Wag gives the edge to man's best friend

"Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats" by Bradley Trevor Greive (Andrews McMeel, $19.99)

I'm an unrepentant multiple cat owner. I have cat nicknames. I collect feline knickknacks. The insinuation that I could become the crazy cat lady might not be so crazy.

I also own an SPCA rescue dog named Java. Therefore, I am a fair and impartial judge of this extremely one-sided, terribly prejudiced, very amusing book.

Dog and cat owners both will find themselves smiling and nodding in agreement as they read New York Times best-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive's take on man's best friend and the author's nemesis: the evil, egocentric cat. Accompanying the humorous text are fabulous photos by Rachael Hale that illustrate Greive's points, such as "Dogs are social; cats are sociopaths."

Like a dog with a favorite bone, Greive won't be distracted from his point: Dogs rule, cats are tools.

"Dogs inspire us to be better than we are, while cats demonstrate the basest of instincts, languidly strolling through each of the six remaining deadly sins whenever they can briefly overcome sloth," Grieve writes.

With brief passages and photos you might consider framing, one can easily breeze through the 224 quality-printed pages in an hour (with a cat purring in your lap, of course).

Those pondering a furry addition to the family will get a good reminder of the night-and-day differences between what it takes to care for a dog versus a cat. Because cats tend to be more self-sufficient, Grieve equates the popularity of their ownership as a sign of societal decay - "Cats thrive in the current climate of passive narcissism."

Despite his outlandish bias, Grieve admits there is rarely anything better than cuddling a sleepy, silky-soft, purring kitten. But that's the ONLY ground he gives as he champions the cause of canines everywhere.

After finishing this book, dog owners may discover many more reasons to appreciate their special slobbering, loyal and loving friends.

Feline fans, however, will require more scientific studies, as the notations cited throughout the book are a figment of the author's witty imagination.

I'm just happy I don't have to make a choice.