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sycophantman
The latest skirmish is the movie Garfield, based on the popular comic strip. It may be the first movie starring a cat, which is significant. Until now, dogs---Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Benji, etc.---starred, while cats were featured players, such as the unnamed white pet of the villian Blofeld in James Bond movies. In 2001 film Cats & Dogs, an attempt by villainous felines to control humanity is thwarted by noble dogs.
Garfield is clearly a reflection of the selfish, indulgent, petulant independence we think of when we think feline. It's a personality that makes us slightly uneasy: While we believe we have a certain level of control---after all, we do feed and house this beast---we also know that the cat is quite capable of acting against immediate best interests by biting the finger of the hand that feeds it. You can't relax around a cat, which is why cats may be this era's pet. We can't relax anymore, period.
It seems only logical that as our world becomes less friendly and predictable, as we unconsciously search for ways to prepare ourseves, Americans will turn away from the fantasy world of dogs to the harsh reality of cats.
Dogs allow us to falsely believe we sit atop the universe. They are proud to be seen in public with us, hurry to the door to meet our friends. Even breeds known for bad behavior, such as pit bulls, help reinforce our sense of power, our worthiness to be their best friends.
Cats, meanwhile, mock our pretensions to power, show no gratitude, hide when we want to display them to company. They are tiny terrorists, reminders of our vulnerability.
Yet, according to statistics from the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, cats are gaining in popularity. Four years ago, roughly the same number of cats and dogs had homes (about 62 million of each).
In the most recent survey, the pet gap has widened considerably. There are now about 65 million dogs in about the same number of households and 77.6 million cats in more than a third of all U.S. homes. More people have more cats. You can cite the increase in seniors and childless couples, both groups likely prefer a cat because it requires lower maintainence and lower expense.
I say the shift is a sign of the times, and Hollywood---that national pulse-taker---has responded to the pet gapp with roles that emphasize the cat as smart, devious, spooky and dangerous----valuable characteristics for the way we live now.
Besides Garfield, that fat orange terror with Bill Murray's voice, there is Hermione's cat, Crook-shanks, helping to foil an evil plan in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; the assassian Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) in Shrek 2; "fashionista" cats in Anchorman; and a survivor cat in I, Robot. Next month, Halle Berry will star in Catwoman, a film that employed 40 real cats.
Imagining some poor cat wrangler dealing with dozens of felines makes it easier to deal with one, my cat, Asia, who spent a recent night outside simply because it was so dark and dank and filled with crawly critters.
While my dog, Rudy, stood loyally by my side, I tried for an hour to get Asia back inside before I went to sleep. Early the next morning, she howled me awake, then stalked past me into the house, furious because breakfast wasn't waiting. I didn't dare pet her until she made it clear some time later, while I was trying to work, that she was ready for affection.
If you believe studies by pet-food makers, owning any food-eating pet relieves stress. But I believe that being owned by a cat merely transfers anxieties from global problems over which we think we have no control---terrorism, the economy, new diseases---to local problems over which we think, erroneously, that we have control. Like cats.
If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would try to make a case that the scientific studies, the movies and the Web logs jammed with socio-psycho-political-pet and -anti-pet tirades were all part of the plot to divert us from trying to make changes in our all-too-human world.
But it's not as if the tirades are all wacky. Some thoughtful people are discussing interesting issues---interesting, but not earth-shattering, which is what we are trying to avoid thinking about nowadays. We need just enough low-grade anxiety to keep us from feeling the major dreads. A cat can make you just crazy enough to avoid going mad.
I ran all of this past my dog and my cat. Rudy gazed at me, barely moving except to pant lovingly at my most trenchant thoughts. By the time I was finished, Asia was long gone. She had stalked out, her tail twitching dismissively. I understood from both their reactions that, as usual, I was right.
-Robert Lipsyte
Uncertain times turn us into cat people
June 30, 2004 at 02:44PM View BBCode
The conventional wisdom is that dog owners are people who need unconditional love, while cat owners require complicated relationships. As someone who lives with a dog and a cat, I know the endless cats-and-dogs culture war is even more cosmic than that.The latest skirmish is the movie Garfield, based on the popular comic strip. It may be the first movie starring a cat, which is significant. Until now, dogs---Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Benji, etc.---starred, while cats were featured players, such as the unnamed white pet of the villian Blofeld in James Bond movies. In 2001 film Cats & Dogs, an attempt by villainous felines to control humanity is thwarted by noble dogs.
Garfield is clearly a reflection of the selfish, indulgent, petulant independence we think of when we think feline. It's a personality that makes us slightly uneasy: While we believe we have a certain level of control---after all, we do feed and house this beast---we also know that the cat is quite capable of acting against immediate best interests by biting the finger of the hand that feeds it. You can't relax around a cat, which is why cats may be this era's pet. We can't relax anymore, period.
It seems only logical that as our world becomes less friendly and predictable, as we unconsciously search for ways to prepare ourseves, Americans will turn away from the fantasy world of dogs to the harsh reality of cats.
Dogs allow us to falsely believe we sit atop the universe. They are proud to be seen in public with us, hurry to the door to meet our friends. Even breeds known for bad behavior, such as pit bulls, help reinforce our sense of power, our worthiness to be their best friends.
Cats, meanwhile, mock our pretensions to power, show no gratitude, hide when we want to display them to company. They are tiny terrorists, reminders of our vulnerability.
Yet, according to statistics from the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, cats are gaining in popularity. Four years ago, roughly the same number of cats and dogs had homes (about 62 million of each).
In the most recent survey, the pet gap has widened considerably. There are now about 65 million dogs in about the same number of households and 77.6 million cats in more than a third of all U.S. homes. More people have more cats. You can cite the increase in seniors and childless couples, both groups likely prefer a cat because it requires lower maintainence and lower expense.
I say the shift is a sign of the times, and Hollywood---that national pulse-taker---has responded to the pet gapp with roles that emphasize the cat as smart, devious, spooky and dangerous----valuable characteristics for the way we live now.
Besides Garfield, that fat orange terror with Bill Murray's voice, there is Hermione's cat, Crook-shanks, helping to foil an evil plan in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; the assassian Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) in Shrek 2; "fashionista" cats in Anchorman; and a survivor cat in I, Robot. Next month, Halle Berry will star in Catwoman, a film that employed 40 real cats.
Imagining some poor cat wrangler dealing with dozens of felines makes it easier to deal with one, my cat, Asia, who spent a recent night outside simply because it was so dark and dank and filled with crawly critters.
While my dog, Rudy, stood loyally by my side, I tried for an hour to get Asia back inside before I went to sleep. Early the next morning, she howled me awake, then stalked past me into the house, furious because breakfast wasn't waiting. I didn't dare pet her until she made it clear some time later, while I was trying to work, that she was ready for affection.
If you believe studies by pet-food makers, owning any food-eating pet relieves stress. But I believe that being owned by a cat merely transfers anxieties from global problems over which we think we have no control---terrorism, the economy, new diseases---to local problems over which we think, erroneously, that we have control. Like cats.
If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would try to make a case that the scientific studies, the movies and the Web logs jammed with socio-psycho-political-pet and -anti-pet tirades were all part of the plot to divert us from trying to make changes in our all-too-human world.
But it's not as if the tirades are all wacky. Some thoughtful people are discussing interesting issues---interesting, but not earth-shattering, which is what we are trying to avoid thinking about nowadays. We need just enough low-grade anxiety to keep us from feeling the major dreads. A cat can make you just crazy enough to avoid going mad.
I ran all of this past my dog and my cat. Rudy gazed at me, barely moving except to pant lovingly at my most trenchant thoughts. By the time I was finished, Asia was long gone. She had stalked out, her tail twitching dismissively. I understood from both their reactions that, as usual, I was right.
-Robert Lipsyte
sycophantman
I can't believe USA Today has such low standards when it comes to Op-Ed pieces. "Tiny Terrorists" indeed...:P:rolleyes::lol:
June 30, 2004 at 02:45PM View BBCode
I put this one up because it funny for all the wrong reasons...:lol:I can't believe USA Today has such low standards when it comes to Op-Ed pieces. "Tiny Terrorists" indeed...:P:rolleyes::lol:
farfetched
Just chicken.
June 30, 2004 at 04:49PM View BBCode
I like cats and dogs equally. Therefore I have no beef with either of them.Just chicken.
Oak_qx2
June 30, 2004 at 04:52PM View BBCode
I like dogs are better than the 'tiny terriosts.' Chickens are evil.
ME
June 30, 2004 at 05:20PM View BBCode
puppydogs are better than kitty cats, but kitty cats aren't bad.
Oak_qx2
June 30, 2004 at 05:31PM View BBCode
What?! Kitty cats aren't bad?! Haven't you ever seen Cats & Dogs?!
jojo888
June 30, 2004 at 05:35PM View BBCode
I actually owned chickens for a while, and I hated them with all my heart. I have a kitty cat now and its friggin psycho. He has already caused me to bleed twice.
robby
June 30, 2004 at 05:47PM View BBCode
i have three dogs and a cat... and theyre all awesome. except my golden retriever. i swear the thing is retarted...
Unclescam777
June 30, 2004 at 06:02PM View BBCode
I've noticed hat cat lovers tend to be lonlier people. Not always, but more times than dog owners.
robby
June 30, 2004 at 07:13PM View BBCode
my niece just got a new kitten. its awesome. i like cats and dogs the same. but ive had cats since before i was born. there has been no time in my life in which i have not lived with a cat. i just got my first dog about 6 years ago.
ME
cats are better than worthless pets, like hamsters, mice and gerbils, which do absolutely nothing except sit in a cage.
July 01, 2004 at 02:47AM View BBCode
yes they do.cats are better than worthless pets, like hamsters, mice and gerbils, which do absolutely nothing except sit in a cage.
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