Pets

Pet peeves

compiled by Jessica Carreras

Originally printed 2/26/2009 (Issue 1709 - Between The Lines News)

Every pet owner knows the joy of a furry friend who keeps their feet warm at night, or the relief of an unconditional companion who greets them at the door after a long day at work. However, they also know a thing or two about bad habits.

Cats whose hobbies include climbing curtains and sleeping on coffee tables. Dogs whose idea of "fun" involves embarrassing their owner, or getting into things they shouldn't - like cat boxes.

Between The Lines readers often gush about their wonderful pets - but now they dish about the most terrible tendancies, disgusting doings and oddest obsessions.

1. Kyle Schlabowske, Royal Oak

Humphrey

"My Pomeranian is the perfect alternative to a mink shawl. When I am watching a movie, lying on the couch, he likes to sit around my neck underneath my chin."

2. Andrett Procter, Detroit

Precious

"Since the first day I brought her home, my cat has slept in my underwear drawer. I've tried everything, but she loves it in there."

3. Linda Baker, Pinckney

Kulia

"Kulia tends to get itchy a lot. She seems to embarrass me at the worst times, (like) when I have guests over. She scoots on her butt across the floor over and over again, just feet from wherever me and my guests sit."

4. Cj Tune, Southfield

Dozer Michael

"Dozer hates water! Water in on the ground, water in the shower - if it's wet he sulks."

5. Kate Manfredi, Waterford

Bella The Beautiful Bulldog

"She must arrange all pillows and blankets on the couch before she can lie down and be comfortable, then falls asleep and snores like Fred Flintstone."

6. Grace Mitchell, Austin, Texas

Huey

"Huey's bad habit is getting into the cat boxes."

7. Kathy LeClaire and Christina Gassner, Redford

Octo LeClaire

Octo: "My family thought it would be great if they put a bell on the door that I could ring when I needed to go out and pee. Now I agree this is a good idea for communication between the average dog and it's master. So to spite the damn bell, I ring it when I want to eat, when I want attention - but not to go pee. This makes my family come running to the door constantly at MY command. Isn't life grand?"

8. Joe Fitrzyk, Los Angeles, Calif.

Dexter

"Dexter puts everything in his mouth, just like Daddy. The vet said he has PICA, but I think he's just an emotional eater."

9. Jim Stafford, Plainwell

Tess and Ollie

"We have two Pembroke Welsh Corgis who are adorable but they also can be very naughty. They have a habit when the phone rings. I start talking and the two of them start barking so I can't hear who is on the phone. "

10. Craig Covey, Ferndale

Gizmo

"Gizmo tends to throw wild parties when Im not around. He will invite neighborhood cats over to the house and they raid the cupboards for catnip and cat treats. They party all night and make a big mess, and go until they run out of catnip. He also has a habit, when he is hungry and wants breakfast early, of walking on my face and meowing when I am trying to sleep in."

11. Julie McKeeman, Harper Woods

Maggie

"Maggie is one of our four fur-babies in our household. She is always getting into trouble. She especially likes to knock full glasses of water off the table and onto the floor."

12. Matthew Stanton

Cordelia Chase Manhatton Stanton Walsh

"She likes to drink from the faucet and dress up in costumes."

13. Bonnie White, Rochester

Buddy

Buddy: "Mom is a full-time college student, and sometimes she leaves me all alone for like, four hours in a row! I love her so much that I don't want her to go. I have gone to great lengths to ensure that she stays around. When she goes to sleep at night, I find something of hers that she never leaves the house without. Usually I jump up on the counter, pull her purse down and hide her keys. Lately, she's keeping her purse on top of the fridge so I've resorted to shoes and her school backpack. Anything to keep her home!"

14. Leslie Thompson, Royal Oak

Beau the Wonder Dog

Beau: "I once stayed with Jan Stevenson and Susan Horowitz (BTL publishers) while Mama went on vacation. The list of things that I did wrong during that week would take up an entire issue. Probably the worst thing I did was while they were asleep I ate a pound of coffee beans, cake mix and something else that I can't remember. For some strange reason, Jan and Susan have never had me come and stay with them again."

15. Craig Frost, Dearborn

Bella Frost

"Sometimes my cat LuLu bats down food from the counter and the dog helps herself to it. She loves Cheez-Its."

16. Michael Green, Palm Springs, Fla.

Putz

"His only bad habit is that he's very vocal. He wants attention all the time, and if he doesn't get it, he lets us know with lots of loud meowing!"

17. Juli Siagkris-Seymour, Royal Oak

Rubi

"Her bad habit is decapitation (of toys). We have taken to saving her kills. They hang on the wall next to her dog bed."

18. Sean Kosofsky, Raleigh, N. C.

Lucy

"She is a heavy chewer and we always catch her destroying chew toys. She simply knows that there is stuffing inside and wants to tear it out and spread it all over the house."

19. Noel Siksai, Bloomfield Hills

Lance

"His worst habit is jumping on the top of my desk chair from behind and then perching on the headrest and batting at my hair. It's especially unnerving when I'm on a conference call."

20. Scott McClure, Ypsilanti

Euclid

"Our one-and-a-half-year-old bright gold ball of energy has a fetish for attacking the humidifier in our bedroom. He tries to drag it across the floor too."

21. Carrie Copeland, Ferndale

Twiggy

"Our rescued puppy mill dog insists on sleeping with us every night, even though our other two dogs are relegated to the crate. As soon as we're both snuggled in, Twiggy comes bounding in, crams her tiny body directly between us, snoring loudly and shoving us with her paws outstretched in order to demand more room. We love every minute of it, knowing her former life never afforded her love or a soft, warm bed."

22-23. Kristie Centilli and Susie Morelli, Ann Arbor

Sierra (22) and Mozart (23)

"Sierra sits on our shoulders. We never taught her this behavior, she just jumps when you're least expecting it!"

"Our cat Mozart plays the guitar. We even have video of him plucking."

24. Jessica Carreras, BTL staff writer

A.J. Furrypants

"A.J. likes to play with her poop. No matter how many toys I give her, I will inevitably find her batting a piece of her poop around the living room when I come home from work."

25. Chris Azzopardi, BTL entertainment editor

Maddie

"My little Energizer Bunny-like Yorkie loves bare feet. She's either too small to lick any other unclothed body part - or she's got a foot fetish."