They’re tearing around the basement, scaling the cat tree with sharp claws and batting the noisy ball around. A wrestling match ensues and the smaller one squeals as she tries to regain the upper hand. Then canned food is put out and both dive into the bowls face first.
Humans domesticated cats about 10,000 years ago. And they haven’t changed much since then. Dogs have been selectively bred by humans for thousands of years, resulting in the various breeds we have today. While there are several breeds of cats, the basic body and style of the cat has not changed much. They also have never lost their keen hunting skills, making them excellent survivors even today.
Imagine the Zombie apocalypse tomorrow. Humans have all but disappeared, leaving behind the world we built and the animals we shared a life with. A lone Pug wanders onto the streets of his neighborhood and is immediately taken by a coyote while he squeals, unable to defend himself with basically no jaw capable of bite. Plus, he would likely pass out from overexertion and being unable to breathe properly. Now the Dobermans and Huskies out there might fair a little better and survive a little longer. But so many are dependent on human intervention to survive and wouldn’t know how to feed themselves, save from going through garbage piles.
Now look at your average house cat. Unless they have been maimed by declaw, they are likely to defend themselves like gladiators of the animal world. They would instinctively know how to hunt and kill and survive. Even your overweight, lazy house cat has a better chance of survival than you do.
Cats really are amazing. And diverse. And complex. And oh so cute at times.
I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard people tell me “I just don’t like cats”. No matter what I said, they would not change their mind. And I get it, some cats are assholes. They really are. But the people who say that also have never met a really awesome cat. A cool cat that is friendly and tolerant and personable. Those do exist!
If you’ve read this far and think ‘Geez Jessica, sounds like you’re more of a cat person than a dog person’, you would be correct.
I feel that cats are regarded by many as ‘disposable’. So many people regard them as a nuisance rather than a domestic animal deserving of the same help and attention as a dog. Farm animals serve a purpose and have monetary value. Dogs are man’s best friend. But cats are often left to fend for themselves.
The many years in animal welfare have shown me how so many times cats get left out of the rescue effort. They don’t garner the attention, time, energy or donations that many other animals receive. When someone moves and throws their pet cat outside as they pull away from the curb there isn’t automatically a neighbor taking them in. A dog may be brought to the local shelter, but now most shelters don’t take cats from outside anymore. There are a handful of amazing feline rescues, but they are always overburdened by the never ending demands from the public, and can barely stay afloat in the never ending battle of the cat population problem,
I support my local cat rescues by fostering kittens every year. I donate supplies and a little money when I can. With TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) becoming more popular, the rescues are able to make a small dent in some communities overrun with outdoor cats. The idea is to neuter and spay as many cats as possible and release them back to the outdoor space they already occupy. So instead of removing them and then having new cats move into that territory, the ones that are now unable to reproduce will remain there for years without adding more. In the past the cats trapped outside would be euthanized at an animal shelter, or worse, die at the hands of whomever decided they are a nuisance.
It does seem like a losing battle at times. Cats are notorious for reproducing very efficiently. Unlike dogs, who may have a maximum of two litters a year, a cat can have as many as five a year. Because they are so capable of living outdoors, they exist just about anywhere. Every place in the world has stray cats.
As I write this, two adorable kittens have taken over my basement. They are the third litter I have taken in to foster this year. They arrived with their mother who was quite feral. After a few initial days hiding behind the toilet of my guest bathroom, I found they were no longer nursing on mom and had teeth of their own. They were learning fear behaviors from mom, so she had to go. At the shelter she was spayed and then taken back to the place where the rescue had initially trapped her. She now has a chance to live her life with minimal human contact, and without ever producing another litter. The kittens warmed up to my quickly once mom was no longer around. As soon as you become their provider of food, you become their best friend. They have grown over the past few weeks and should be heavy and old enough to undergo their own neuter surgery very soon. They now have a chance at being someone’s beloved pet cat instead of being left outside to fend for themselves, never knowing the comforts of a loving home.
I have fostered many, many litters of kittens over the years. And I have also raised puppies. Cats are hands down the superior species when it comes to independence and capability. As soon as they are walking they seek a litter box and instinctively know how to use one. While initially being a bit messy toileting and eating, they soon learn how to groom and will keep themselves clean. Puppies on the other hand will defecate and urinate anywhere and then walk through it. They require humans to potty train them and clean them regularly. I will always choose kittens over puppies in terms of raising them in my home.
Yes cats are a remarkable species. And they do all have their own personalities and tolerance levels. I have been blessed with some amazing cats as pets in my lifetime.
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