Throw a stick, and the servile dog wheezes and pants and shambles to bring it to you. Do the same before a cat, and he will eye you with coolly polite and somewhat bored amusement.

H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) American fabulist [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]

“Cats and Dogs” (23 Nov 1926), Leaves (Summer 1937)
    (Source)

Reprinted as "Something about Cats" in Something About Cats: And Other Pieces (1949) [ed. Derleth].