Tag: cat cartoon

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pet cartoons

Cats vs. Dogs: The Epic Battle of Pets

Some of us are dog lovers. We love the faithful, enthusiastic way they greet us when we return home. Others love the aloof, playful, purring ways of cats. Since I’ve owned both, I have personally witnessed the epic battle between cats and dogs.

Several years ago, I drew a cartoon about one such battle. It was probably inspired by our own pets. We had one dog that loved to play with the cat. The feline was older and not very impressed with the young canine’s enthusiasm. Frequently, the cat would escape to a nearby piece of furniture, or if outside, a tree.

Cartoon of a dog and a treed cat. The dog says, "Come down! All I want to do is talk about taking a bite out of crime."

Each pet has its differences as well as advantages. My kids benefited from seeing the personalities of each of them and even imagined what their pets would act like if they were in a movie called Cats vs. Dogs came out in 2001.

Peace Between Species

Somehow, the two pets learned to get along. When our cat passed on, the dog learned to live with another cat. Though they didn’t always get along, the two pets learned to live with each other.

Whether it is pets in a household, people in the workplace, or even leaders of other countries, peace can feel elusive. Often, we antagonize each other. We can turn small problems into big deals. If we are not careful, we can find ourselves in a battle before we know it.

Yet if we are patient, if we choose to extend an olive branch, peace is possible. The battles of cats vs. dogs can sometimes appear comical. Yet real battles happen all the time with less than comical results.

Am I saying we should be like cats and dogs? Hardly. Our personalities may lean toward one species or another. Yet, we can still learn to live together. I hope you don’t find yourself in a tree today. And may you learn to get along with the person that ever so slightly just showed his fang today!

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Business Encouragement motivation pet cartoons

Why do compliments make me uncomfortable?

person wearing pink cap
Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels.com

This article from Inc. Magazine had me thinking about compliments.

We all like to think we’re doing a good job, so why do we downplay them? Like this previous post I wrote suggests, we like to think giving compliments is a sign of generosity and can even boost our likeability and popularity a bit… that is if they’re seen as genuine. Besides, who wouldn’t want a can of tuna?

Cartoon of a girl with a can of tuna. She is surrounded by cats. The girl says, "Popularity is easy. All you need is a can of tuna."

Compliments can make us uncomfortable for the following reasons:

  • It makes us feel we didn’t earn something when someone claims you have.
  • They may not sound genuine. As the Inc. Magazine article states, sincere compliments are key.
  • We may have been taught to be humble.
  • A complement may challenge us to an even greater standard.

If a compliment sounds genuine, and it resonates with me, I say accept it. Don’t try to belittle it by playing it down. Let’s all be generous with giving sincere compliments and receiving them.

Categories
pet cartoons

Are Your Pets Stir Crazy Too?

Cartoon of a boy and a dog. The boy says, "Look at it this way. It takes a strong dog to admit the cat rules the house."

When I drew this, we had a dog and a cat that didn’t always get along. They had a nervous pact that sometimes degenerated into a brawl. But the cat was there first. The cat ruled the roost and the dog knew it. She wasn’t the least bit happy about it, but she knew our kitty was the alpha male.

At least the dog would have relished our walks. I have seen so many people walking their dogs these days. People are reconnecting with their canines and that is a good thing. It’s some good exercise for the puppies as well as their owners.

So how are your pets faring in the middle of the COVID-19 stay-at-home party? Are they bringing you some peace or are they getting a little stir crazy as well?

Cartoon of a boy and a dog. The boy says, "Look at it this way. It takes a strong dog to admit the cat rules the house."
Categories
motivation

The Benefits of Feeling Nervous

Cartoon of a girl scolding a kitten. She says, "Come down from there! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

“Nerves are the body’s response to opportunity.”

Ken Coleman

Are you nervous? Are you out on a limb and wondering if you did the right thing? Are friends and loved ones trying to talk you out of it? Then it may be a good sign you are staring at opportunity.

It takes audacity to embrace an opportunity. If the dream is big enough, you are naturally going to feel nervous. You’ll feel a little adrenaline rush as you take the plunge.

Cartoon of a girl scolding a kitten. She says, "Come down from there! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

It’s okay to feel nervous as you go out on a limb. You may find on the other end of the opportunity that it was the best decision you ever made.

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webcomic

See how easily you can spot an unfair rule

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee
© 2013 Kevin Spear

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee. The cat says, “We have a ‘No Panting Policy’ around here.”

I thought of this idea several years ago when my kids were watching the movie, Cats and Dogs. It’s about dog spies and an evil genius cat that is planning to take over the world.

I thought of what would the world look like if cats were in charge and dogs had to bow to the felines’ whims. Then I wondered how many rules and laws are skewed towards the majority culture and we don’t even realize it.

Is it easy to spot those rules? I’m not so sure it is. What seems perfectly normal to one culture could look like oppression to another. It’s mighty hard to abide by The Golden Rule when you don’t ask the other party how they want to be treated.

So how do you spot an unfair rule?

  • Seek the input of all parties involved
  • Listen without being defensive. Besides, is that rule really worth defending?
  • Ask whether an old rule still makes sense
  • Ask why the rule was instituted in the first place