When we lock up our cats to protect them from statistically very-rare events, how will the next generation of cats fare in life? Will they amuse themselves with harmless, unchallenging indoor pursuits, that fail to build character? Will they be anxious and neurotic as a result? Are we raising a generation of feline snowflakes? Will Jonathan Haidt have to write a new book about it?
Always makes me laugh when our cat races through the chip-triggered cat flap escaping from another cat and then turns round to see if the other cat is still chasing it.
In cat logic, I suppose she must think the other cat is too scared to come through the cat flap.
Philippe W
1 year ago
A psychopathic killer entering someone’s property and murdering them in front of their cat would result in said cat demanding food. On realising neither person in the room was capable of feeding it, it would leave and never return. This goldfish-like inability to be in any way loyal (“Fluffy isn’t our pet, humans are Fluffy’s pets! Ha! Ha! Ha!”) coupled with the way they are wired up to annihilate all defenceless wildlife inside a 3km radius, is celebrated only by weirdos on the internet whom you cannot trust.
P.S. twist: psycho killer goes home to let his collie out.
I dispute the notion that any animal can be held to be at fault. You might just as well blame the weather for being the weather. Animals simply obey the rules – As does the weather.
I don’t have racing pigeons in my loft. In fact I don’t have a loft. I don’t have a utility room. And, incredible as it may seem, I don’t have a villa in Tuscany. I am indeed, the real thing.
Witches had their cats in old folklore and they were also seen as the ‘Devil’s familiar’ (cf. the cat that curls up on Harry Lime’s shoes in the film version of ‘The Third Man’ (‘He only ever liked Harry.’ says Lime’s girlfriend)). Their solitary behaviour was also held to indicate this, and their thick, soft fur was taken as a symbol of ‘luxurious’ sexuality and promiscuity.
Last edited 1 year ago by Arnold Grutt
Marcia McGrail
1 year ago
Many killers practice their art on animals. The move onto human prey depends on the context which makes an interesting question – do folks who like beheading others hone their skills in their particular version of abattoirs?
There are questions that can be asked about a killer’s choice of victim. For instance why should cats be a frequent victim of this type of offence but (as far as I know) dogs only rarely?
One can deduce fairly easily why a serial killer might choose women as victims (previous rejection or maybe an imputation of immorality within a male favouring subculture, or anger at supposed social favouritism in a jobs market and so on). But why do many mass-shooters choose young children as their victims?
Last edited 1 year ago by Arnold Grutt
Eric Blair
1 year ago
Deranged man murders a few cats – outrage and significant expenditure of time and treasure to convict the offender.
Millions of cats out murdering the wildlife every night? That’s entirely ok.
Weird.
I actually think more people hate cats for their environmental impact, than hate humans for their vastly more destructive behaviours. I also suspect a correlation between cat hating and indifference to human-caused destruction.
(I do not intend to understate the massive damage cats do… especially those dumped by humans).
No. I definitely hate humans for their vastly more destructive behaviours – they should license, neuter/spay, collar/(big)bell & microchip all cats.
Hate cats?..not so much.
About time someone made this very relevant point !
Jorge Espinha
1 year ago
The real killers are the cats. Domestic and feral cats kill millions of birds, small reptiles and other small mammals every year. They should be kept inside for that reason.
They should be neutered until in a genreation or two, they have been completely erradicated from domestic possession. After that, all strays should be shot.
Carter S
1 year ago
Once again mystified by the author of ‘Write To The Point: How To Be Clear, Correct and Persuasive on the Page’. Thought by the title it might be satire or something, maybe.. After reading I have absolutely no idea. Does this essay have a point?
Last edited 1 year ago by Carter S
Anna Bramwell
1 year ago
I thought from the title Leith was going to talk about the serial killers known as cats, killing g-d knows how many birds a year.
When we lock up our cats to protect them from statistically very-rare events, how will the next generation of cats fare in life? Will they amuse themselves with harmless, unchallenging indoor pursuits, that fail to build character? Will they be anxious and neurotic as a result? Are we raising a generation of feline snowflakes? Will Jonathan Haidt have to write a new book about it?
Made me laugh, thank you.
My cats have the use of a catflap. We all sleep soundly when and where the fancy takes us.
Always makes me laugh when our cat races through the chip-triggered cat flap escaping from another cat and then turns round to see if the other cat is still chasing it.
In cat logic, I suppose she must think the other cat is too scared to come through the cat flap.
A psychopathic killer entering someone’s property and murdering them in front of their cat would result in said cat demanding food. On realising neither person in the room was capable of feeding it, it would leave and never return. This goldfish-like inability to be in any way loyal (“Fluffy isn’t our pet, humans are Fluffy’s pets! Ha! Ha! Ha!”) coupled with the way they are wired up to annihilate all defenceless wildlife inside a 3km radius, is celebrated only by weirdos on the internet whom you cannot trust.
P.S. twist: psycho killer goes home to let his collie out.
I dispute the notion that any animal can be held to be at fault. You might just as well blame the weather for being the weather. Animals simply obey the rules – As does the weather.
I forgot to mention sense of humour.
The question is: Which one of us has the sense of humour.
The one with the fewest dead baby sparrows in the utility room. I’ve just checked and I have none. What about you?
I don’t have a utility room. I am so working class.
The loft then where you guys keep your racing pigeons .
I don’t have racing pigeons in my loft. In fact I don’t have a loft. I don’t have a utility room. And, incredible as it may seem, I don’t have a villa in Tuscany. I am indeed, the real thing.
People are animals too.
Witches had their cats in old folklore and they were also seen as the ‘Devil’s familiar’ (cf. the cat that curls up on Harry Lime’s shoes in the film version of ‘The Third Man’ (‘He only ever liked Harry.’ says Lime’s girlfriend)). Their solitary behaviour was also held to indicate this, and their thick, soft fur was taken as a symbol of ‘luxurious’ sexuality and promiscuity.
Many killers practice their art on animals. The move onto human prey depends on the context which makes an interesting question – do folks who like beheading others hone their skills in their particular version of abattoirs?
There are questions that can be asked about a killer’s choice of victim. For instance why should cats be a frequent victim of this type of offence but (as far as I know) dogs only rarely?
One can deduce fairly easily why a serial killer might choose women as victims (previous rejection or maybe an imputation of immorality within a male favouring subculture, or anger at supposed social favouritism in a jobs market and so on). But why do many mass-shooters choose young children as their victims?
Deranged man murders a few cats – outrage and significant expenditure of time and treasure to convict the offender.
Millions of cats out murdering the wildlife every night? That’s entirely ok.
Weird.
I actually think more people hate cats for their environmental impact, than hate humans for their vastly more destructive behaviours. I also suspect a correlation between cat hating and indifference to human-caused destruction.
(I do not intend to understate the massive damage cats do… especially those dumped by humans).
No. I definitely hate humans for their vastly more destructive behaviours – they should license, neuter/spay, collar/(big)bell & microchip all cats.
Hate cats?..not so much.
100% agree
About time someone made this very relevant point !
The real killers are the cats. Domestic and feral cats kill millions of birds, small reptiles and other small mammals every year. They should be kept inside for that reason.
They should be neutered until in a genreation or two, they have been completely erradicated from domestic possession. After that, all strays should be shot.
Once again mystified by the author of ‘Write To The Point: How To Be Clear, Correct and Persuasive on the Page’. Thought by the title it might be satire or something, maybe.. After reading I have absolutely no idea. Does this essay have a point?
I thought from the title Leith was going to talk about the serial killers known as cats, killing g-d knows how many birds a year.
And mice. And rats.