Borrow My Doggy, if you aren’t familiar with it, is exactly as it sounds: people who don’t have dogs walk the dogs of people who have them but aren’t able to do it. A couple of our family members, who like dogs but don’t have their own at the moment, use the service to walk a cute little sausage dog named, erm, Rod Stewart. (And he only responds to his full name; none of this “abbreviating to save face” business.)
As is often the case when dog innovations come along, Cat Daddy and I got talking about whether or not this idea would work for cats.
Cat Daddy: “Is it even possible to borrow someone’s cat?”
Me: “Not really. Cats don’t do fun days out with strangers.”
Him: “So if a catless person wanted to spend time with a cat, what would they do?”
Me: “I don’t know. If they knew where it lived, I guess they’d just go to its house?”
Him: “So the owner would have to host random people who wanted to visit their cat? That’s just stupid. Who would do that?”
[Silence, tumbleweed, crickets]
Anyway, Borrow My Doggy appears to be a win-win for all. But what would happen if relations with your partner-dog were less than harmonious?
I imagine if there were an actual incident, you could just say to the owner, “I’m afraid your dog bit a small child / pulled so hard on the lead that he dislocated my shoulder / barked at an old lady and sent her into cardiac arrest” (or whatever it was) and the owner would take him back and say, “Oh dear, I’m sorry about that. No hard feelings. I hope the next dog works out better.” But what if you just DIDN’T LIKE THE DOG? Breaking up with an animal seems pretty low, and ignoring it and not returning its calls is even lower. And as for continuing to spend time with it because you’re too cowardly to do the honest thing and find a better animal … well …
Cat Daddy: “You get used to it. Trust me on this.”
Here is Rod Stewart (below) having a little rest after the excitement of a long walk with his chien-sitteurs. And Louis Catorze is available here for anyone who wishes to start a Borrow My Kitty group. I’ll take a seat in case I’m in for a long wait.
jesuisleroisoleil 
Well, there are people who work as pet sitters, but that’s usually for pet owners who are out of town.
But for the cat deprived, there are Cat Cafes (the UK has several) and of course, people volunteer at shelters.
But if you are looking for a way to free yourself from Catorze for a few hours…there are Doggy Day Cares but I don’t know if those exist for cats. So I think you and Cat Daddy and Catorze are stuck with each other
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Oh yes, cat cafés! I’m imagining Sa Maj in one of those and people saying, “Look at all the cute kitties! I just want to take them all home and OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT ONE THERE? IS THAT EVEN A CAT?”
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I don’t think renting out cats would work but I have been to a few cat cafes and had a splendid time. Somehow (inexplicably) those cats always seem to be more friendly and sociable???
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They must pick the sociable ones fur cat cafés, right? Catorze’s ex-rescue has been responsible for supplying cats for one of the London ones. 🐈
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“Cats don’t do fun days out with strangers” (Insert multiple pictorial evidence of Catorze flirting in the streets and leaving the castle to party) “The owners would have to host random people who wanted to visit their cat” Sa Maj: May I remind you that I have had admirers come from near and far, bearing gifts, on more than one occasion? My popularity is unquestionable! 😹
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Ahem. Good points, well made. 🤣🤣🤣
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It’s easier with dogs for sure. My cat Sasha would wrangle extra food out of anyone with tales of near starvation (which is not supported by her “fluffy” body!).
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🤣🤣🤣
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Well, when the millennial son living in our basement and was working at the Second Chance Humane Center adoption facility, he would bring dogs home to give them an outing away from the shelter sturm and drang. Of course our dear Popper was curious and outraged. Though there was one lovely dog, a rescuer that had to have an amputation due to an evil person…Popper was kind to her, sitting a few feet away with a gentle look on her face. She must have known that Angel, the dog, was friends with the shelter cats. I was shocked at Popper’s kindness. Then recently in her normal mode she woke us up howling at a bear that thought it was a good idea to come up on our porch. The bear ran away, and I reminded Popper once more that there are reasons for no walkabouts.
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Awww. The Ice Queen has a heart, under that cool exterior! ❄️
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I can’t post an image here, I should make it available on my Flickr page and give you the link.
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Look at that inquisitive sniff!
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And without a fluffed out tail or throwing any gang signs.
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What a good girl she is.
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Xenia, is currently accepting bookings for the imperial presence to visit the benighted feline-less for a modest fee (dinner).
Since last week she has been persona non grata with our daughter. She was excluded from her room accidentally . Xenia, took this as an infringement of imperial prerogative, and is boycotting her former favorite. she indicated her distaste for said former favorite by peeing on a work bag.
I am sure Catorze will understand that not only are good domestics hard to find, but they need strict discipline as well.
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I would love to visit Xenia even though I am not feline-less!
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Unfortunately, you and Catorze are too far away for a regular visit or day care … otherwise I wouldn’t mind at all ….
As we still lived in Amsterdam, I used to socialise cats in a rescue centre every two weeks, even if I had the boys at home. I did shower and changed clothes first before giving them attention, once back home though.
And I did walk dogs here in Zürich every two weeks for a while, years ago, but now the rules have changed: they only want people who can do this weekly and that is too far away for me.
And at the same rescue centre, I did socialise cats for a while too, after our boys passed away. But, since I feared that one day I would bring home one, two, three …. cats, which wasn’t (and still isn’t 😦 ) possible at the time, I stopped as well.
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You will always be special to Sa Maj as you were his very first overseas pilgrim!
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