Pets 'better company than partners'

Ananova ^ | April 29 2002

[2Trievers]

More than 40% of cat and dog owners say they find their pet better company than their partner, new research claims.

Women are most likely to opt to spend time with their pets, with 45% saying they prefer being with them, compared with 30% of men, according to insurance group Direct Line.

Nearly nine out of 10 pet owners also say that when they have had a bad day spending time with their pet makes them feel less stressed, while 86% think having a pet at home helps relieve tension.

Other research has also shown that having a cat or dog can prolong the owner's life by helping to lower their blood pressure, while pets are also thought to enhance their owner's ability to make friends.

Chris Price, pet business manager at Direct Line, said: "As our survey shows pets have an important part to play within the home and are regarded by many owners as part of their immediate family."

Mori questioned 1,001 cat and dog owners by telephone during March.

[2Trievers]

A lot of us already know this! &;-)

[DBtoo]

I sure love my animals. My husband and I have two chihuahuas and three cats. They are our buddies and the dogs are our little sleeping partners who like to cuddle underneath the blankets.

They are like our children.

[sleavelessinseattle]

Nothing new here! I let my cats walk all over me and in return, I get their enthusiasm for things that really matter, like string! ;-)

[putupon]

Pets 'better company than partners'

The woman in San Fran whose dog ate the neighbor said that too.

[sleavelessinseattle]

hey If you had to live with a pair of scumbag liberal defense lawyers like them, you'd bite someone TOO! I'm sorry for the dogs and of course the little woman...Not a good way to go...

[2Trievers]

Gotta love those meows! &;-)

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Who else but a cat can lie limp and hang all over the monitor as I’m typing, and then at some point stare me down when it is hungry until I get up and offer him or her some tasty tidbits. If it’s not the monitor, it’s the lap where they try to play with my fingers as I’m trying to type.

[Snowy]

I had a dream the other night that I was sleeping in a zoo. I woke up and a Golden Retriever and two cats were sleeping on the bed. :)

[Icthus]

"..pets are also thought to enhance their owner's ability to make friends.."

[grammymoon]

Try sleeping with three Shar-Pei.
One snores like a drunken sailor, another yips, barks and runs in his sleep and the third thinks he is a man and sleeps with his head on a pillow!

[sleavelessinseattle]

I'll never forget going to this spae and neuter clinic with this stephen king looking vet...no secretary in evidence! he had this HUGE Maine Coone cat walking back and forth over the form he was filling out to get my cat snipped...Finally the cat just sprawled, right on the area where he was writing. Stephen King then made the oh-so-slow reach over to an aerosol flea spray can across from the cat...It was like the cat was on a string...for every inch the guy's arm moved toward that spray can...the cat moved a precise inch farther off the "work area"...It was absolutely classic...The cat probably weighed close to 30 pounds, but he could definitely slink!LOL Hampering is a cats way of saying...how will this activity of yours benefit ME? perhaps you should reprioritize...does my butt in your face help????

[2Trievers]

"If it’s not the monitor, it’s the lap where they try to play with my fingers as I’m trying to type."

If that's all they're playing with in your lap ... consider yourself lucky! &;-)

[geege]

How cute.....my puttys to the same thing....and then they run to the litter box....they're so happy to see me they:*)

[oceanperch]

my boys ruff rock

[Temple Owl]

Be sure to keep you cat clean! It is important!

Here is the best and latest procedure on How To Bathe A Cat:

1. Thoroughly clean toilet. (optional)

2. Lift both lids and add shampoo.

3. Find and soothe cat as you carry him to bathroom

4. In one swift move, place cat in toilet, close both lids and stand on top so cat cannot escape.

5. The cat will self agitate and produce ample suds.(ignore ruckus from inside toilet, cat is enjoying this)

6. Flush toilet 3 or 4 times. This provides power rinse, which is quite effective.

7. Have someone open outside door, stand as far from toilet as possible and quickly lift both lids.

8. Clean cat will rocket out of toilet and outdoors, where he will air dry.

Sincerely,

The Dog

[DooDahhhh]

I have an African Grey as well. He is 11 years old and I got him as a liitle peep. He is an absolute hoot. He sings my kind of bird, Moses is........and on and on.

[VoiceOfBruck]

My wife is better company, but my greyhound is always the first person to greet me when I come home!

[Snowy]

...and the third thinks he is a man and sleeps with his head on a pillow!

He doesn't really sleep like a man unless he steals the covers on cold nights! ;-)

[Kaslin]

ROFL