"The problem with kittens," says John Venlet, "is that they grow up into cats." (As he links to some kitty pics.) John spurs me to thinking, here.

I really hate to think I *hate* any animal, but lordy, I can't stand cats. What nasty things: no personality, no usefulness, they do nothing, they just hoard food and space. What always gets me is cat owners. So often - now I'm generalizing here - cat owners are very distinctly different, too. The cat owner/lover is often the type to be cold and distant, lacking in social skills, the housebound type, an oddball sort. Dog owners are warmer, more friendly people, have lots of love to give, and seem to be more in tune with their fellow humans in regards to relations.

If you ever watch Animal Cops - Detroit on the Aniaml Planet channel, you'll see some bizarre cat owners, like the one who had 200+ cats in her house.

Cat ownership has always befuddled me: how dare people let their pets out to run the neighborhood. Unless it's a stray, virtually no one lets their dog out to "run the neighborhood." Cats get into the garbage and rip bags to shreds; they hide up in your engine compartment during the winter (good time to start the car!); they walk all over your car roof and hood, and scratch the heck out of formerly brilliant paint; they get in your garage and nestle; and they generally terrorize the neighborhood. They hiss at strangers who walk into their house.

In addition, I am none too fond of that awful, eerie sound of cats out at night, prowling the neighborhood, making those nasty "crying" sounds. I love it every time my super-athlete, chocolate lab goes after one and almost gets it. I let her go after one last week, until she got too far down the street, and I called her back just before she was about to get it. Hehehe. A cat claw or two doesn't even faze her.

Who the heck wants a stinky litter box, full of crap, in their house anyways? Nasty cats. Yea, I seriously dislike 'em.