Yes and no, maybe?
Yes, I like pets. No, I don't like cleaning up after them, or their "hygiene" habits. The best of course is the attitude of cats and dogs: "The world is my toilet paper."
Oops, got something stuck back there? Just scoot your butt along the floor (carpets work best, mmm, soft!) until it's clean.
It's bad enough to see them do it - but how many times does it happen when you're not at home to see it?
And that nice, soft fur - not so lovely when it's soaked in saliva and stomach juices after it's been regurgitated. Then of course, a thorough shake of the head to spritz it all over the place.
Pets right now:
- A cat, Beverly, who is about 15 years old, but still acts like, and has the energy of, a kitten. She learns everyone's schedule, and waits by the door when myself or my dad normally gets home from work. But she'll give up and leave if we're much more than 15 minutes late. Still, when someone comes home, we get a cheerful greeting. She also follows anyone around the house like she's trying to help out.
Something else Beverly has figured out on her own is an "early warning system" when she's going to throw up. She started this over a year ago with just a little yowl about 10 seconds before hurling. Now we get what must amount to a thorough description of the hairball en route - it's a series of urgent meows that start over 20 seconds in advance, which gives time to scoop her up and set her outside.
- A ball python, no name. He's very tame, and has learned that his food doesn't need much constricting (I use frozen feeders). He's also pretty stupid and inaccurate - when he's striking at the thawed mice, he usually will either miss, or will close his jaws too soon.
But his vision/heat tracking seems fine, since he'll very closely track someone walking by the cage - right after he's been fed, he's still all amped up and crazy.
