The Best Pet for Me!

I know it’s nonsense and revealing information that I have no doubt everyone already knows. Still, I enjoy postings on Facebook where the claim is to match your personality to that of the perfect animal. Recently, I indulged in one of these that was supposed to match my zodiac sign to that of my ideal pet.

My Animal Compatibility

As a biologist, I do like all animals. But I admit, I like some more than others. I have nothing against cats, but I’ve never wanted one as a pet. I’ve had the problem that cats seem to like me…a lot. When I lived in Houston, all the cats in the apartment complex would wander onto my patio and into my living room if I left the sliding glass door open. My neighbors accused me of trying to steal the cats. I wasn’t, and I didn’t want a cat. I’m a reptile person.

I had a friend with a cat who supposedly hated to have her tail touched. I visited for a party and the cat sat on my lap and stuck her tail in my face. So, I petted and stroked the tail, and the cat put it back up so I could stroke it again and again. This annoyed my friend so much that she took the cat and put it in her bedroom. So yes, cats like me.

I often thought that I should get a cat. When I ran the iguana rescue in New Jersey, I rescued a litter of kittens on one occasion. This was my chance to find out if I wanted a cat in my life or not. It was not. I was able to place the cute little bundles of fluff and was happy to see them go. Give me a mess of iguanas any day. Yes, “mess” is the collective noun for iguanas. Supposedly, when iguanas intertwine in large groups, it’s difficult to tell where one iguana ends and another begins. I disagree with this, but it is what it is.

Okay, back to the Facebook compatibility survey. Cancers, like me, are known for their nurturing and affectionate nature. This, of course, is true. The cat recommended for me is a Ragdoll cat. Ragdolls are known for their gentle nature, fluffiness, and friendliness. Supposedly, these are the perfect match for the loving nature of the Cancers.

I haven’t known any Ragdolls personally, but I thought I’d like a Maine Coon cat. The Maine Coons I’ve met have certainly been extroverted and sweet-natured. They are natural-born swimmers, which is a plus for me.

Next on the Facebook match-up was dogs. Rottweilers were decided to be the perfect match for me. Despite their fierce appearance, they are supposedly nurturing and protective of loved ones. These are excellent traits for a canine companion, but I never thought a Rottweiler would be the best dog for me. Then, the match-up selected Chow chows and Chihuahuas as good choices for Cancers. I’ve always liked Chow chows, but they can be too one-person dogs. Fate brought me a Chihuahua mix dog who has turned out to be a wonderful family member to a person who never wanted a mammal as a pet.

Okay, now to the part that interested me: the most compatible snake! Of course, I was thinking more of my most compatible lizard, the iguana, but this survey suggested a fascinating snake, the spiny bush viper, Atheris hispida. This snake resembles a mythical dragon, which appeals to my creative side. After all, my adventure stories feature talking lizards. Cancers are known to show a tough exterior to protect against threats, just like a spiny bush viper’s sharp, highly keeled scales. It is from Central Africa, where it is known for climbing on trees and stalks and basking on top of flowers. I like envisioning this attractive snake on top of flowers. So picturesque.

Their beauty hides their deadliness. Not much is known about their toxin, except that it is a neurotoxin. The toxicity varies by region. Unfortunately, this match-up didn’t result in any additional family members, but I’ll keep trying. That bush viper was rather fetching. But for now, I’ll stick to my current reptile family.