by Ali Koomen

Created on: February 07, 2008

I love both cats and dogs, but-hands down-cats are far superior. I own three dogs, and when I come home, I know they are happy to see me. On the other hand, Bonzo, my cat opens one eye and glares at me as if to say, "You're back already?" before rolling over and going back to sleep. You can't but help admire a creature so cool, calm and collective. Inside, I am certain he is just as happy as the dogs are; he just cannot let that imperial facade drop.

Why are cats so regal? I have always liked writer Terry Pratchett's quote: "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshiped as gods. They have never forgotten this."

Cats simply exude cool. I like that cats don't drop everything when you say their name. As author Mary Bly once said, "Dogs come when you call. Cats take a message and get back to you."

If a dog bestows affection on you, it's no big deal. They do that for everyone. If a cat jumps into your lap, purrs loudly and looks at you with those mysterious eyes, you feel as if you've earned something special.

Admittedly, cats do not make good watchmen; they leave the manual labor to the dogs. Comedian Paula Poundstone hit it right on the head when she said, "The problem with cats is they get the same look on their face whether they've seen a moth. . . or an axe murderer!"

You don't have to waste time and energy bathing cats. Cats are almost obsessive about their personal hygiene, while dogs would roll in their own poo if we didn't stop them.

Dogs are loud. They bark at the mailmen. They bark at the cat. They bark at their own tails. Some cats can be quite conversant, but a polite 'meow?' is more pleasant than a boisterous bark. When cats meow, it generally means something. There is a slight problem with a cat's conversational skills, however. Cartoonist Hank Ketchum has said, "'Meow' is like 'aloha'. It can mean anything."

You don't have to walk a cat. You don't have to get up in the middle of the night to let the cat out to go potty. You don't have to rush right home after work for fear that the cat has gotten bored and chewed up the sofa. I've never seen a cat that has tried to hump a guest's leg. A cat owner can plunk down a dish of cat chow and a big bowl of water, and actually leave the cat to their own devices for a few days. Just try and do that with a dog!

In the famous words of Sassy the cat, from the movie "Homeward Bound",
DOGS DROOL AND CATS RULE!

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