Why Men Are Like Dogs and Women Are Like Cats

By Nanette L. Charron

Why Men Are Like Dogs and Women are Like Cats is a figurative work inspired by its greatest subjects. It explores the many interesting ways men are similar to dogs and how women are similar to cats. From mating customs to grooming habits, personality traits, and historical examples, the endless comparisons made are both entertaining and persuasive. The work has wonderful ability to humor and cast a novel light on a subject as universal as cats and dogs, men and women. How far does our deep connection with these beloved animals extend? The amazing similarities and closeness in habits, behavior, and other conditions presented suggest an unbelievable level of likeness between the species and the sexes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465390219

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Nanette L. Charron.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4653-9020-2

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4653-9021-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

100067

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Outer Versus Inner World of the Species

Chapter 2 Felines in the Sacred Feminine

Chapter 3 Grooming Habits and Cleanliness

Chapter 4 Comical Potty Habits

Chapter 5 How We Love

Chapter 6 Colorful Personality Types

Chapter 7 Mating Customs at Their Best

Chapter 8 How We Fight

Chapter 9 A Physical Look

Chapter 10 Soldiers and Guard Dogs

Chapter 11 Thrill of the Kill

Chapter 12 The Presence of Hair and Nails

Chapter 13 Finding Mutual Harmony

For Grandma Ele and her cat Oscar.

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Introduction

I give pause before beginning to make mention of some of the inherent difficulties of drawing definite conclusions about so great a subject matter as men and women, cats and dogs. The point of this novel is to address the masses and apply to mankind as a whole, and with such a vast population at hand, it is imminently necessary to make sweeping generalizations. There are bound to be huge deviations and variants to these justifiable conclusions, but please keep in mind these sacrifices were made for the greater humorous spirit of the matter. These minor exceptions and deviations from what I attempt to prove, with regard to the major population, have been overlooked in order to unite, humor, and hopefully provide valuable insights for the reader. It would take a volume of encyclopedias to singularly address all the various aspects of manly and womanly nature. Therefore, for the purpose of timely discussion, I have dealt with the distinctive genders on a general basis.

The need to use the majority rule appears starkly in the topics of hunting and soldiers at war. True, there are many deviations to the information presented, yet again, these had to be passed over for the sake of novelty. For instance, in chapter 9 that primarily identifies soldiers as men, I realize there are women training for combat and are heavily in the military forces; yet this remains an accurate generalization overall. Another example of a potentially controversial observance is on the topic of hunting where men are the archetypal hunters. Yes, true, many brave women do hunt and are extremely involved in the outdoors on this level, yet the overall generalization is made in order to address the gender as a whole and does remain accurate. After all, we do live in a democratic society.

In chapters 10 and 12, giving precedence to females and felines for the presence of hair and nails (or claws), there are sure to be some pouting guys and droopy canines for this allowance. Certain freedoms are taken with an aesthetic view to please with the majority still in favor of the avouched. Such luxuries were not granted to disregard the alternate beasts but to give credit where credit is due. Greater flexibility of mind is needed to conceptualize the mood and fun thus created. One further point to keep in mind is that, except for the chapter on hair whenever I refer to feline cats, I am referring to domestic breeds and not the wild jungle cats. Though I do use terms such as lynx, minx, and vixens quite freely throughout the book, they too are simply meant as a binding element to illustrate a point.

Another veritable aspect concerning the genders is that they are formed from a historical view. As ancient as the world itself are men and women, with cats and dogs closely following. To take them out of this archaic archetype would be folly, and so I have kept to time-old traditional roles that may seem ridiculous to the modern reader. Please keep in mind the great breadth involved when discussing the identity of man and woman. We span throughout the ages, encompassing oceans of time. The old-fashioned roles are still of no less value now as they were then. After all, it is because of the success of the roles our ancestors endured that we are here today.

The main persuasive thesis is grounded not on the idea that more men have dogs than women, or more women have cats than men (although they invariably do), but on how men are spiritually more like dogs and women are more like cats. The point of the ensuing chapters is to show all the amazing ways this hypothesis is true. It is not to segregate the sexes anymore or polarize the two juxtaposing categories either. Actually, the underlying topics are meant to bring common people together with a shared topic anyone can relate to. Every human being is either a man or woman and most likely has some connection with cats and dogs. I hope this material will help lay the grounds for people to talk more and relate on a good level.

Along the same lines, although the tone may get too weighty for the levity of the introduced characters, the overarching goal is to entertain and not draw serious finalities about human or animal nature. Most of the concluding points made are aimed at providing humor with a touch of enlightenment and should not be taken too seriously. I want people to see one other and themselves in a new, positive light alongside this beloved species. We all have a connection to cats and dogs as humans, so there is already a beautifully preexisting commonality. It is an easy subject meant for the everyday person to appreciate and explore.

Fun is the fuel that drove the undertaking of this project, so it ought to be found thereof. Humorous underpinnings invite self-examination while not attempting to prove any great finality. A new spin on relationships is introduced for the purpose of bringing couples into further bliss. So sit back, curl up with a hot chocolate mocha, and enjoy!

Chapter 1

Outer Versus Inner World of the Species

Real-World Values

Since ancient history, women and men—and similarly, cats and dogs—have shared different environments. Women have primarily occupied the domestic indoor sphere while men have occupied the external outdoor sphere. Part of this has to do with the varying duties and obligations peculiar to the sexes as well as the unique preferences held by each. For instance, women quite enjoy quieter domestic activities such as cooking, gardening, and running the household and can be quite content in these the livelong day. They also have and raise children, which keeps them close to home for that overarching purpose. These duties, past and present, are pleasures at the center of what makes a home good and real. It can also be seen as the interior of life and the binding fabric that holds the rest together. Marvelous women create, tend, love, and truly are this fabric just like the ancient weavers in Macedonia. Whether at the loom, on the computer, or holding a precious baby in their arms, our gender remains the sole proprietors of the domestic environment even today.

Of course, this is a very old-world view on the world but remains true to this day how more women stay at home to raise children and run the household. It is hard to stamp out tried-and-true traditions that actually work. Please keep in mind that cats and dogs are as ancient as men and women themselves, and in writing about them, I interpret their roles throughout history, giving reverence to the time they—and we—have existed, and not just in our relations today. This is a more historical approach, addressing the species as a whole, and therefore does not take into account all the many, many exceptions. It is a process of rounding up, and since the years of history far outweigh the present day, I feel these traditional roles and truths more accurately reflect the subjects themselves. I realize that men love cats and gardening equally as women and many choose to stay home, and that hundreds of thousands of women are canine lovers far over cats.

Closely following the beauty femininity propagates in the domestic sphere, aristocratic cats also reign on high, and on low, in this interesting dominion! Often curled up on the bed or hiding in a secretive spot, these practical creatures spend most of their nine lives inside. Surely they go outside sometimes, but are, overall, quite content sprawled