Friggin Cats....guest contributor

Sometimes I wonder why it is we have cats for pets. We all read about how they each have their own personality and, in general, are very independent and intelligent. In that way, they are quite like people. I want to explore more deeply this comparison.

Cats are like people, so having cats as pets would almost be comparible to having children. I can buy that. They teach responsibility, caring for another living being's food and shelter (they don't need clothing). You clean up after them, feed them, and deal with the minor frustrations of having cats (hair everywhere, things getting knocked over, etc). In that way, I can see the parallel. And admiittedly, there are times when the adorable side of their personality almost makes it all worth it...almost.

But what about this comparison to people. What about the cats that have personalities that may not fit in to mainstream society? What about the cats that have the personality of the human world's bullies, criminals, social degenerates, and just plain evil or ignorant people. In the human world, those people cause such a problem to society, they are put into special groups, homes, rehabilitation centers, and jails. Do we have that option for cats? Can we throw a really bad or outcast cat into a cat jail, alleviating our need to care for them? We can do it to people: our sons, daughters, neighbors, and friends....why not our cats?

If so, where would the line be drawn for my behavior in dealing with such a cat? Would I be doing "the people" (i.e. us at home) a good deed by having a cat thrown into jail? Would I be doing to a good deed if I took matters into my own hands in dealing with the cat (you're thinking it, but please take note I'm not saying it)? Of course not! I would be the bad guy. I would be the evil one, the "Bad Cat Owner" or "Inhumane Person". Yet, we treat other people, actual human beings in a similar manner, and we are just "cleaning up the streets" or "making the world safer for our kids."

I guess it comes down to passing judgement on people based on the singular trait they have that animals don't: choice. Since people are born with choice, we can punish them. Since animals are born without choice, but instincts, we cannot punish them. We have to live with them, work with them, attempt (no matter how futile it may be) to train them, in order to find that cute personality that may just exist inside them regardless of the absolute crap that may surround that personaility. In essence, our happiness with pets rests in the dumb luck of our choice when we first laid eyes on them as they were babies. The rest of our time with them is spent dealing with either the joy or regret of that choice. For the cases where it's joy: good for you. For the cases where it's regret: I sympathize. Sometimes instead of living out your fantasy where you stick said cat in a pillowcase and either thow it against a wall or beat it with a stick like many scenes from Monty Python shows and movies, you just have to grit and shout out loud to anyone in earshot: "friggin cats!!!!"

Author's Note: I have been a member of several different Humane Societies. No matter how frustrated I get with any animal, making a decision to act on that frustration will lead to much worse consequences in dealing with my wife, friends, family, and conscious. Also, we have 2 cats, one whose choice we celebrate, the other we regret (fyi, Rebecca chose that one, I inherited it).