By Asfara Ahmed
There are two things I love, cats and nature. More importantly, I love cats enjoying nature. Watching a cat climb a tree is one of the most beautiful things a person can ever observe, which is why I have such a difficult time understanding why some “cat owners” or “human companions” as I like to refer to them, insist on having strictly indoor cats.
I spent my childhood enjoying long carefree afternoons roaming around outdoors, three or four cats in tow, climbing trees, stealing fish (them, not me) and chasing butterflies (mostly me, sometimes them). It was glorious. My cats were real cats. They were cats of the soil, the type you could respect, the type who could survive out there in the wilderness and who looked down on you for your lack of survival skills. They killed birds and mice and offered you first go out of the sheer kindness of their hearts, or maybe pity, I’m not really sure. However, that’s how I knew they loved me, because they stayed with me in spite of the fact that they didn’t really need me. Now that is true love.
The above photo is by Michael (Admin) of Charlie, his three legged cat, to illustrate the article.
Cats love being out in nature and unless you live in a really cold country, no cat should be made to forgo the experience of exploring the beautiful world we live in. That is just inhumane. Cats are natural hunters and there is an elegance to their technique and sheer focus that is unmatched by even the most artistic of human endeavors. Sure, a few species may go extinct now and then but that’s how Mother Nature intended it to be.
Cats are like children, you don’t want them sitting inside the entire day, not getting any fresh air and becoming obese. Take them outside once in a while. You may just have the time of your life. I know that those wonderful afternoons spent roaming around outside with my cats are some of my happiest and most cherished memories. So, go out, venture forth. Let’s help our cats live their nine lives to the fullest.
Lots of cat trees and indoor perches, that’s the way to go Elisa and yes you made the right decision in your case, rescuing cats only to have them killed by the cruel scum of the earth around you would be counter productive.
I hope you find somewhere soon Marc, the right place will come along, it did for us.
Shohom67 I like you a lot!
‘The birds,screw the birds’
lol I love that!
I’m so sick of people blaming cats for the decimation of birds, they need to look to themselves!
I love all birds too but Nature knows best and the birds cats catch are old or weak or ill, it’s called survival of the fittest.
It’s a pity humans haven’t a natural predator to weed out not the old or weak or ill but the selfish and the cruel, but life is unfair as it often takes good people and leaves bad ones to undo the good that the good people do.
It doesn’t feel so fantastic. I decided yesterday to take a 3 day holiday around this weekend so I am home for a total of 5 days – I want to spend as much time as possible with the cats and see if I can get GIgi feeling a bit better. It breaks my heart to see her looking confused.
America is full of a**h*l*s – I really feel sorry for you living near a trigger happy cat hater.
I live near a heavy traffic road and lost one cat so I have locked the other 3 in for now. I tried and it didn’t work. Now I have to move.