Awww no, did she just ask that question? For those of you who are pet owners, I know that question is synonymous with asking parents, “Are kids worth having?” Of course precious little, spittle-inducing babes are worth it. Of course that mutt you got at the pound is worth it. But as someone who currently does not own a pet, I’m questioning the logic.
Here’s why.
We’ve been house sitting a zoo for the past week. It’s literally a zoo. There are 3 aquariums, 1 rat, 1 cat, and we get 2 dogs on Friday night.
Love the fishies! They’re low maintenance and mesmerizing. I can sit for minutes just staring at them, with the stress of the work day dissolving away.
Even the rat, I can handle. Dean not so much. But like the fish, the rat’s chill and easy to feed.
This cat is something else. We call it Kujo the Kat because it’s the meanest cat I’ve ever encountered. On our first night, the cat drew blood on my fingers and thigh because apparently I didn’t scratch him correctly, even though he’s the one who purred right into my lap. And even though he waits for us to wake up in the morning, the first thing you have to do is feed him. If he hears that you’re up, you’d better be scooping out the Fancy Feast because Kujo will roar incessantly until he’s fed.
Like I mentioned, we don’t get the dogs until the final night (they’ve been staying with someone else), but I assume we’re going to have to wake up early on Saturday morning to feed them. I’ve done the dog walking thing before and it’s not like you can just sleep in! So here’s my question for people who own dogs. You must be morning people, right? Day in and day out, when you have to wake up to take the dog out, don’t you feel like you’re compromising your beauty sleep?
I told Dean, “I don’t think we can get a dog. I really like my sleep.”
We both sleep at least 8 hours on weeknights and at least 10 hours on the weekends. Obviously, at some point we can’t live like teenagers and eventually we’re going to have to wake up early whether that’s for a puppy or a child, but wondering how people do it. I mean seriously, isn’t a lack of sleep bad for your health?!
Truthfully, I feel the same way about my cat as I do about my kid: I love him very much; can’t imagine life without him; having him in my life is right for me, but I totally get how it wouldn’t be right for everybody – because he can also be a HUGE PAIN IN MY ASS. (If I’m being honest, that describes my husband, too!)
michaela, you are too funny. i giggled while reading your comment. cats are actually doable, though. they’re independent, less high maintenance than dogs. besides, i am certain your cat is better tempered than kujo. i’m really started to think that dog owners must be morning people. no way you could do it otherwise.
Oh, yeah, way easier than a dog. And totally good natured – super friendly and cuddly. Doesn’t mean he’s not a little bitch when he wants food, or that he doesn’t wake me up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason! He’s our first baby, though – been with us since 2004, AND he’s 20 years old and still going strong!