Teenagers are Like Cats....

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2005
Teenagers are Like Cats....
11
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 12:38pm

I read this in a book called Beyond the Big Talk. Thought I would share it with you all:

I just realized that while children are like dogs - loyal and affectionate - teenagers are like cats. It’s so easy to be a dog owner - you feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts his head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.

Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears. You won’t see it until it gets hungry, when it turns up its nose at whatever you are serving. When you reach out to ruffle its head, in and old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before.

You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, do distant, sort of depressed. It won’t go on family outings. Since you’re the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave.

Only now, you’re dealing with a cat, so that everything that worked before, now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you need to learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that your cat needs your help and your affection, too. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm comforting lap that it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it.

Marie
(who has always been a dog person)

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 1:00pm

LOL -- I love it! What a great analogy -- thanks for posting it!

But I have to wonder ... what about us cat/dog/bird/horse people? :)

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 3:08pm

Oh, how true.........I love the analogy! I hope my youngest stays a dog. He has so far. My oldest has been a cat since he was in 4th grade..........whew.

Shels

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 10:20pm

Oh I love this! There is much wisdom in this post.

As the eternal optimist that I am, I will play devil's advocate to the dog people among us as to why a "cat" is a nice thing to have around

Cats are independent and self-sufficient ... it is our job to produce an indepedent adult out of our beautiful, completely dependent baby.

Cats have incredible balance and (usually) land on their feet. We know our teens will make mistakes and we will all pray they will be alble to right themselves when they are falling.

Cats don't seek approval. We want our teens to be individuals and not follow the crowd.

Cats love to climb into high places. We hope our teens will learn to take the high road.

I remember our own daddioe making some cat/ teen comparisons recently, but I believe he was using the phrase "walnut size brains"....

jt (three cats, one dog, one teen ... seriously outnumbered)

Avatar for mily12
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Sat, 11-05-2005 - 8:55am

Great analogy. I have one cat and one who has turned back into a dog. So you see, there is hope. ;)

Mily

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Sat, 11-05-2005 - 7:00pm

Well I definitely have a CAT who is petite, blonde and lovely. But man alive.....living with a CAT is very stressful. I'm waiting for the day that she turns back into a dog.....

Thanks for the post,

Nancy

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2005
Sun, 11-06-2005 - 7:42am

"Teenagers are like Cats"

Do you really think they'd taste good chopped fine, stir-fried with veggies, rolled in thin dough and then deep fried?

ILR

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Sun, 11-06-2005 - 10:57pm

<<>>

LOL...

Well...I wasn't "really" making comparisons, in fact, I was about 9 yards off topic.
But the analogy is great!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Sun, 11-06-2005 - 11:10pm

Here's another one -- DD just e-mailed it to me. Provides insight into the workings of those little minds ...

EXCERPTS FROM THE DOG'S DAILY DIARY
8:00 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
9:40 am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!
10:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
11:30 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
12:00 noon - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
1:00 pm - Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!
4:00 pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!
5:00 pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 pm - Oh Boy! Mom! My favorite!
6:00 pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6:30 pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in master's bed! My favorite!


EXCERPTS FROM THE CAT'S DAILY DIARY:
Day 283 Of My Captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture.

Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair; must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2005
Mon, 11-07-2005 - 12:46am

This was GREAT! I came on tonight to see what might help with my dd18 problem...and this was exactly what I needed! It's SO true! Even my CATS are more like these described CATS lately---they were chased and picked up so much when my dd's were younger, and I was always the one that had to take them to the vet, so now they are wary of me--same with the kids! I was always the one to take them to get shots & blood drawn, had that "sixth sense" about things and was always checking up on them... One cat is very attached to only my younger dd--she can get her to do anything! NO ONE else can be in the kitchen when she wants to eat, except my dd16! Cat stands at the doorway and meows for the rest of us to LEAVE! (Much like my dd's when they want to be on the computer!) LOL! I guess your post said most of these things, but to elaborate:

TEENS & CATS:
Don't want to be petted unless it's on their terms(I can't even give my dd's a hug when I want to anymore!) :-(
Run or hide when you call them or go near them!
Expect you to clean up after them, or they make noise about THAT, too!
Squirm if you want to check their ears (or face/hair/earrings/clothes)
Run when you want to brush their hair (or do ANYTHING with them like you used to--play cards,do nails)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2004
Mon, 11-14-2005 - 10:18am
I know the original message was posted a week ago, but I just came across it, and it lifted my spirits. I was on the verge of taking my "cat" to the Humane Society (aka her father's house), and came to the boards to help calm my nerves. This one did it. I'm going to print it out and keep it near by. Thanks for sharing Marie!

 

             &

Pages