Evolution Since Human Intervention

[Graybeard]

Boy, you different kind of people are so weird.

Wouldn't that rely on your angle of perception ? Also I prefer patchouli, the only scent that has an 'odor' like the earth ... lol

greg

[labelwench]

Austin,

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to dig up some info on the pet industry. You are an excellent researcher and I do not doubt your ability to find some numbers and maybe a picture or two that could illustrate some of the following:

1. What percentage of the North American population owns (or is owned by, lol) a cat or dog?

2. How much of the GDP is attributable to the needs and care of our pets?

3. Some background on co-evolution between humans and dogs, the breeds, their purposes, pros and cons as you see them.

No rush. Maybe when you need a rest between your other postings.

Regarding horses, I'll do the leg work on that one and drop it in as installments, as I anticipate there may be a fair amount of background, and I am most fond of said species.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this task, Austin. I know you are busy, lol, but who better to ask than a busy person?

[labelwench]

Greg,

You have some knowledge of gardening, as I have determined from some of your early postings.

Would you care to elaborate on your theme of that time, on whether it is the gardeners that are selecting the species that we now grow, or whether nature is somehow manipulating the species to develop the traits that we are most likely to favour?

I'll be expecting some good arguments from you, I warn you now, as I too am a gardening enthusiast and have taken home first prize for my carrots, wrest from the hands of the Master Gardener who had held the title for many years. Then did the same a second year to prove it wasn't just beginner's luck.

The secret lay in research and science, as well as an understanding of the preferences of the many varieties of carrot.

Wth sincere hopes that you would like to embrace that undertaking......

Labelwench

[austintorn@aol.com]

No rush. Maybe when you need a rest between your other postings.

OK, and I indeed was busy posting about the attributes of 'nothing' in another thread. It's not easy doing 'nothing'. I usually have to rest afterwards and then take a long nap. My day job seems to have gone away. Hoping to get a night job. ToeQuest only pays a penny a post.

I have 14 cats, so that distorts the averages, but I can say that their food and treatment takes up way too much of my budget.

note: One must have more than 29 cats to be considered 'crazy'.

[Graybeard]

I have 14 cats

Are you serious ???? really ?????

greg

[labelwench]

Austin, good fellow,

I have 14 cats, so that distorts the averages, but I can say that their food and treatment takes up way too much of my budget.

For a project of my own interest, I would be most interested in knowing the names of your feline friends....

What's in a name you ask?

That could be the subject of a whole other thread.

If it pleases you, the names of your extended family......

Regards,

Labelwench

[austintorn@aol.com]

It started with just a few cats obtained as kittens. The family living here then liked them so much that more arrivied as time went by, some bought and some being born here. Here’s the first four. Like people, they all have different personalities.

Starburst (Bursty) — Named for a type of candy. Tiger striped. Very friendly and the most talkative cat here, having a certain voice for drinking from a faucet (any faucet—he understands plumbing—and the only such heavy drinking cat here), another voice for just saying hello, and one for asking to go out as he tries to turn the doorknob (the only knob-aware cat here). Sips water from a hot tub, too, thinking maybe that it is tea or soup. Always curls up next to me in bed for a few minutes before moving down to the foot of the bed for the rest of the night. Is trying to learn English, as he now really only speaks in Australian. Goes fairly far away and returns after some hours.

Snuggles (Snuggy or Snuggie) — Plain grey. Named due to being soft and furry. Always tries to shrink down to nothing when I try to pet her, but eventually gives in, then even rolls over to get a belly rub. Not really that great of a cat, all in all. Was killed by a car a few months ago since she always had to cross the street a million times to see a neighbor’s cat. Got stuck in the neighbor’s basement for three days once.

Domino (Maximus Decimus Meridius) — Name derived from black & white. He always wears a formal tux, being jet black with white paws and and white on the neck. The only one to always chase a computer cursor, even looking behind the screen for it when it goes near the edge. Also accidently sends embarrassing e-mails in my name and types some posts. Goes really really far into the woods for a really long time. Always likes to go out again instantly after coming in and eating. Sleeps with a kid near a certain teddy bear that he chews on.

Roxy — Named for a clothes brand. Spotted black and white. Finicky cat who almost killed the Vet on her first visit there as a kitten, screeching louder than was thought to be possible. The Vet wrote a special note of ‘danger’ on his paper and always wrapped her in a towel from then on. Had kittens by one of her brothers—will describe them next time. Later, long after, she was too slow in the woods and got caught by some animal. Her bones were found.

[labelwench]

Thank you Austin, for a good starting point on the very personal way that cats have insinuated themselves into our lives. Cats are the second most favoured pet, with over 100 recognized distinct breeds, of which approximately 70 have registries.

Despite the apparent comfortable living arrangement and co-evolution with our species, just who's needs are being met? To what purpose this proliferation of "kitties", and cats are indeed very prolific.

More than any other species in our care, cats retain the ability to survive and provide for their own care in a wide range of environments.

The Abssynian is among the friendliest of cats, and despite claims to the contrary regarding cats and water, this breed is actually fond of water and a good swimmer!

http://www.petmedsonline.org/top-10-...iest-cats.html

More about our relationship with cats , co-evolution and intervention to follow.....

[labelwench]

Here's some "kitty kibble" to provide some ponder until Austin graces us with his presence, lol,....


"PSI trailings" attempt to explain a cat's ability to travel a long distance to return to their home. It is said they use the earth's gravity to determine "their place" in the world, and to develop the ability to return there when necessary.



According to myth, a cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather is coming. The 14 year old male Burmese who owns this place is the best weather indicator I may cite. His comfort range corresponds to that of my indoor garden and myself. He will lay down in front of the oil stove, on his mat, with all four paws tucked under and meow when he is cold. He will come down from his daybed upstairs to make this point.



Each year Americans spend four billion dollars on cat food. That's one billion dollars more than they spend on baby food!

[austintorn@aol.com]

To what purpose this proliferation of "kitties"

Yes, they can get pregnant pretty much instantly and upon the first opportunity, even if the male usually doesn't seem to know what he's doing. One cat that I haven't described yet, a father of a litter, always backed away like crazy when seeing his own tiny kitten creatures.

As for why humans have cats, maybe they see that they are cute and fun and cuddly.

After a year or so, cats don't go nutty so much any more over chasing or swatting anything like a hanging string or things that they bat around to make them move. Having more than one cat can extend this period of play. They do still ever like chasing mouse-type prey, birds, bugs and moths and whatever.

Other than psi to come back from accidental or planned (by humans) far wanderings, some of mine seem to have a range of about 500 feet from home, but some others of mine only go about 50 feet away.