Funny they never said anything about the Muslims in NC slaughtering lambs for a religions ceromony...
Your arguments are void of the element of emotion and the value people will place on a living thing, such as a personal (that term is important) pet. For example, if you reduce a human being to a blob of meat, one with a simple function or utility, you will be thinking like Saddam Hussein. With few exceptions, there is no human attachment to a cow, a rat, a starling or a worm. But all of those can be property. Why treat a kitten as just property when its value is different?
The focus of this thread was not just the killing of an animal, it was the emotions that the killing unleashed, the sadness and torment it produced. People die every day, but we hurt most for those who are near to us. Cats and kittens die every day, but to murder one in a manner that is calloused and hurts children is an issue that cannot be overlooked BY A THOUGHTFUL PERSON.
A kitten is a perfectly innocent animal. Children love a kitten or a puppy. If you want to hurt a child, hurting their pet is a good way to get the job done.
Your PETA argument is risible. Cruelty to animals isn't just the killing of an animal, it's how its done. As far as this argument goes, put me in PETCH - People for the ethical treatment of children.