Cats and Dogs

We don’t have a pet, though we’ve had cats in our time. I admire their independence, their insistence on setting the terms of any relationship they choose to establish with you.

My daughters have cats though. They would agree with this piece of street art in Brick Lane.

Miquel passed the test with Emily, and forthwith got his own cat, the supercilious Lulu. Who does not get on with…

… Emily’s Archie.

Archie likes to hide in boxes … or carrier bags … or baskets …

At least they have a home. On our travels, we’ve met plenty of feral cats. We’ve learnt not to feel too sorry for them. Clearly they are loved and cared for by some people in the community. Cádiz has its feline shanty towns, constructed with human help, on the rocks by the sea. Dinner is served here every evening by willing waiting staff. Probably breakfast too, for all I know.

Thessaloniki has its bed and breakfast accommodation sorted.

And a siesta is easily come by.

Dogs though. Dogs just want to have fun. As I found out on the beach at Bamburgh last October…

… unless they’re waiting for their owner…

… or swimming in the river, as my friend Dilys is doing in the featured photo. Though she, like the beach dogs, is having a pretty good time.

This is in response to Tina for this weeks’s Lens-Artists Challenge #134

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

75 thoughts on “Cats and Dogs”

  1. WOW! This is great post, all of them impressed me,I love them so much, how beautiful first one in the water. Thank you, Have a wonderful day, Love, nia

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  2. I, a declared dog lover, say the same about dogs. Ppl who love dogs, are good ppl. I said, about our very beautiful and equally hundful (of a very small) dachsie: She has no manners but lots of character. Meaning that she had, same as cats, her own will, but with all the love for all humans, especially kids, but also old frail ppl and she always chose well with whom she would associate. A cat-dog?
    Beautiful choice of pics and great titles – love the top one – dogs in water are just so joyful, hilarious, the best.

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      1. Margaret, you MUST be a good person. Dogs choose wisely – mine chose a friend who was terribly afraid of all dogs and told me NOT to let my dachsie near him. I told him not to worry, that I had always great faith in her choosing whom to approach.
        He sat down on the settee and 30 secs later my long-haired little friend sat on his lap and he was very unsure but happily stroking her.

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      2. Ah, what a lovely story. I think dachshunds are friendly types. Newt, our neighbouring one, always behaves as though I’m the best thing that’s happened to her all year. Then she’s the same with the postman, and – doubtless – the burglar.

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      3. ha ha, that‘s dachsies for you. Mine would have gladly opened the door to any burglar had they tempted her with a slice of sausage… that‘s what I always said (and believe it is true).
        When I went shopping and she had to wait outside (then you could do that…), coming out of the shop I usually found a gaggle of kids on the street, all playing with her, stroking her, cuddling her – but had I left her with my son in his stroller, she was most definitely protecting him; nobody was allowed to cuddle HIM with her around. At home, she was ‚twinned‘ to him, they were one unit!

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  7. It posts the $§%$% test but not my long answer … “Your comment could not be posted.” Second attempt then: Photographically, I like your swimming dog best. It’s a wonderful photo. But I adore the cat pics sleeping or resting anywhere. They add such a wonderful element of peace and relaxation to the street photography or citiscapes.

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      2. No idea. When I think of that glitch, I copy my answer before I post but of course, I don’t do it when I should have. I also have problems loading up photos lately. It’s annoying and a time waster.

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  8. Trying a second time, this time via reader: My kind of post since I’m both a cat and dog person. I’ve had and have both (though my first pet was a dog)–both different from each other for sure but with plenty love to give. I love your the beach dogs and snoozy cats. The swimming dog reminds me of one set I saw in Turkey back on a trip–their human was trying to get them to dive into the sea (a low jump)–one of them was keen and would keep jumping, the other not so much and would duck out the moment he reached the edge,

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  10. In Malta they had a cat hotel for the feral cats. And there were lots of them there. We have had cats for years, one lived to be 18. Now here in Spain we have two rescue dogs who don’t like cats.

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  12. As you know I’m much more of a cat person so I loved ‘meeting’ Lulu and Archie 😻 But I have to say your photos of the dogs enjoying Bamburgh beach are fun, as is the one of Dilys in the river!

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  13. Our first pet, a calico cat named Callie, was followed by a sweet springer/cocker spaniel mix, Beau, who helped raise our boys from elementary school through college. Then two impish dachshunds, Rudy & Bella, filled our empty nest with joy for almost 17 years. Now that we travel long distance to see our children and grandchildren like you, we enjoy our neighbor’s cats, who visit for a good ear rub and to patrol the garden for voles. Your photos capture perfectly the characteristics and emotions that make these animal friends so endearing and a valued part of life.

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    1. Oh Marian, what lovely things to say. Yes, Our neighbour’s cat comes for an ear rub too. But I think it’s cupboard love. We feed her if her owner is away overnight.

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  14. Oh Margaret – that picture of Dilys in the river is a gorgeous shot! Colours, light, everything – frame it! Love your well fed cats and the funny beach dogs, but Dilys – WOW!

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    1. I liked it. But I entered it into our Photo Club competition ‘Pets’, & it was unplaced, whereas a rather dull portrait of another dog that I entered got commended. All subjective, eh?

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  18. Great to have you join us this week Margaret, and I loved your response. I laughed at Jude’s comment and your response BTW! Lots of favorites on this one but for some reason the waiting dogs gave me my biggest smile. Terrific post.

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    1. Thanks. It’s been nice to get back to normal. Doing Lens-Artists while on holiday is almost unachievable. By me anyway! It was more of a fun challenge tha I initially expected. Result!

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  20. Margaret, this is a tough one. I can’t make up my mind if there is a photo I like best in this wonderful gallery. The opener is wonderful and made me think of a supermodel shot. The cat among the pillows was so precious. Great gallery!

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