enragedDon't you ever, ever insult my cats. Don't you ever, ever imply that I own them because they're "status symbols," or because I am in some way taking pleasure in the knowledge that other cats are being put to sleep right now. Lilly, Alice, and Thomas are my companions. They are my friends. They are the closest I intend to come to having children, and while I may be up for judgment, they are off limits. Leave my cats the fuck alone.
Why do I get my cats from reputable breeders, rather than from the local shelter? A whole bunch of reasons.
I do it for the health of the cat. When I visit a reputable breeder, I can not only meet the kitten I'm hoping to take home with me, I can meet their parents and grandparents. In the case of Alice and Thomas, I met their great-grandfather. I want to know that my cats have a good genetic shot at a long, happy life.
I do it for the temperament of the cat. I have had incredibly sweet, loving shelter cats in my life. I have also had bitter, terrified, xenophobic shelter cats who couldn't be integrated into a household, because they were too damn scared. I want a kitten that has been socialized and loved, and that has been bred to have a good personality to go with those good genes. I want a Lilly, an Alice, a Thomas, a Ripley, a Toby, an Alligator.
And yes, I do insist on kittens whenever possible. At best, I'm bringing home a new cat to an adult who isn't sure about the situation; at worst, I'm bringing home a new cat to two adults who already think there's no room at the inn. I am loud. I move quickly. I go away for long periods of time. I do things the way I do things, and a lot of adult cats can't adjust to me, no matter how hard we both try.
There are cats in shelters. There are cats in rescues. There are cats in need of homes. But I am not in the market for an adult rescue, and the kittens don't need me to be the one that saves them; kittens stand a much better chance than adults. Why do I know this? I know because I have volunteered at shelters and rescues and free clinics since I was twelve years old. Just like I know that I want as complete of a genetic profile as possible on my cats, because I buried so damn many of them when I was bringing them home from the pound.
My cats are not a zero-sum game. Bringing Thomas home from Betsy's didn't kill a kitten somewhere in the world that was waiting for my love; if it hadn't been Thomas, it would have been no new cat at all. Do I wish that there were no cats anywhere in the world waiting for their forever homes? Yes, I do. But that doesn't mean we shut down the breeders, abolish the breeds, and become a Domestic Shorthair and Domestic Longhair-only world. It means we breed responsibly. It means we support the shelters. It means we spay and neuter our pets.
And it means that my cats are not fucking status symbols. They are not somehow less worthy of love and comfort and a place to sleep than cats who have been abused or abandoned. They are exactly as worthy of all those things. And they are getting them from me, as will all the cats in my future.
If you can't be nice to my cats, you leave them the fuck alone.
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May 12 2011, 23:49:25 UTC 6 years ago
I wonder if that nasty comment was made by one of those people who, a)get rid of their cats when they willingly decide to move into a No Pets apt/house, b)who get rid of their cat as soon as the babies start coming or c)the REALLY nutty kind of crazy cat people (as opposed to the rest of us regular crazy cat people) who make you want to sort of back away slowly while not making any sudden movements or loud noises as you make your escape.
May 13 2011, 03:51:18 UTC 6 years ago
*has a moment of nostalgia for poor old Choplicker, who would let nearly-grown "kittens" try to nurse him because it was attention*
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May 12 2011, 23:58:26 UTC 6 years ago
I have had cats all my life, most have been shelter cats, the cats I have now are a mixture of 'Ooops' kitties, that is kitties whose Mummies "oopsed" with the wrong breed, hence a lovely Abyssinian/Burmese cross pair of senior kitties. A Pure bred Maine Coon (because I always wanted one) and a Devon Rex who arrived on our door step as a lost kitty. Attempts to find her owner have failed so here she stays.
Aside from the Devon Rex, my having my two senior cats didn't mean that a shelter cat or kitten missed out, because I wasn't really looking for cats at that time anyway.
And since I wanted a Maine Coon and they do NOT appear in shelters in Australia, since they cost an arm and a leg to buy and are reasonably rare, if I couldn't have a Coonie I wouldn't have gotten any other cat.
And with Ms Trouble the Devon Rex, another Cat was definitely NOT on my list of things to have, so no shelter kitty missed out because of her.
May 13 2011, 15:13:54 UTC 6 years ago
May 13 2011, 00:04:52 UTC 6 years ago
Personally, I find your cats both incredibly cute and highly entertaining. :-) Anyone who doesn't think so is, imho, nuts.
How do you keep them away from your growing doll collection?
May 13 2011, 15:14:31 UTC 6 years ago
May 13 2011, 00:30:25 UTC 6 years ago
There is always some asshole out there ready to criticize your choices. It's pathetic. While I am totally behind shelters and shelter adoption, it's not the right choice for everyone. And someone shouldn't be mocked for making a different choice.
I'm so sorry you had to deal with that BS. :(
May 13 2011, 15:15:15 UTC 6 years ago
May 13 2011, 00:32:26 UTC 6 years ago
Just look at your comments, you'll realize that most of us out here understand and support you.
May 13 2011, 15:16:07 UTC 6 years ago
It's awesome.
May 13 2011, 00:34:58 UTC 6 years ago Edited: May 13 2011, 00:35:35 UTC
People and their ill manners baffle me. I am very sorry that someone inflicted his/her fatally flawed, crass opinion on you, and even sorrier that he/she dared to insult your family. Because well-loved animals (as yours clearly are) do become family.
P.S. Also, Lilly is lovely.
May 13 2011, 15:16:25 UTC 6 years ago
Oh my...
May 13 2011, 00:56:18 UTC 6 years ago
- My first cat, Flower, died of Feline AIDS and one of the scariest days of my life was waiting to get the other two tested (this was back in the 80s, before testing was an everyday occurrence).
-My second cat, Exxon, is wired a bit wrong and aside from being extremely foul tempered, used to be so terrified of EVERYTHING that she passed gas if you looked at her, if you didn't look at her, and heaven forbid you pet her (though she is luckily closing in on 18 and still kicking strong, if somewhat off-kilter).
-My third cat, Boogie, was my once-in-a-lifetime cat. Wonderful in every possible way. Cherished until he died FAR too young of diabetes and bladder cancer. It has been two years and even writing that made me cry.
-Bob, our little stray, is one of the sweetest cats in the world and spends most the day in a spare bedroom (except for 4-5 hours that she comes out to socialize supervised) because she indiscriminately urinates on beds, furniture, other animals, us, etc. It broke out hearts to keep her and not give her the freedom she deserved but what other option would she have had? Most shelters and almost ALL owners would have put her down for the habit (and yes, we've explored medical options, behavioral training, etc... some cats just indiscriminately urinate).
-Wylie- my last shelter kitty in so many ways. I took him home after he spent two years in one of the high-end no-kill shelters in the area only to find out that he was permanently mentally damaged (I've been to the ER for black eyes and split lips) and was inadequately cared for medically. I've gotten him healthy and give him kitty-Prozac daily to keep him mellow.
I love him. I love them all, but I would give almost anything to have sweet, healthy, HAPPY cats. I love reading your stories about your cats because they make me smile. Because they are sweet, and healthy, and happy. I'm sorry someone tried to make you doubt that. I'm glad that you have them and that, most importantly, that your sweet, healthy, and happy cats have you.
Re: Oh my...
May 13 2011, 01:18:40 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Oh my...
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Also, I agree with
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May 13 2011, 01:36:13 UTC 6 years ago
Although all our cats are shelter or rescue cats, I see all your points.
In the past three years, we've lost three kittens to the genetic-disease gamble: Thurston, Felix, and our sweet little Max. The level of pain involved in these repeated losses is not trivial. (Nor is the expense.)
Our Russian blue, Ivan (known as The Scarable) has been with us 7 years, but he's still pretty seriously traumatized by having been dumped by his original owner when he was 5. And my own Gabriel (see icon) was a feral kitten from a tribe of wild cats. Although she's hardy, she also has a few personality quirks. She's also totally my baby, so that's OK with me -- but she might be a very difficult cat for someone who traveled a lot and had other cats.
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May 13 2011, 01:58:10 UTC 6 years ago
Whyyyyyy are people awful. :(
May 13 2011, 13:58:40 UTC 6 years ago
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May 13 2011, 02:01:56 UTC 6 years ago
I have one of my own, and he's not the first cat I've had. If you made choices to get yours that took into account their emotional well-being, I have even more respect for you. The reason *I* only have one cat, is because he *is* a shelter kitty, and while loving, he's neurotically wired, especially when I leave for a few days. As in, I *have* to get a pet sitter, even if I'm only gone for three days. I don't have another cat, because I don't know if mine could or would share my affections well.
The fact that someone felt they had to call your choices and your babies into question, that's just reprehensible to me.
So here's more support from a fan, who just got your books back from a friend who now intends to go get her own copies.
Go snuggle your kitties in happiness.
May 13 2011, 15:24:02 UTC 6 years ago
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May 13 2011, 02:12:49 UTC 6 years ago
my cats are fixed. I too wish there weren't so many animals in the shelters looking for furever homes.
but I'm not going to give a RESPONSIBLE pet owner grief about how they acquired their furkids as long as it IS responsibly (sadly, my sister's ex was NOT one of those - he dropped $600 on a "papered" persian then had her fixed *rolls eyes*)
cori is a feral rescue and a major snuggle lover.
May 13 2011, 15:35:18 UTC 6 years ago
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May 13 2011, 02:31:28 UTC 6 years ago
I think it's just low to attack your cats anyway; spend your time doing something that's actually worthwhile rather than waste it trying to insult defenseless animals you've never met or ruining someone's day. Ugh. People infuriate me sometimes. I think this is why I have dogs. They never say hurtful things. ;-)
May 13 2011, 15:34:28 UTC 6 years ago
May 13 2011, 03:07:30 UTC 6 years ago
You show 'em to me, I'll sicc my 45-pound cat on 'em.
May 13 2011, 15:35:43 UTC 6 years ago
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