The other morning I was cuddling with my cat on my bed as I woke up after a nap. Not for the first time I got to puzzling over how we came to domesticate wild animals to the point that they became household members, not merely animals kept indoors but animals as cherished and loved as any human being, with that love and social bonding seemingly undeniably reciprocated.
According to The Nest, 62 percent of US households have a pet. Of the top five, dogs come in first, occupying 46.3 million households, more than any other pet. Cats come next, followed by fish, then birds, then rabbits. Rabbits? Who’d a thunk it?
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Now here’s an interesting thing about them cats: while they’re #2 as preferred pet they outnumber dogs as kept pets, 86.4 million cats to a paltry 78 million dogs. (All right, 78 million isn’t paltry, but then I’m biased. Cats is just easier to keep. I mean, even the biggest cat fits in your lap better than a medium-size dog.)
The Nest:
Approximately 38.9 million American households own cats, notes the American Pet Products Association. However, there are more pet cats than dogs, at 86.4 million, because cat owners tend to have more cats per household – around 2.2. Cats can exercise themselves and don’t need to be walked or taken outside to relieve themselves. They keep themselves groomed and even when they’re full, will gladly perform rodent-control duties.
In thinking about cats and dogs (and birds) it never ceases to amaze me that even though we’ve domesticated and kept these animals as pets now for over ten thousands years their cousins, from which they came, still roam the wild; wolves, bobcats and mountain lions and lynx, tigers, lions, panthers, hyenas, jackals, falcons, hawks, eagles, owls…
Then there are the irregular animals that have been domesticated/tamed and are kept as indoor/outdoor pets: pigs, ferrets, hedgehogs, stick insects (and myriad other varieties of insect), iguanas, monkeys, Sugar Gliders, Wallabies, skunks… I’ve watched a couple of documentaries on guys keeping wolverines and honey badgers even.
How and why it is we humans have come to form these close personal bonds with such diverse animals of wild and untamed, even dangerous, origins is a topic I leave to the experts. It’s just strange to me, but I think it points out that Homo sapiens isn’t necessarily all that removed from the wild.
Ants, too. It’s really strange to think of keeping ants as “pets” but how many of you had an ant farm as a kid? Or have one even now? I didn’t have one as a kid but I did get one for my son when he was around ten years old. An ant farm is a fascinating thing to watch in action.
Solenopsis invicta, however, is most decidedly not family-friendly. Wikipedia has a very lengthy entry on this nasty invasive species. Here’s from the intro:
The ant is viewed as a notorious pest, causing billions of dollars in damages annually and impacting wildlife. The ants thrive in urban areas, so their presence may deter outdoor activities. Nests can be built under structures such as pavements and foundations, which may cause structural problems, or cause them to collapse. Not only can they damage or destroy structures, but red imported fire ants also can damage equipment and infrastructure and impact business, land, and property values. In agriculture, they can damage crops and machinery, and threaten pastures. They are known to invade a wide variety of crops, and mounds built on farmland may prevent harvesting. They also pose a threat to animals and livestock, capable of inflicting serious injury or killing them, especially young, weak, or sick animals. Despite this, they may be beneficial because they consume common pest insects on crops. Common methods of controlling these ants include baiting and fumigation; other methods may be ineffective or dangerous. Due to its notoriety and importance, the ant has become one of the most studied insects on the planet, even rivaling the western honey bee (Apis mellifera).
There’s a full and very well produced documentary on Solenopsis invicta on YouTube. Here’s the trailer:
Now It’s Your Turn
Do you keep any unusual animals as a pet? What’s the strangest one you have ever come across? Otherwise, what have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.
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