Well said Stone,
You definatly summed it all up.
I can't imagine my life with out cats and worry so much about them, I know
they are going to out live me and I worry what will happen to them once I
am gone. If anyone has ever known the companionship of a cat will be able
to tell you that they are alot like the American Express comercial.
Priceless.

Thanks for your comments, all who decided I was not trolling :-);
particularly Diana, who had some insight in her reply.

I looked up what the Web yielded with regards to health benefits of pet
ownership and found the following informative web page which has many
links to relevant articles.

http://www.deltasociety.org/dsc000.htm

I am going to go ahead and start searching for a cat. It has been a
decision long in the making, as I had realized that it involves more
than a little commitment.

I think I will go lurk now, and surface when I have more questions :-).

Catcher

There are several factors you're not including in the cost/benefit
analayis then.   Having a cat has several huge benefits.

1.  Having a cat has huge health benefits.   After a really tough day
at work one of the best ways to relaxe is to with a cat.   Having a
cat get you to relaxe today may avoid that deadly heart attack
tomorow.  
2.  Another large benefit that you need to account for is
if someone doesn't adopt that cat today it may be put to sleep
tomorrow.   Some shelters are no kill shelters, not all shelters
though are no kill.  
3.  Then there is the companisionship.   My mother died last year, one
of my cats also had to be put to sleep last year (health problems were
mounting, his pain was getting more obvious as the days past).   The
death of the cat hit me harder especially where I was the one who had
to finally decide when to end the suffering.   The Vet advised what
she thought was the best course but ulitimately it was my decision.  

I spend about $7,000 over the life time of a cat on average,
for me the cost/benefit analysis ****FAR*** outweighs the $7,000+
cost.  

You have to really have the companionship of a cat for
a few years to really understand.    

Here is a better suggestion.    Get a kitten today.    19 years from
now evalutate whether the investment was worth it.  

A cat is something you need to experience when when weighing
a cost/benefit analysis.

"Talkin Horse" <davidrolfeN0SP&AM@earthlink.net>

Is that you Mr. Ed?  :-)

Stone

news:1107947073.488986.305320@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

Just so.

                               Jubilate Agno

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily
serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the
East he worships in his
way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times
round with elegant
quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the
blessing of God upon
his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins
to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they
are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws
extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be
interrupted upon the
beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider
his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in
kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it
a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more
properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the
adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his
electrical skin and
glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by
brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the
sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent,
which in goodness he
suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed,
neither will he spit
without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's
a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn
benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him and a
blessing is lacking in the
spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at
the departure of the
Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of
any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the
love of God to him
exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at
rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in
motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he
called by benevolence
perpetually -- Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has
bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is
better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain
it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in
purity what it wants in
music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon
approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in
employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon
proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of
command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's
bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of
business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express
himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal
services.
For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by
land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his
attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and
fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance,
which God sends from
heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his
movements.
For, tho' he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more
than any other
quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

-- Christopher Smart, ca. 1756

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 03:40:38 GMT, "Talkin Horse"
<davidrolfeN0SP&AM@earthlink.net>

Here was my "rationalization" to get my cat:

"Holy sh.t, this kitten is going to die if it's left out in the 110
degree heat a few more days and I don't want to see a dead kitten in my
parking space when I come to work."

Yeah - getting a cat was the furthest thing from my mind.  In fact,
earlier that day someone at work asked if I wanted a cat.  I thought
someone was giving away kittens that their own cat had, and I said "no".
It was only after seeing her hiding under a car to escape the sun that
it came to pass - I never made a conscious decision to take her in.

You were definitely rewarded.   MLB