A Defence of Cats

 


There is a prejudice towards cats. Whether it is them being ‘familiars’ to witches or causing disruptions in people’s lives, cats have been associated with chaos. They are also seen as scheming creatures that are very cunning. In fact, the term ‘crazy cat lady’ seems to tell that women who love cats must be crazy. There must be something fundamentally wrong with the people who love them.

However, there are cultures which have defended cats fiercely. For instance, there is a Danish saying that he who does not have a cat in his house is a thief. This might sound extreme but they do have a reason behind this. Cats are independent creatures. In fact, they are semi-social animals. They have their moments where they enjoy the company of their owners or other cats but they also require privacy. This means cats will not let you touch them when they don’t want to be touched. Cats are very serious about consent in this sense.

Some people tend to dislike them because they believe cats don’t love their owners. These people are mostly dog owners who are used to being the center of their dog’s universe. Cats do not see their owners that way. They love their owners but are not dependent on them. They are highly independent creatures who are able to function without their owner.

One’s love towards cats is seen as a hallmark of his respect for individuality and consent in the Danish culture. After all, if they hate someone for not being emotionally dependent on them, then they are a red flag.

I personally think it is stupid when people expect cats to be like dogs. They are two different species. It is like getting angry at a monkey for not acting like a human being.

Islamic culture and tradition is a strong defender of cats too. There are scriptures which talk about why a cat is a good pet. They respect and value the fact that a cat is clean and cleans up after itself.

But all reasonings aside, cats are just another species who live their lives in this planet. We, the so-called ‘intellectuals’, are the ones who attribute random things to them. Trust me, they do not care enough to ruin your day. Your life was already bad, don’t blame it on cats. You being scolded by your boss wouldn’t fill their stomach.

Cats are beautiful, graceful and adorable. They are fast and their bodies are almost like liquid. Their flexibility is a beauty in and of itself. So, live and love cats.


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