I’ve never had cats but everytime I’m at someone’s house it never fails that their cat will come running and pounce on me when I’m talking. I guess I’m an animated speaker and it gets them all excited in a good or bad way. Sometimes it’s just a pounce but I’ve gotten the claws and teeth in the arm or leg more often. It scares me at my cousin’s because she gets alot of drop-off cats outside her house and alot haven’t been around humans she says and of course haven’t been for any shots or a vet check for Rabies! I guess that’s why I’m a dog person!
I like your cousin, Dino! If, that is, she’s neutering and getting all necessary treatment for the ferals she rescues. If she can’t manage it financially, suggest that she contact her local TNR (trap-neuter-release) program.
First, Hobbs is training Calvin for life, as an adult, in the real world. Second, you anti-cat people better watch it. Cats only let us live here out of the goodness of their hearts (and because we feed some of them), and they can revoke the privilege at any time.
Oh, Mom–that’s a threat that’ll get Calvin looking perky in no time. I know it always worked on me when I was a little kid: Go to bed early? Heaven forbid!
4deerinmyyard: TNR programs are great. Last year, a feral kitten insisted on moving in with us. So the “T” part was simple. He didn’t think much of the “N” part but he went along with it. At this point, it doesn’t look like the “R” will ever happen.
But our two “legitimate” cats get along fine with him, so we’re all happy.
Calvin, put a bell on him. That’s what we did to our cat as he was always sneaking around. He REALLY hated it at first. I mean RRREEEEAAAALLLLLYYYYYY hated the bell. Now he doesn’t seem to care about it. Besides that, cats don’t have owners… they have staff.
4deerinmyyard: I’ll tell my cousin about your idea! She eventually gets the feral cats tamed and gets their shots if she can’t get a home for them right away that will do it. She gets them all to ask to go outside to do their business but has a litter box backup and gets them all adopted. There’s no doubt she’s, “The Cat Whisperer”!
I hate to see jumpy little kids who have learned to be fearful of their own shadows. They shriek and flee at the very sight of a dog or cat or are afraid of the dark or water or whatever.
Children need to be taught how to cope with fear and rationally analyze potential dangers. Sadly, modern, molly-coddling, yuppie parents typically prefer to reinforce cowardly responses to any threat in the name of safety. “Better safe than sorry”, they say. That may be fine for surviving the “rigors” of American suburbia but in the real world, “Better prepared than safe AND sorry” is a superior survival strategy.
Neutering Hobbes would calm him down, but I would seriously miss his testosterone moments. And I don’t think tranquilizing a six year old nervous wreck is the answer either.
I guess they’ll just have to work it out for themselves after a nice long rest.
Calvin’s next thought will be - Great! Now I have to go to bed early because of Hobbes.
I can already hear their next fight after Mom closes Calvin’s bedroom door. Going to bed earlier will just give the monstors under the bed more time to try to snare Calvin.
If cats can revoke the privilege at any time, they’d better start doing it soon for their sakes, because humans have put most of them (including tigers) on the endangered species list.
Hobbes’ hubris notwithstanding, big brains and opposable thumbs will beat him sooner or later…starting when Calvin gets a few more years of growth.
one of the rescue centers when i lived in Goshen NY would let people bring in feral cats and neuter /spay them at no cost to the person bringing them in and either give them back or try to find homes for them
Many years ago, I recall memorizing Frank Herbert’s Litany Against Fear:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Perhaps it is the comfort of these words which allows me to live without fear of daily tiger attack.
Ray C: Good for you.
Dino: Good for you and your cousin.
Bald: The rescue center that does that in my town (KC) is The Pet Connection http://www.thepetconnection.net/ ; but they always like a donation if they can get one. Most of these places run on a wing and a prayer.
Vonnegut, what your subconscious registers of that is “…fear…fear…fear…fear…fear…”.
I have a parrot that like to climb down her ladder and walk around the house until she finds me then announce her presence in a very loud voice. She’s 40 and started this as a teenager. I still haven’t gotten used to it!
Considering that cats are the only ones that self domesticated, vis-a-vis humans, it is realistic for Calvin to fear any of them!!! Fear the cat who is not given its due!!!
Vonnegut, what your subconscious registers of that is “…fear…fear…fear…fear…fear…”.
———————————————————
Fear is an unavoidable consequence of consciousness. Herbert’s contention was that responses to fear are what distinguish human from animal. Animals react instinctively to fear without considering consequences. The test of humanity is whether one can overcome fear when necessary to preserve life.
I control my fear, therefore I am human. Observation suggests that far too many members of our society cannot make that claim.
Just maybe, Vonnegut, many are overcoming their fear but differ in the whys, ways and means by which they do. Not all efforts to overcome fear and survive lead to constructive results, and not all deaths are meaningless.
I’d argue that unfortunately, the real test of being human is being completely unable to define good and evil of ourselves and (barring outside intervention) being so hell-bent on proving otherwise. And there, we all pass with full marks. Animals don’t have that problem.
Authors Herbert, Vonnegut, Heinlein, Asimov, etc., etc. - as much as I respect their genius - are prime examples of the problem. And by nature, so am I and so is everyone else. It’s the core of the human condition. (I believe that more than human orneriness is involved, but leave that aside.)
Calvin once asked Hobbes (essentially) if he believed in the Devil and his influence. Hobbes replied, “I’m not sure that humans need the help.” As Calvin noted to himself, “You just can’t talk to animals about these things.”
margueritem about 15 years ago
‘Well’, he just had the snot beat out of him, Mom…
Yukoner about 15 years ago
Feeling a little jumpy these days Calvin?
sjoujke about 15 years ago
Cats are REALLY sneaky Calvin you’d better watch your back.
rentier about 15 years ago
It’s not so easy to have a tiger as friend!
Ronshua about 15 years ago
Good thing Hobbes isn’t a stuffed bull elephant .
Ivy0730Lcsq about 15 years ago
Have Hobbes as your friend your life would never being dull. isnt that GREAT? LOL
Dino-1 about 15 years ago
I’ve never had cats but everytime I’m at someone’s house it never fails that their cat will come running and pounce on me when I’m talking. I guess I’m an animated speaker and it gets them all excited in a good or bad way. Sometimes it’s just a pounce but I’ve gotten the claws and teeth in the arm or leg more often. It scares me at my cousin’s because she gets alot of drop-off cats outside her house and alot haven’t been around humans she says and of course haven’t been for any shots or a vet check for Rabies! I guess that’s why I’m a dog person!
watcha about 15 years ago
I feel exactly like Calvin when I am near cats. I am definitely a dog person.
4deerinmyyard about 15 years ago
I like your cousin, Dino! If, that is, she’s neutering and getting all necessary treatment for the ferals she rescues. If she can’t manage it financially, suggest that she contact her local TNR (trap-neuter-release) program.
vibjyor about 15 years ago
Calvin, go to bed and take Hobbes with you so that you can hold him tight and sleep. That way he cannot reach 90 mph.
Leonardeuler about 15 years ago
Only 90 mph, vibjyor ????
Herocoder about 15 years ago
Just stick to him Calvin .. He cant sneak up on you that way ..
lewisbower about 15 years ago
How come they are so nice and friendly at 5 AM feeding?
jrbj about 15 years ago
First, Hobbs is training Calvin for life, as an adult, in the real world. Second, you anti-cat people better watch it. Cats only let us live here out of the goodness of their hearts (and because we feed some of them), and they can revoke the privilege at any time.
uncleroach about 15 years ago
you shoud use a mask on back side of your head Calvin, tigers then think you’re watching them and dont attack - till they figure it out at least
gjsjr41 about 15 years ago
Yeah, and wear your clothes backwards. lol
alondra about 15 years ago
jrbj, don’t let my cat Macushla hear that. She tells me the same thing but I don’t believe her!
COWBOY7 about 15 years ago
Calvin, get a stuffed wolf as a second animal for protection!
wicky about 15 years ago
Keep an open can of tuna handy tigers cannot bite while they are eating.
alan.gurka about 15 years ago
Oh, Mom–that’s a threat that’ll get Calvin looking perky in no time. I know it always worked on me when I was a little kid: Go to bed early? Heaven forbid!
Ray_C about 15 years ago
4deerinmyyard: TNR programs are great. Last year, a feral kitten insisted on moving in with us. So the “T” part was simple. He didn’t think much of the “N” part but he went along with it. At this point, it doesn’t look like the “R” will ever happen. But our two “legitimate” cats get along fine with him, so we’re all happy.
tonytiger29 about 15 years ago
Calvin, put a bell on him. That’s what we did to our cat as he was always sneaking around. He REALLY hated it at first. I mean RRREEEEAAAALLLLLYYYYYY hated the bell. Now he doesn’t seem to care about it. Besides that, cats don’t have owners… they have staff.
GROG Premium Member about 15 years ago
You’d think he’d been drinking too much coffee as jumpy as he is. Maybe the threat of an early bedtime will calm him down.
shakeswilly about 15 years ago
Calvin, cowards die many times before their deaths, The valiant never taste of death but once.
Dino-1 about 15 years ago
4deerinmyyard: I’ll tell my cousin about your idea! She eventually gets the feral cats tamed and gets their shots if she can’t get a home for them right away that will do it. She gets them all to ask to go outside to do their business but has a litter box backup and gets them all adopted. There’s no doubt she’s, “The Cat Whisperer”!
rentier about 15 years ago
Sometimes he gives an impressive sign of his existence!
ratlum about 15 years ago
Our cat is a lot like Hobbes
Stede_Bonnet about 15 years ago
Good quote Shakeswilly…
I hate to see jumpy little kids who have learned to be fearful of their own shadows. They shriek and flee at the very sight of a dog or cat or are afraid of the dark or water or whatever.
Children need to be taught how to cope with fear and rationally analyze potential dangers. Sadly, modern, molly-coddling, yuppie parents typically prefer to reinforce cowardly responses to any threat in the name of safety. “Better safe than sorry”, they say. That may be fine for surviving the “rigors” of American suburbia but in the real world, “Better prepared than safe AND sorry” is a superior survival strategy.
lazygrazer about 15 years ago
Neutering Hobbes would calm him down, but I would seriously miss his testosterone moments. And I don’t think tranquilizing a six year old nervous wreck is the answer either.
I guess they’ll just have to work it out for themselves after a nice long rest.
Good call, mom.
musicnut1986 about 15 years ago
Calvin’s next thought will be - Great! Now I have to go to bed early because of Hobbes.
I can already hear their next fight after Mom closes Calvin’s bedroom door. Going to bed earlier will just give the monstors under the bed more time to try to snare Calvin.
Rakkav about 15 years ago
If cats can revoke the privilege at any time, they’d better start doing it soon for their sakes, because humans have put most of them (including tigers) on the endangered species list.
Hobbes’ hubris notwithstanding, big brains and opposable thumbs will beat him sooner or later…starting when Calvin gets a few more years of growth.
bald about 15 years ago
4deerinmyyard
one of the rescue centers when i lived in Goshen NY would let people bring in feral cats and neuter /spay them at no cost to the person bringing them in and either give them back or try to find homes for them
Vonnegut about 15 years ago
Many years ago, I recall memorizing Frank Herbert’s Litany Against Fear:
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Perhaps it is the comfort of these words which allows me to live without fear of daily tiger attack.
runninanreadin about 15 years ago
I never feel as good as I always do, myself…
4deerinmyyard about 15 years ago
Ray C: Good for you. Dino: Good for you and your cousin. Bald: The rescue center that does that in my town (KC) is The Pet Connection http://www.thepetconnection.net/ ; but they always like a donation if they can get one. Most of these places run on a wing and a prayer.
Vonnegut, what your subconscious registers of that is “…fear…fear…fear…fear…fear…”.
chiqui091 about 15 years ago
haha thats funny LMAO…OMG…LOL but not that funny
KenOcougar about 15 years ago
Really, Mom, he’s not bad; just undermedicated. Paxol will enable him to enjoy a “happy, fuller childhood”.
Trisha_Evenstar about 15 years ago
Hahahahahhha poor calvin :D
pintcape about 15 years ago
to bed early,just what calvin wants to hear.
Guilden_NL about 15 years ago
I have a parrot that like to climb down her ladder and walk around the house until she finds me then announce her presence in a very loud voice. She’s 40 and started this as a teenager. I still haven’t gotten used to it!
glitterygal07 about 15 years ago
lol, Calvin’s expression in the second panel… it’s so funny
thebigkittykat about 15 years ago
Considering that cats are the only ones that self domesticated, vis-a-vis humans, it is realistic for Calvin to fear any of them!!! Fear the cat who is not given its due!!!
Puddleglum2 about 15 years ago
Is Calvin just a bit paranoid? ‘Nice kitty!’
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment…” I John 4:18a
Vonnegut about 15 years ago
4deerinmyyard said, about 15 hours ago
Vonnegut, what your subconscious registers of that is “…fear…fear…fear…fear…fear…”. ———————————————————
Fear is an unavoidable consequence of consciousness. Herbert’s contention was that responses to fear are what distinguish human from animal. Animals react instinctively to fear without considering consequences. The test of humanity is whether one can overcome fear when necessary to preserve life.
I control my fear, therefore I am human. Observation suggests that far too many members of our society cannot make that claim.
Rakkav about 15 years ago
Just maybe, Vonnegut, many are overcoming their fear but differ in the whys, ways and means by which they do. Not all efforts to overcome fear and survive lead to constructive results, and not all deaths are meaningless.
I’d argue that unfortunately, the real test of being human is being completely unable to define good and evil of ourselves and (barring outside intervention) being so hell-bent on proving otherwise. And there, we all pass with full marks. Animals don’t have that problem.
Authors Herbert, Vonnegut, Heinlein, Asimov, etc., etc. - as much as I respect their genius - are prime examples of the problem. And by nature, so am I and so is everyone else. It’s the core of the human condition. (I believe that more than human orneriness is involved, but leave that aside.)
Calvin once asked Hobbes (essentially) if he believed in the Devil and his influence. Hobbes replied, “I’m not sure that humans need the help.” As Calvin noted to himself, “You just can’t talk to animals about these things.”