Sing a Song for Kitty

It didn't seem like such a weird question, especially considering that I was asking people at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, a center of pet obsession. At Point Isabel, 21 acres of off- leash dog park, the value of pet accessories exceeds the gross national product of Lithuania, and half the cars in the parking lot sport "Dog Is My Co-Pilot" bumper stickers. So I was a little surprised when people nervously edged away from me, as if I were asking about a perversion.

But, honestly, what is so very weird about singing to your pet? I will fess up first. I happen to sing a new and improved version of "Que Sera Sera" to the dog. I know it's fantastic because everyone who hears it cringes in paroxysms of jealous agony. Surely, others as musically gifted as I provide amusement to friends and family by serenading their pets.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association's Ninth Annual Pet Owner Survey, about 65 percent of pet owners sing and/or dance before their pets, but park patrons were declaring that oh, no, they would never act so weird! Sorry, but when you refer to yourself as "Fifi's mommy" or "Madison's daddy," I'll bet real money that you're doing the macarena in the kitchen for your multilegged companion.

[ excerpt from Dog Ditties , the lead article for the Home & Garden section in the Saturday, August 21 SF Chronicle.]

Perhaps it was because he asked D*g people. Perhaps because he asked in San Francisco (the Two Cents people didn't even send me this question; they asked in SF and the East Bay this time (and most of the responders said no ;-(

But of course I sing to my kitties! So do many people on my favorite cat discussion mailing list group. I recently purchased a copy of Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy, so I sing that, of course. And I make up songs as well, mostly modifying other tunes.

My kits don't seem to mind. After all, when I sing to them, I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing — paying attention to the kitty!

Sing a Song for Kitty ( in category In The News , Nature/Cats ) - posted at Sat, 21 Aug, 21:29 Pacific | «e»