Thanks for your comments everyone! You made some very good points and I will think about it.

You're definitely right that I should learn not to talk to everybody about my cats (it's just hard because they are one of my favourite subjects to talk about ). I know I'm doing what I think is the best for my kitties, and that's why I can't wait to finally get Lily, 'cause IMO there are so many dangers waiting for a kitten in the place where she is now (not that she isn't in good care, but there's a balcony without a net, open windows, a pond in the neighbors's garden etc...).

I can also see from many comments here there seem to be many people in this world who don't share our love and passion, and I think it's just disappointing because an animal is a living creature like we are, so it just deserves the same respect. Well, obviously not everyone thinks like that!

ScantyNebula, that was very hurtful comment by your mother (mine would probably have said the same) and I really hope hope Toby is alright and it's really "only" the heat!
So many people with pets are the way you described your mother (if she had a cat). The friend who made that comment about Lily also has cats; she loves them but is very careless IMO. Her comment is "Well, they have to make their own experiences" and "a cat has a great ability of self-healing"... Well, okay... :\

I think what disappoints me most is that these hurtful comments are also a statement of intolerance in general. For example I'm not the biggest dog person in the world, but I have a friend who loves dogs and has one, and we have long conversations about this and I find it interesting what she has to say. When I talk to someone, especially a friend, and I see there is something that's important to that peson, I think it's not too much to at least try to share or understand his point of view. IMO, this has a lot to do with respecting each other. And every time I hear these thoughtless comments - cat-related or not - I think there is something wrong with the world of today...

Kirsten