From browsing the blogs, it seems that knitters are very cat-friendly people. There's Dave (http://cabincove.com/?cat=12) with the very lovely Miss Lulu, Wendy (http://wendyknits.net/) with Lucy, Brainylady (http://brainylady.blogspot.com/search/label/Mooky) with Mooky, and even Carrie of Dogs Steal Yarn (http://dogsstealyarn.com/archives/000495.html) has Oscar; and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

The obvious exception (as well as Carrie's two (http://dogsstealyarn.com/)) is Marnie (http://www.marniemaclean.com/words/2007/01/haystack_rock.html#more) with Panda, though on the whole, dogs appear to be a bit thin on the ground.

Are you a cat or a dog person? Do you have cats or dogs?

I have two cats, a Bengal cross called Merlin, and Jesse, a tubby black and white mog, both of whom take great pleasure in putting fang marks in my bamboo needles and batting at the yarn while I'm knitting.

I have 2 aged cats - 1 long haired tabby with hyperthyroidism and virtually no teeth now (Widget - 16 ish) and 1 black short haired (Tensing - 14ish). We also have 1 hamster and 4 stick insects....but there is no catgory for those....oh and 2 boys and a husband:hihi:

We have three cats - Harry (13 this year and named after the street he was from in Rotherham, Sooty (about 12 - black and already originally named by Thornbury) and Ellie a stray from the MIL in Sheffield (about 9/10). They love to play with my yarn and the kids frequently ask if they can have a bit so they can play together. They haven't quite learnt how to cast on yet, not for want of trying :hihi:

I have four cats: Mozart, who specialises in seizing one end of a double ended needle and making off with it. Hanni prefers stealth - she once quietly chewed through a ball of wool, so that I was left with 3 inch lengths! Robin is pretty good really, she will sit on my lap and march on anything dangling from the needles. Poppy is a pain - she kills the pattern, pinches knitting needles, runs off with wool or just tries to force her way between my body and my knitting.

I went for both as even though i think i prefer cats, i grew up with a family dog and she'd never forgive me if i said i was a cat person :P

I have a cat Oliver who sleeps in my yarn room but really couldn't give a flying fig about anything knitting related unless I'm winding a skein into a ball on the wool winder - then that gets his interest.

I also have a dog called Lilly who takes great delight in picking up my nice fluffy balls of yarn in her slobbering jaws and running around the house shaking it trying to 'kill' it. :mad:

She always gets in the way when she sits next to me on the sofa. She either ends up with yarn under her or wrapped round her paw in some strange fashion.

We have guinea pigs which live next to where I have the spinning wheel set up. This means that they make my life a misery with their loud squeaking until they've been given celery, lettuce or whatever else I can shut them up with. I'd like a dog but it's not the right time just now.

I love dogs (and cats to a lesser extent) but unfortunately I am allergic to pet hair and so am unable to have any more pets. Aaww shame.....

I'm definitely a dog person. I really don't like cats! But if it was against the knitting law not to own a pet of some sort, I would have to give up knitting until such time as (a) I win the lottery or (b) the housing market crashes :) . Renters aren't allowed pets...

I rent and I have two pet rats, who are wonderful, though anything else will have to wait until I own somewhere. Basically as long as it's not a horse or snake I'll consider owning one.

I have 3 cats - Alfie 3 year old Oriental Blue, 2 year old Brian half Oriental Blue Tortie and half ginger tom cat, Lily 8 month old Lilac Point Siamese. Lily adores wool and just cannot leave it alone when I am knitting. I very often don't notice her attacking the yarn and suddenly arrive at a soggy bit with nothing after it... Alfie just insists on sitting on my knee and gets wrapped up in the yarn. Brian is far too macho for either of these pursuits.....

Brian the cat... that makes me smile. My uncle's called Brian, and he's very definitely a dog person. I adore all cats, though Siamese are extra specially beautiful. My neighbours when I first left home had a gorgeous Siamese called Bronte. Inevitably, she spent far more time in my place than with her owners :lol:.

Lily is the 4th Siamese I have had. The first lived to be 9, the second was run over and the third one was shot dead by some maniac with an air rifle last June. It was the first time she had strayed off the garden. Best not to get me going on that particular subject :rant:

Lily is the 4th Siamese I have had. The first lived to be 9, the second was run over and the third one was shot dead by some maniac with an air rifle last June. It was the first time she had strayed off the garden. Best not to get me going on that particular subject :rant:
Evil, evil, evil swines :rant: . What a thoroughly despicable thing to do. It's a subject that's discussed every now and then on the forum, and it's one where I have to almost physically restrain myself from posting exactly what I think about the pond life who hurt animals.

Best not to get me started on the subject either :mad: .

The dog and cat don't like each other so we have to keep them separate. When the cat is in, he lives in the yarn room and the dog is not allowed out of the living room. Last night the dog got into the yarn room whilst the cat was in and they had a rather scrabbly and noisy 'meeting'. I think the cat ended up clinging to the blinds halfway up the window and the dog retreated looking dazed with a bloody ear.

The thing is - Is it wrong that I was nearly as worried about whether my yarn stash was damaged as I was about the animals!?

And that I obsessively went through my yarn stash as soon as I could checking that there was no dog blood or damage to it? :blush:

Cats.. hard to resist :)) (I think)
We indeed have cats as well: Mandarijn, 4 years, a tortoise shell, and Kibbeling, a 9 years old tabby. Both come from the Cats Shelter, first Mandarijn and two years later the then 7 years old Kibbeling who just lost her previous owner. She was very sad and didn't want to eat properly. Even the vet was worried but luckily all went well.
Both little ladies are friends from a distance, they accept each other and have sometimes a little play. They love playing with the little knitted toys I made them, such as a little ball sprayed with catnip. But most of all they like the moving knitting needles :P
I love dogs as well a lot, but as we both work it's not very good for a dog at our house yet. Hopefully later.

The thing is - Is it wrong that I was nearly as worried about whether my yarn stash was damaged as I was about the animals!?

And that I obsessively went through my yarn stash as soon as I could checking that there was no dog blood or damage to it? :blush:
:o

You know that both are plotting revenge for you valuing the yarn as much as them, don't you? Make sure you check your shoes for 'presents' before you put them on... :lol:

Hi everyone only my second time on the forum, I too am a cat person, they just seem to find me. I have had loads but only bought one, must be a secret sign on my door telling all moggies its a halfway house:hihi: . Sadly on Monday i had to have my ginger tom put to sleep he was 20yrs old, 5yrs older than my son. House seems very strange without him :( So Im trying to keep busy by doing more knitting. Knitters seem to be big animal lovers a good thing I think:)

Hi purlgirl :wave: .

I'm really sorry to hear about your ginger tom :( . What a great age he lived to though; I bet he was loved and happy during the time he spent with you.

As I type this, one of my cats (Merlin) is sat next on the desk next to me, purring and pawing at the tail end of the yarn from my second RPM sock. Fortunately, he hasn't spotted that it's attached to some lovely (and as yet fang mark-free) bamboo DPNs...

Hi hecate yes he was spoiled while he was here, my other ginger tom lived till he was 18 there must be something in that Whiskas. As long as I keep busy I dont think about it as much. Ive finished 2 hats for the premature babys this week.

I have both a cat and a dog.

My old dog has quite a rare talent:- he doesn't "worry" my balls of yarn, bless him; he knows that if I drop the ball of yarn he will get a "treatie" (a choccy drop, or somesuch) if he picks it up and brings it back to me.

aaah bless! :hihi:

My old dog has quite a rare talent:- he doesn't "worry" my balls of yarn, bless him; he knows that if I drop the ball of yarn he will get a "treatie" (a choccy drop, or somesuch) if he picks it up and brings it back to me.

aaah bless! :hihi:

I soooo need to teach mine to do that!

I'm a both person. I had a dog whilst growing up. Now that I am married I have 3 cats. I would've liked a dog but as we are out at work all day, it isn't fair on the wee doggie. Cats are more independent. And these ones really know their own mind :|

I have a lovely wee kitty called Daisy who's almost 4 and loves trying to eat my wool as I'm knitting, naughty wee scamp!

I am a dog person, but my dog does behave like a cat.

I am the pround owner of a big brave rottweiller...................oops that is fantasy land yes a rottweiller does share my home she is scared of wind and to sleep with me last night ,she would let anyone in but they would have a fight to get out as she loves people. ( forgot to add burgulars beware she has large teeth )

so now I feel like a true knitter. Are there things out there I could knit for him to wear?

well iv now got 7 cats ( mammy daddy and 5 babbies) :love: :love:
Our Misty isnt interested in the slightest about my knitting but Salem is jealous to death that im taking notice of something other than him. he squishes up so close that its hard to knit he doesnt attack the wool but every now and again he will gently grab hold of it and hold tight :hihi: ive had loads of dropped stitches cos of him doing that.
the kittens are only 3 and a half weeks old so im safe for a little while :D

I am the pround owner of a big brave rottweiller...................oops that is fantasy land yes a rottweiller does share my home she is scared of wind and to sleep with me last night ,she would let anyone in but they would have a fight to get out as she loves people. ( forgot to add burgulars beware she has large teeth )
SNAP !!
:love: My Murphy is a right scaredy too, for something so big hes petrified of his own shadow :hihi: he loves people too i have to keep him in another room when we have visitors cos he would knock them over ( loveingly of course ) :love:

so now I feel like a true knitter. Are there things out there I could knit for him to wear?
No. Dressing cats up in clothes is a very bad idea (Litha, I'm looking at you ;) ). It offends their dignity. If I attempted to dress my cats up in knitted items, they'd shred both them and my arms :lol: . Actually, this (http://jagowds.com/_jrs/chuck/tmpgfx/catbird.jpg) is what Merlin would do if I approached him with a knitted item to dress him in.

Dogs don't seem to mind too much, and the ones with not much fur (greyhounds and those funny looking little hairless things etc) do feel the cold in winter and welcome coats to keep them warm.

well iv now got 7 cats ( mammy daddy and 5 babbies) :love: :love: ...
Seven cats?! :love: :love: :love:

Let me know when you've got piccies of the little ones.

so now I feel like a true knitter. Are there things out there I could knit for him to wear?

You could knit him toys stuffed with catnip. Or a cushion..... see Knits for Dogs and Cats!

I saw a cat sized four poster bed in a hotel in Las Vegas. It had "the Queen sleeps here" embroidered on the cushion :D Not much point in making it for my girl though as my current crew piddle on any baskets/cushions/blankets that I put out for them. Ungrateful s**s! Naturally they don't have a problem kipping on the sofas.

You could knit him toys stuffed with catnip. Or a cushion.....
There are a couple of patterns here: one for knitting (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/PATTdimsum.html), and this rather 'interesting' one for crochet (http://www.crochetme.com/June_July_2005/patt_kitty_toy.htm).

Or how about a felted cat bed (http://wendyknits.net/knit/kittybed.htm) (if your cat is less inclined to wee on their blankets than Jill's :lol:)? There's a gallery (http://wendyknits.net/knit/kittybedgallery.htm) of happy cats in their beds here.

You could knit him toys stuffed with catnip. Or a cushion..... see Knits for Dogs and Cats!

I saw a cat sized four poster bed in a hotel in Las Vegas. It had "the Queen sleeps here" embroidered on the cushion :D Not much point in making it for my girl though as my current crew piddle on any baskets/cushions/blankets that I put out for them. Ungrateful s**s! Naturally they don't have a problem kipping on the sofas.

Do you let them in your shop?:suspect:

Do you let them in your shop?:suspect:

No - just well-behaved dogs and the odd bitch.............:|

No. Dressing cats up in clothes is a very bad idea (Litha, I'm looking at you ;) ). It offends their dignity. If I attempted to dress my cats up in knitted items, they'd shred both them and my arms :lol: . Actually, this (http://jagowds.com/_jrs/chuck/tmpgfx/catbird.jpg) is what Merlin would do if I approached him with a knitted item to dress him in.

Dogs don't seem to mind too much, and the ones with not much fur (greyhounds and those funny looking little hairless things etc) do feel the cold in winter and welcome coats to keep them warm.

absolutly fantastic piccy that one :hihi: :hihi:

mine dont shred me if i dress em up they just play dead, i think they think if they dont react ill get bored :hihi:

the kittens have started walking about and escaping now so it should be easier to get pics, ive got loads but you cant really make them out they all blend in together

...and the odd bitch.............:|
Hang on, matey; I've never visited your shop! :suspect: ;) .

It's a shame that some knitters are allergic to cats, or simply don't like them, because a couple of cats wandering around a yarn shop would be enough to entice me through the door even if they sold nothing but acrylic. Add a latte maker and free chocolate, and I'd be in heaven.

i used to have my cat wondering round my shop ( not a wool shop tho :hihi: ) but when he used to sit in the big cauldron in the window everyone used to stop and tap on the window to him :love: :love:

...ive got loads but you cant really make them out they all blend in together
Aw, a heap of kittens! :love: Are they Misty's babies then? Are they little blue ones? Post a pic when you can separate the little buggers out :) .

Aw, a heap of kittens! :love: Are they Misty's babies then? Are they little blue ones? Post a pic when you can separate the little buggers out :) .

yes they are Mistys, Salem is the daddy. they are all black except one of the little boys hes got most of mistys colouring but with black legs and ears.
weve called them

Casper
Merlin
Pixie
Gypsy
Darci
they are asleep at the mo but when they wake up ill take piccies and post em later. Shane has agreed to let me keep 2 of them but ive got to find homes for 3 :::: sob sob sob::: im keeping Casper ( the one with Mistys colouring) but cant decide which other they are all alike and i love them all, im hoping that if i keep them long enough and tell shane i havent found homes he will have no choice but to agree to them staying :hihi:

Hang on, matey; I've never visited your shop! :suspect: ;) .

It's a shame that some knitters are allergic to cats, or simply don't like them, because a couple of cats wandering around a yarn shop would be enough to entice me through the door even if they sold nothing but acrylic. Add a latte maker and free chocolate, and I'd be in heaven.


Coffee and chocolates are not usually a problem....
I would love to bring the cats to the shop but they are not to be trusted despite the fact they look so angelic
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/lilalfbri.jpg

Actually, Brian quite likes dressing up - here he is in his James Dean period...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/IMG_6890.jpg

Coffee and chocolates are not usually a problem....
I would love to bring the cats to the shop but they are not to be trusted despite the fact they look so angelic
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/lilalfbri.jpg

Actually, Brian quite likes dressing up - here he is in his James Dean period...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/IMG_6890.jpg

awww what can i say :love: :love:

they are absolutly gorgouse :love:

Coffee and chocolates are not usually a problem....
I would love to bring the cats to the shop but they are not to be trusted despite the fact they look so angelic
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/lilalfbri.jpg

Actually, Brian quite likes dressing up - here he is in his James Dean period...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/IMG_6890.jpg
They are gorgeous! :love: Are they loud too? When I lived in B'ham, my neighbour's Siamese cat, Bronte, used to 'sing' to us on a regular basis. Any louder, and it could have shattered glass :lol: .

awww what can i say :love: :love:

they are absolutly gorgouse :love:

I know - and they are all spoilt rotten.... can't wait to see pics of your babies :love:

They are gorgeous! :love: Are they loud too? When I lived in B'ham, my neighbour's Siamese cat, Bronte, used to 'sing' to us on a regular basis. Any louder, and it could have shattered glass :lol: .

They can all be pretty vocal but Lily (Siamese) is the most talkative. She's just getting ready to call so we need to get the industrial earplugs out!

No - just well-behaved dogs and the odd bitch.............:|

Hey!! :arrow: I resemble that remark! :evil:

No - just well-behaved dogs and the odd bitch.............:|

now, look here ;) ;)
(*hands on hips mode*)

I might "Kvetch" a little, but bitch? Moi? no!!!!!! never! :lol:

*evil laugh*

Coffee and chocolates are not usually a problem....
I would love to bring the cats to the shop but they are not to be trusted despite the fact they look so angelic
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/lilalfbri.jpg

Actually, Brian quite likes dressing up - here he is in his James Dean period...
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r190/woolbaa/IMG_6890.jpg

Your cats are gorgeous Jill! :love:

Jill, your cats are so elegant. My cat is a typical ginger moggie, but he's gorgeous all the same and settling in well. I see that Medusa has a link to Sheffield Cats Shelter - that's where I got him. She might have known him. He was called Granby and now he's Granby Percival!

Jill, your cats are so elegant. My cat is a typical ginger moggie, but he's gorgeous all the same and settling in well. I see that Medusa has a link to Sheffield Cats Shelter - that's where I got him. She might have known him. He was called Granby and now he's Granby Percival!

They don't seem quite so elegant when they are all hurtling throught the house when the "mad half-hour" strikes! They stop for nothing...
Brian is actually half mog and half oriental - the product of an escaping girl of mine (now deceased)and the local lothario..... if only I could wedge him in a cat basket without losing an arm and possibly a leg or two, I could take him for a trip to the vet..
Are you going to post a pic of GP? I'd love to see him. Our first cat was a ginger moggie called Henry. I have been scanning in some old photos from 1979 onwards. Pics of our old cats have had us all oohhing and aahhing :)
Oh - and the pics of the kids were OK too :hihi: