I Am Proud Of My Cat

My cat allegedly has had several physical altercations with neighbors' cats and it is said he has eaten their food after these incidents. We are not conceding that he has ever done anything wrong, as there are no video tapes of these alleged actions. However, we would like to state for the record that if indeed there is any small truth to these allegations, there are many extenuating circumstances that would not only excuse his supposed behavior, put prove it to be commendable.

Evolutionary - Cats fight other cats and take their food. That is "survival of the fittest," the basic law of evolution. The cat cannot be blamed for what he only was destined to do by millions of years of adaptation. We should praise him for properly taking his place in the "circle of life."

Pharmacological - My cat has received several vaccinations and has taken medications for ticks and fleas. Research has not yet determined what the effects of these powerful drugs might be on his personality, to say nothing of the damage being done to his brain daily by cat food additives. That he gets up at all each morning is a testimony to his great will to live.

Theological - If God made my cat that way, he must be alright. He is wholly holy despite what ever sins he might commit. And are there really such things as sins anymore, aren't they really just misunderstandings? Like all God's creatures, my cat is a saint. Say anything against him and you are judgmental.

Political - If there was a more just distribution of wealth, my cat would not have to take food from others. In a more enlightened world, the government should be supplying my cat a daily supply of cat food. My cat is a freedom fighter, bravely taking on the "1%" fat cats.

Psychological - My cat has been labeled a "bully." Such labels become self-fulfilling prophecies as cats are then forced in to the role society has assigned them, with the accompanying loss of self-esteem which gets acted out as violence and theft. My cat is the victim here.

Prejudice - Orange Tabby's are the most discriminated against cats in the world. Look at the stereotypes perpetuated in the media by Garfield and Morris. If there is a problem, it always gets blamed on the Orange Tabby by our biased society. Indict my cat, and you are a racist. My cat is becoming a martyr for his feline people.

Like so many people who are proud of other people they like for all sorts of things, I am proud to say, "I Am Proud Of My Cat!"

1. Never leave food outside, as it attracts raccoons. Neighbors error, big time!

2. The solution: neighbor gets dog and feeds the cat indoors.

3. Your cat goes elsewhere for excitement. Unfortunately this may incur expensive veterinary bills on your part.

4. The solution: keep you cat at home. A cat climbing gym and another feline will make him interested in staying home.

I have five cats and have been a cat owner for 57 years.

This is priceless, one of the best things Ive read on FR. But I have to take issue with the idea that orange tabbies are most discriminated against. Black cats actually are, according to shelters who hold special events promoting black dogs and cats.
My cat (black with a tiny bit of white)showed up at my cat door(actually my kitchen window) in 2007. Through his microchip, I found out who owned him. He came back and showed up on the foot of my bed 6 days later. Not long after that he jumped up on the kitchen range to steal some weenies that were cooling. He intimidated every indoor-outdoor cat( there weren’t that many, but a few) over 2 square blocks, which is a big territory in a densely populated Seattle neighborhood. “That cat wont hunt.” He was the only one of the 4 cats I had who had never shown any interest in assisting with mouse and rat control in our building. He won a blue ribbon at the 2010 Average Joe cat show ( fundraiser for a cat charity)as “most obnoxious cat.” I’ve never known him to lose a fight. His veterinary bills are low. Besides shots and checkups, he’s only had to be treated for ear mites, a mild urinary tract infection and a small fight wound on his head. I did opt to get his teeth cleaned when I was getting a steep employee discount in 2008. He has been banned from one of my housesitting jobs for intimidating the 80 lb. dog and two cats and allegedly peeing on the householders bed. The guy is a CPA so I hope he’s not lying. If my cat had a favorite self help book it would be Winning Through Intimidation by Robert Ringer. He bit the person he stayed with during an exterminator visit. He was sitting on her lap watching TV. Fortunately she didnt get an infection. He chews on my hair, licks and bites me and shreds newspaper to wake me up. He also snores as loudly as a person. I feel bad now that were in downtown Everett, though there are big windows they can sun themselves in. I don’t think they would allow anything like a Catio here because they don’t allow window boxes. He hates the leash and walking him is usually like walking a Pet Rock. One good thing he’s done in his life is offer “therapy” to Sound Mental Health clients in Seattle. They really liked him. We were next door to them and apparently he didnt bite any of them, not seriously anyway.
I realized that this wasnt meant to be a brag-about-your-cat thread, but it really made me think of my cat. In spite of everything, I love him and I think he loves me. He’s curled up at my elbow as I type this.

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