. When I wake up in the morning and am upset that I woke up at all, I can look at him and say "well, if I have to wake up, at least I can wake up next to you."

I hope everyone discovers the joys of being owned by a cat.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/album.php?albumid=1106

[salukigirl]

Thought this was interesting...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_113091.html

[lonegael]

I think that a lot of people who have psychiatric issues have other issues going on - economic, housing, and yep, othehr health issues, that may make taking care of cats easier than taking care of dogs because of the walks, training, socializing, more food needs etc. I have both, and I have to say that the days that I am not up to it, the other people in the family take over on the dog walking. I just can't get moving on that, esp. in the morning, even if I try. The cats need attention and care, of course, but they don't need it as intensively as our wonderful hound. Thank goodness we have a yard to put the poch in during the day for a couple of hours so he can run! I love him, but when I can barely look outside, he needs something more!

[whenwillitend]

Originally Posted by lonegael

I think that a lot of people who have psychiatric issues have other issues going on - economic, housing, and yep, othehr health issues, that may make taking care of cats easier than taking care of dogs because of the walks, training, socializing, more food needs etc. I have both, and I have to say that the days that I am not up to it, the other people in the family take over on the dog walking. I just can't get moving on that, esp. in the morning, even if I try. The cats need attention and care, of course, but they don't need it as intensively as our wonderful hound. Thank goodness we have a yard to put the poch in during the day for a couple of hours so he can run! I love him, but when I can barely look outside, he needs something more!

I have to agree with that. My three cats basically take care of themselves. Food, water, and a clean litterbox is all they need. They play with each other, and just come to us when they feel like getting some cuddles. A dog is much more work. But, I must say, I enjoy training my puppy (he's 10 weeks old today). It kinda gives me a sense of accomplishment. Like, today I taught him to "sit". Took about 20 minutes, and then he got it. Felt great. Also, I love playing fetch with him, or just snuggling with him, listening to his little puppy grunts. It's just different than cats, although their purring is incredibly soothing too. And I love that a dog kinda forces you to get out of the house. He does need walks. We have a big backyard, so whenever I really really can't bring myself to take him on walks, I send my 8 year old outside to play with the puppy. Wears them both out.
The cats and the dog are so very different, but they both help in their own ways. They both have a different effect on me. I love having both.

[salukigirl]

You can train a cat. Anyone who says otherwise just hasn't tried it. All 3 of my cats answer to their names, they know the word 'no' and will actually play fetch with us. Granted they can't use big sticks so we throw bobby pins but they bring them back every time. We can tell them to speak just like a dog and get them to sit. My one cat even crawls under the covers with my boyfriend and I every night and pokes her head out the front and sleeps like a person. Maybe my cats are just weird?

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by salukigirl

You can train a cat. Anyone who says otherwise just hasn't tried it. All 3 of my cats answer to their names, they know the word 'no' and will actually play fetch with us. Granted they can't use big sticks so we throw bobby pins but they bring them back every time. We can tell them to speak just like a dog and get them to sit. My one cat even crawls under the covers with my boyfriend and I every night and pokes her head out the front and sleeps like a person. Maybe my cats are just weird?

Nah, your cats aren't weird. I love the image of the one poking her head from under the covers. Anyone who says cats can't be trained never saw a cat ina commercvial. How do they think they get cats to do the things they do in commerciasls if they aren't trained?

My cats all know their names. They play games with me, including fetch. Had other cats in the past who learned other things.

[wing]

[Skully]

I love my cats, but I love my dogs more. I am not sure what the tie is to mental health and cats but I do understand what you are saying.

[Winter Moon]

Originally Posted by wingin'it

Are these available at my local Walmart, or are they a specialty item?

[Travelinglady]

As LizardLady says, it would be interesting if someone would do a study on pets and mentally ill people. I frankly think that people who don't like animals have more mental issues than those who do, the worst being people who abuse pets. I've read that animal abuse in children is an early warning.....

It sounds like the people who are responding tend to have both cats and dogs. But this "little old lady" (namely, me) definitely prefers kitties. As folks have said, they tend to be less demanding than dogs. And quieter. Except for the Siamese variety. I do feel flattered when they want my attention, but then I can push them away if I just am not emotionally able to meet their needs the time. And their fur tends to be softer.

[ashleym]

I am a cat person for sure I love cats I miss having them around so much where I live now I cant have them and the one I had I had to give to my mom.

[SmackytheFrog]

There have been many studies done that show that pets, cat's especially are very good for your mental and physical health. They might not make you jump for joy, but they'll take the edge off of a bad day.

People often wonder if cats actually become attached to you, I think so. I mean my cat will sit at the door trying to get in for hours if I shut myself in to deal with a bad mood. Eventually I have to let her in and I'm grateful that she wont let me be alone. =)

[justjoanie]

Originally Posted by salukigirl

You can train a cat. Anyone who says otherwise just hasn't tried it. All 3 of my cats answer to their names, they know the word 'no' and will actually play fetch with us. Granted they can't use big sticks so we throw bobby pins but they bring them back every time. We can tell them to speak just like a dog and get them to sit. My one cat even crawls under the covers with my boyfriend and I every night and pokes her head out the front and sleeps like a person. Maybe my cats are just weird?

I had a little hollow plastic ball with a feather attached to it (bought it at a pet store) and my ex's cat would play fetch. It was so cute!!! I loved it. I would throw it across the room, and she would go get it, bring it back, and drop it in my hand and wait for me to throw it again.