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Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

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Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#81
post #22

I have a python named Sid. A beautiful and surprisingly affectionate critter. Low maintenance and a great conversation starter ... "my kids came back from school with it one day, they were all like: it followed us home Dad can we keep it!?"

I also wanted to get a a ball python and name him Perl.

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#82
post #11

Cat for sure. Kittens need a lot of attention though, as do strays you've adopted. But they are the lowest maintenance of any pets. Dogs are great but are like having developmentally disabled children; they require a lot of attention, patience and forgiveness. And it is possible to find a cat with a lot of dog like qualities. I had an awesome cat who passed away unexpectedly a couple of years ago that was pretty much…

Cat's are definitely the best for low maintenance. I highly recommend Litter Robot ( http://www.litter-robot.com/ ). I've tried 3 other automatic litter boxes and this is the only one that doesn't make a mess of things. I can leave it alone for several weeks with no smell and then just swap the bag and add some litter. For an automatic water supply, I recommend the 360 Drinkwell ( http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-D360…

Thanks for the litter robot tip, just ordered one.

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#83
post #11

Cat for sure. Kittens need a lot of attention though, as do strays you've adopted. But they are the lowest maintenance of any pets. Dogs are great but are like having developmentally disabled children; they require a lot of attention, patience and forgiveness. And it is possible to find a cat with a lot of dog like qualities. I had an awesome cat who passed away unexpectedly a couple of years ago that was pretty much…

If you get a cat you might want to get him/her another one to have company if you work long hours.

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#84
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you kidding? Unless you're a breeder it's socially irresponsible not to fix your pets.

Not to mention male cats spraying. Yeah, no male really wants to chop off another male's bits but it's better for all (human and cat) involved.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#85
post #78
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And plus you get to watch them eat, which can be pretty cool even if you feed them frozen (once I warmed the mouse up, wiggled it around, and my cornsnake attacked with such vigor that there was a smear of blood against the cage.) I really want to know what this one trick was.

Disappearing. Unfortunately, shard is still waiting for him to learn the reciprocal trick. :-D

=) Fortunately he's not learned that one yet.

He has learned that when I come near the terrarium, I'll open it, so when he wants to come out, he will come up to the screen and look for the opening. I did not expect a tiny reptilian brain to be capable of learned behavior, it was a nice surprise.

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#86
post #85
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disappearing. Unfortunately, shard is still waiting for him to learn the reciprocal trick. :-D

=) Fortunately he's not learned that one yet. He has learned that when I come near the terrarium, I'll open it, so when he wants to come out, he will come up to the screen and look for the opening. I did not expect a tiny reptilian brain to be capable of learned behavior, it was a nice surprise.

There's a lot going on in that "tiny reptilian brain" for sure. Paleocortex seems to drive 99% of human behavior as well - consciousness may just be along for the ride as an afterthought. (Maybe even when coding, sometimes at least!)

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#87
post #80
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I would do all the logistics and she would approve or disapprove. Also, she spent a lot of time preening. We had fun, mind, it just wasn't very scalable.

> We had fun, mind, it just wasn't very scalable. How much "fun" did you have in mind? 2, 3, 100?

It could never have scaled into cohabitation, for example.

Re: Ask HN: what's a good pet for the working programmer?

#88
post #57
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you get your own cat then neighbours cats won't come into your garden.

Is this the same reason we have so many nuclear warheads in the world? (Yeah I'm comparing nuclear warheads with cats).

No, but it's the reason (almost) all countries have an army.
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