I agree, Jen - I completely understand why kitties want to be out in the fresh air and sunshine (or moonshine, even better for their little nocturnal selves), but since we have made them our pets, we took responsibility for their welfare when we did so. It's like having a little kid who wants to do stuff that would be really really fun but not good for them - as a loving parent, you just have to say no. The argument that it's in a kitty's nature to roam doesn't wash, because ANY animal wants to roam - they're animals! Dogs aren't supposed to have the run of the neighborhood, people don't often let their pet birds out to fly around free, and kitties shouldn't be running around like wild animals if you want them to be pets. I know we can't control every aspect of our pets existence, and they die sometimes despite our best efforts at care, but I just get so frustrated reading stories of cats who died because they were hit by cars - such an avoidable circumstance.
The legend says that Mohammed adored cats. When one of them was sleeping on his sleeve and he had to go out, Mohammed supposedly cut off the sleeve so as not to disturb his pet.
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast - Proverbs 12:10
How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
What greater gift than the love of a cat? ~ Charles Dickens
There is, incidently, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person. - Dan Greenberg
If purring could be encapsulated, it'd be the most powerful anti-depressant on the market. ~Alexis F. Hope
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