Pet themes 2009
What's his favourite place?
If you ask five different people where their dog or cat likes to sleep, snooze or relax, you'll undoubtedly get ten different answers. Where and how animals like to watch the world go by depends on their age, breed, health and, quite simply, personality and taste. While one might love to sit on the windowsill, another prefers the front door. One likes the couch, another the corner seat. Particularly curious dogs and cats even like to sit in shop windows where they can observe passers-by. There is however one obvious difference between cats and dogs. Dogs, as social group animals, always prefer to be where their owner is. This creates a few problems for some dog owners when their Great Dane claims a spot on the couch or their German Shepherd wants to sleep in the bed. To prevent this from happening, it is a good idea to give your four-legged friend a place of their own, which they can treat as their property – near people where possible.
Baskets and blankets with room to turn over and stretch out are ideal. These should be soft and warmly padded with washable covers or cushions. Keep away from draughts and put it in a place that allows the dog to participate in family life whenever they want. And to answer the eternal bedroom question: What about a compromise –
A dog basket in the bedroom and the bed for people only?
Even if cats really love the company of their owner or other animals, it is important that they have a place where they can retreat. Elevated and high spots are the definite favourite with scratching posts, cupboards or shelves with a soft basket or bed right up on the top. There are of course self-willed cats that prefer to sit in a box than on an
ultra-luxurious bed – cats will be cats after all.
Window sills with a garden view are like a home cinema for velvet paws, and are especially popular with house cats. Likewise desired are warm spots such as in front of, next to and on the radiator. Cats and fireplaces are practically proverbial. And what is soft, warm, elevated and smells interesting? Correct – a bed for humans is also the ultimate for cats. Most owners don’t like to admit it, but honestly – do you know anyone whose cat doesn’t go to bed first and take the best spot?
