If humans have souls so do cats. If souls truly exist they cannot be a human invention. If the soul is a human invention it has no substance. In which case let humans retain the concept for themselves.
“Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!” – Theophile Gautier – cat quotes.
There is no reason on earth why humans should have a soul but cats and other animals, shouldn’t. If humans are more intelligent that animals, which is questionable, we have to ask if the possession of a soul is dependent on a certain level of intelligence? If you say it is, I have to ask, why and how that can that be the case? There is no logical connection between a soul and intelligence. We are all living creatures. Homo Sapiens is an animal that happens to be, what we call, human.
If the idea of a soul is a human invention then it can only have been invented to assuage the human’s fear of death. Souls live on beyond death. Almost everyone fears death but it is a young person’s fear. Young people fear death, very old people who are at the end of their life welcome the release.
As far as I am aware, animals do not think about life after death. I believe they have no fear of death, which is why they have no concept of the soul. That does not mean a soul does not exist for animals.
The Free Dictionary defines the soul with reference to humans on every occasion:
The spiritual nature of humans, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state (one example).
This is a respected dictionary. On this basis of this modern definition we have to conclude that the soul is created by humans for humans to make life more bearable.
Hippocrates (460 BC – c. 370 BC) an ancient Greek doctor said:
“The soul is the same in all living creatures although the body of each is different.”
Many, today would disagree. I agree with him, of course.
Each person has their own idea of what a soul is and means. I believe it is a human concept and is not a truth that exists outside of human society. That is a very personal thought.
I do believe that animals live beyond death in the memory of living creatures, animal and human. Perhaps that is my version of the soul.
A white cat entered my life when I was buried alive in sorrow. I bottle fed him and helped him grow, while he fed me with love and helped me recapture joy. We were together for 9 years. In the last 3 years tumor in the throat tortured him and no vet could help him. Yesterday, he looked at me with puzzlement when a vet gave him the final shot which was hurtful. I’d like to die with him but I still have other obligations. Some very cruel religious people told me that cats do not have souls and I will never see him again. I will never again go near any church.
Thanks Ruth for your interesting comment. I am pleased that you agree with me. I am so pleased too that you had nine good years together. The church goers are stupid and blinded by their faith. They are wrong.