Double Standards

I realized today that we have a double standard at our house. And no, it's not about  human relationships.

It's about cat/dog relationships.

Molly, our dog, has a big water dish in the kitchen. If you have a dog, you  know that dish is larped in, slimed on, and who knows what that mess is she leaves floating around in the water.

The cat's water dish is upstairs and pretty much stays in pristine condition, unless Lily, our elderly Maine Coon, decides to play in it. She does this by smacking the water with both front paws, drenching her face and the floor. Why she does this is beyond me.

And of course, the cats love to drink from dripping faucets in the bathroom sinks. Lily likes to drink out of a glass too, if she can find one.

Anyway, the cats enjoy drinking out of the dog's water dish. Why? Because they are cats, and it doesn't belong to them, and they shouldn't do it. Makes Molly twitch.

Molly is not allowed, under any circumstance, to drink from their water bowl.

The cats occasionally sniff around, and nibble from, Molly's food dish. This really makes her twitch.

Molly is not allowed, under any circumstance, to eat from their food dish.

The cats loll around on all the furniture.

Molly isn't allowed on the furniture (when we are looking).

The flip side to this is Molly gets to go outside. The cats aren't allowed outside.

Now, two of them, Frost and Mimi,  have been outdoor cats before. Occasionally, when we are headed toward the door, Mimi flies in front of us and stands there, anticipating the door being opened so she can go out.

She's lived as an indoor cat at our house for several years, you think she'd get the message.

Lily lived outdoors in a cattery kennel for the first  nine years of her life. She goes to the door and sniffs, but never really seems to want to go out. She knows she's finally got it made, thank you very much.

But it seems clear to me the cats are treated in a little more spoiled fashion than Molly.

That makes me feel bad, because Molly loves those cats dearly. She was never a mama, and I think she sees them as 'hers'.

I hope it doesn't hurt her little doggie feelings when she sees the double standards we have.

After all, we love her as much, just not the same.

I've heard parents tell that to their kids. Their kids never believe it either.

Good thing Daughter is an only child. I'd never pull off this stuff with a straight face.