People who love cats are automatically very concerned about the welfare of cats. One follows the other as night follows day. However, it could be argued that cat lovers can expose themselves to the criticism that they lack a sense of humor and are overly serious in their passion for cat welfare and their hatred of any form of cat abuse. Seriousness can lead to dogma and a entrenchment of opinion; both negatives when fighting for a cause.
Cat welfare is a very serious business and therefore there is a need to take a serious attitude towards it but, that said, a person should be able to enjoy the amusing antics of cats sometimes even if, as is the case in the video below, cat abuse is very near the surface. In fact, I know a lot of people who will say that the video below is a form of cat abuse but at the same time it is amusing which begs the question about where the dividing line is between amusement at the expense of the domestic cat and actual abuse. It can be a fine line which is hard to place.
The two cats in the video are Simon and Wash. Simon refused to walk on his leash (obviously!). In fact, his behavior and body language strongly indicates that he objects to the idea of being walked on a leash. It is almost a conscious act of objection and good for him. Morgan James is the caretaker of his two cats and this is what it says below the video on YouTube:
Morgan James: “We took the kitties to the local park for some outside adventure, only for Simon to completely refuse to walk at all while wearing the leash. He demanded he be carried. He doesn’t care if Wash gets in his way. The pet will become the master.
These are my two cats, Simon and Wash. I have seen some people upset by the video and I wish they didn’t feel that way. Both of my cats are wearing a harness specifically made for cats. The leash attaches at their shoulder blades and is designed so that there is no pressure exerted on the neck…..The grass is healthy and is a low-friction surface, in my opinion.
I do no think either of them were in any distress and I apologize to those of you who are upset by this video, but I love both of my cats very much….I will try to upload more videos soon….I want to buy my cats things with cat money!”
An example of 3 comments are set out below:
Animal abuse! He is being strangled to the point where he can’t even walk!!! Delete this video!
Morgan James: I’m just going to say that I love my cats very much and assume this is sarcasm. :3
It is Morgan. He’s making fun of all the stupid people who leap onto every channel screaming “ANIMAL ABUSE!” for no reason.
The reason why I reproduce these comments on this page is because they do indicate that some people perceive cat advocates and animal advocates as being somewhat crazy and too ready to criticize people of cat abuse. I don’t agree that cat and animal lovers are too eager to criticize others about animal abuse but there are many people who see animal rights advocates in that light.
I myself have been criticized for supporting the cat in comments made under you Tube videos. In fact, I have been vociferously criticized and unjustly criticized in my view. However, I would prefer that there was less of a polarized group of people on the one side, who are highly concerned with cat welfare, and on other side people who prefer to regard the cat as an entertainer.
It could be argued that if cat lovers are too serious they undermine the arguments that they wish to make in support of cat welfare. Cat lovers need to engage with the other side, the “enemy”, who are people who simply don’t understand cat behavior and are less in touch with animal welfare. To engage with the “enemy” is to have a dialogue with them rather than a slanging match.
One way to assist in that processes is to have some fun or see the funny side of cat videos like the one on this page.
Do you see the video as a bit of harmless fun or as a form of cat abuse or mild cat abuse? I must admit that I smiled and laughed a little bit at the conscious objection of Simon, which I found impressive. The abuse bit is that he was dragged along the grass but as Morgan James states no harm was done to Simon. A question: perhaps Simon even liked it a bit. That seems possible.
Personally, I would have stopped pulling him after a much shorter distance because to pull him over the distance shown in the video indicates what Morgan James admits namely that he wants to make a video which earns some money through advertising.
This was, therefore, a mild case of cat exploitation and cat abuse as well as fun and all cat lovers should allow themselves the pleasure of a laugh at cat antics sometimes or am I being too flippant?
Please search using the search box at the top of the site. You are bound to find what you are looking for.
Looking at the comments under the video on YouTube, I’m glad to see quite a few comments from true cat lovers that dragging Simon was not funny!
I just have to speak out about this… First off… Do you people have such horrible and miserable lives that you troll the internet looking for things to gripe and complain about?!?! Second, I have know Morgan for over 13 years and I have NEVER seen him love anything or anyone the way he loves his cats. If you people are to ignorant to see the obvious body harness on both Simon and Wash you aren’t being too observant. If Simon was being hurt it would be a lot more clear to the eye… No he didn’t exact “enjoy” his walk, but he was not being hurt in anyway. So people… Please. Get a life, see the humor in things and leave my pal and his cats alone. Thank you and goodbye.
I don’t think you have read the article properly. You’ll notice that I find the video amusing. The article is not about the video it is about peoples’ attitude towards the video – something quite different.
Some people like to troll but they are rare. Some people will find the video a form of cat abuse but not done deliberately. People who might find it a form of cat abuse don’t have to have miserable lives to make that decision. Everyone has their own viewpoint. I would hope you’d accept that and not insult people because their viewpoint is different to yours or to Morgan’s.
I have quoted Morgan to make clear that he loves his cats and I can tell that does. I believe I have been meticulously fair and as objective as possible.
The caption ‘Simon refuses to act like a dog’
yes well that could be because he is NOT a dog. If those people want animals to walk happily in public parks then they have the wrong pets.
The only thing more difficult than pulling a cat on a leash…
…is pushing a cat on a leash!
Video was mildly amusing at first, but kitty obviously did NOT enjoy, hence further pulling around was unwarranted.
True, intentional “abuse”? Naw, just a bit of misguided reverie, at kitty Simon’s expense. At least they love their kitties enough to take them to the park!
As every kat keeper knows, angry kitty will eventually dole out the comeuppance.
(I’d like to see the video when this same fellow discovers the warm little “treat” kitty Simon leaves in his slipper, or when he awakens to the cat’s butt up snuggled up against his nose!)
My experience is that when a kitty perceives a “violation of trust”, the damage and ill will can take months to overcome.
If Simon hops onto this fellow’s lap still, there was no real foul, no lasting damage (per the (un)written rules made by all cats).
(“purr” the rules?)
***************************
Oh, hey… as long as everyone is here, and you might have avoided my last post, kindly forgive my weird sense of humor sometimes. No, I was not attempting to spam or sell furniture!
Dear Ahsan had mentioned he trained in carpentry in Denmark, and that was all the encouragement I needed to post photos of Danish Modern furrniture.
(Okay, now that was too obscure, I admit)
We appreciate off-beat humor or at least I do. I love it. I just didn’t get it because I write comments from the Admin section of the site rather than from the page itself which means I don’t see the thread.
I agree with what you say:
Thanks for clarifying, Bruce.
Had no idea about the furniture, but I liked some of it.
How did POC become so low as to allow such nasty attacks on people who were invited to give their opinion and did so? What gives “Jayme” the right to attack anyone who rightly objects to the exploitation, and “mild” abuse of cats? Why couldn’t she have stated her views and left it at that without attacking in the most unpleasant way people who care deeply about cats and their welfare, is that the way she argues – by attack? The abuse directed at Kattaddorra is unforgiveable, gutter language and then she sees another imagined slight in what Dee says about charity work and squares up for another fight. This is uncomfortable reading and would make me ashamed to be involved if someone happened across it while googling this stupid video. Yes it got a lot of hits, yes the cat could have been injured or poisoned, no it couldn’t have stood up because then it would have been pulled off it’s feet again, yes it endured the ordeal, cats are famous for enduring, we all know that. But here’s a thought, why the hell should Simon have HAD to endure? Can any one of you imagine dragging your own cat along when it’s obvious he doesn’t want to be there, and again, would you allow this to be done to a child?
Babz, I am just treating this as a blip, no more. Let’s let it pass and be forgotten. Sometimes this happens. Best forgotten I think to be honest.
PoC has not sunk low. Discussions on this sort of subject can lead to heated debate.
A heated debate is one thing, an attack in capital letters, calling someone an old bitch and ranting all sorts of insults is horrible and not so easily forgotten by the person attacked, if it had been Woody those comments would have rightly been deleted. I like a debate as much as the next person but this was a step too far and I am not going to let Ruth be attacked like that without having my say on the matter, I would do it in real life and I will do it online too. I hope this article does soon pass into oblivion, it certainly does POC no credit.
I agree Babz it was not good. I just hope we can put it behind us. It is not quite the same as Woody though.
Thank you Barbara.
It is NOT a blip Michael! God knows cats are maligned enough by many and if any of those of us who love them can laugh at a cat’s discomfort then what hope have we of gaining respect for cats from other people!
They are already treated as second class citizens in the USA, videos like this are bad news for cats, cat haters love them! What will Simon’s owner do next to give people cheap thrills? Oh yes those video makers need to go one better when they get laughs, so how far will the cat abuse go next to provide those laughs! I can also give my opinion WITHOUT attacking another person!
I truly love cats and will defend and protect them with my dying breath!
But not deirect attack a person , Michael. You have to make rules.
I even don’t like the cruel comments made by me, anyone or you against the cruelty. Some times I feel that love of cats has made us, ourself as CRUEL.
We seriously have to discuss on this issue, Make a strict rule, sharing a comment is okay but abusing words to any one or so, BANNED 🙁 This is if had a knowledge to run a website. RUTH and everyone whether OLD or YOUNG is our guests, partners or HoSts of the site(if many years have passed with them as a member).
PHUUHAA am not happy with the LANGUAGE used yesterday by a cat lover who lost his precious property (cats) in accident. Waaaooo we are upto a new millennium, perhaps.
Just respect everyone, We are not hosts from a TV show, in which the dialogues are paid, and already decided, and nobody MINDS. Because every thing is acting, and understood 🙁
I agree Ahsan, there has to be mutual respect. I co-run two groups on face book and help admin others and anyone who insults an admin or any other member is immediately banned and blocked.
There is never a need for shouting or for disgusting insulting language.
TRUE <3
How fucking bored are you faggots to write an entire social article on some dudes cat video? Jesus Christ, this is why no one takes English majors seriously. Can’t find work, huh?
Lighten up, fuck face.
Also, congratulations on giving this guy free views and more publicity by adding a DIRECT LINK to the video.
Thanks LOL. The quality of your comment is typical of the sort of person you are. Cr*p. The article is not about the video per se but about the attitude of cat lovers to cat abuse and what constitutes cat abuse in videos and still photos. In your haste to insult people, I guess you missed that point.
I like to support other people’s webpages and videos where possible, Why not?
English Major?
I had an English Major and a French Minor in college…
…but they found them both in my dormitory room and kicked me out of school.
🙂 – I like that. As it happens I am not an English Major. I presume that means a degree in English in the USA. I have a law degree.
Yes Woody come along and join the free for all and enjoy seeing a cat being laughed at and those who love and defend their rights insulted, why not, you are in some good company on this article.
Well Im not sure how to Answer. I guess sometimes I can be a little bit too Serious as I am Quite Sensitive to anything towards My Animals or Most Things. We are not all Experts we are just caring people who Love our Cats. Myself Im not an Experts,I just Care about my Animals and safety of Others. I’m sure we arent all Perfect as we are Human Beings. I dont want to be judged as we all do our Best in the Protection of all Cats. We just say things and do things differently. Love your beautiful Cats they are Geogerous.
Good point Kylee. We are sensitive to things that hurt or may hurt animals which upsets us. When upset or angry it is hard to be anything other than serious.
Agree Michael. I guess we are all Different type of People with Different Values and We dont all have the same Goals.
Barbara and Ahsan are two true cat lovers and see the abuse in that video, as I do!
Now, those who think it’s acceptable to drag a cat along in a public park, think about that grass, how many feet have walked on it? Feet in shoes that may have trampled in dog muck, dog pee, human saliva, chewing gum, kids spat out sweets….think how a fastidious cat feels being dragged over any of that! Not a short way, no, laughing and enjoying the cat’s plight and prolonging it for the thrill of fools. Simon is not happy, he is showing that quite clearly, he has the sense to know that if he stands up to fight it he could be hurt by being tangled in that leash!
Well laugh at that if you feel you must, defend someone who thinks it’s funny, but having spent my adult lifetime living, working and volunteering with cats I will never ever laugh at a cat’s discomfort, this video is abuse to me!
Poor Simon I don’t agree with what was done to him but I don’t think he was hurt or traumatised bless him. Jayme I was interested to read your views yet you think we all go over board and over react with our negative comments about animal abuse even if its borderline yet aren’t you doing the same when referring to Ruths comments? You were negative and you went overboard. Its not a criticism just an observation. What I did disagree with though is you calling Ruth, Barbara and others rif raf. Very unfair and uncalled for. They dedicate their lives to animal welfare and have witnessed the worst kinds of cruelty they are very sensitive after what they have seen to even mild animal abuse and rightly so!
Yes, that may be so, for partly which i am sorrowful, but not with the ideas. I don’t care how much a person has done in the care of animals, not everyone who acts upon a wacky thought or idea involving an animal is acting in hate and abuse. First responder doesn’t always mean the most skilled or superlative over anyone else. If every little action was analyzed and over analyzed to the point of exhaustion, the whole planet would be guilty of something and Disney and every other corporation throughout history would be blasphemed for their involvement with animals in the movies down through the decades. All the movies we laugh at today we could question. Were they truly “happy” forced to perform for a days salary in someone’s pocket? We could set and argue the point until the cows come home, to which no one will agree. Let’s remember that however next time we set down to watch a fun movie at an animals expense. Gain and profit.
Point taken. Do I take that to mean then, that you have apologised to Ruth for your vicious comments?
Well, eh, SMH a little bit. Kick up a little dust– turn my eyes away and say, shucks… Well, uh, you might say that. Yes, you could say it. I’m still trying to feel my way around here….I still feel this feeling you must belong to a special group or organization or shelter to be a part here. Don’t ask why, its just something i feel. Perhaps that’s why i feel out of sorts. If that is so, i guess i don’t really belong. But again, i guess that is what i am doing. What you asked. So yeah. I guess i have. Free your mind and you can also free your spirit. Thanks for pulling stuff out of me.
No problem. Thanks for the roundabout apology I would just like you to know that not all of us are part of something we just do what we can in whatever way we can to fight animal abuse. I hope Ruth doesn’t mind me saying that she and Barbara work using a lot of their spare time to fight animal abuse especially de-clawing. They are caring people and they do what they feel is right. They care not only for animals but for people as well and raise money for both.
Thats all, thank you I hope we can move on because we all care about animals and that’s why we are here on Michaels wonderful site that gives us a platform to discuss what we all have in common; cats and cat welfare.
Well it did it to your reply as well. I did not get your reply as i normally do in my email letting me know that there is a reply. Well, i got it anyway. You are right. Well, its no longer roundabout way. I came clean with it. haha. Well, you could say i was kinda cornered. haha. Not really. But i mean she did respond to something i wrote and so i just did it then. Made it a clean slate i hope. This site has helped me a lot. I looked around but i found i like this one most. I love how there are people from different parts of the world involved in (cat) animal welfare. So yeah. I hope this disappears soon. Peace.
Every cat owner should know the body language of a cat. Now I have played the video several times. I have only focused on the black cat and the other play videos sessions, I have focused on the brown one.
Proof of disliking in cat.
The cat body language can proof us the liking or disliking of the cat.
1. Body is not relaxed.
2. the body alongwith paws are shrink within the body.
3. Eyes are in stress
4. The tail is touched with body, not loose.
When the black come and role over the brown, The reaction of Brown is ALERT/ Stressed
1. The posture of cat (brown becomes ALERTED.
2. The Brown is in fear and obey the owner in running style to avoid going through the same experience as the fellow cat.
3. his/her eyes are in stress and look here and there whether to decide what to do or just follow the yellow big road (Oh Dorothy, There is no place like home)
And I think the wizard of OZ is enjoying 🙁
My assessment is that Simon is not stressed but more pissed off and resigned to it. I don’t think he is being traumatised. If he was genuinely stressed and upset he’d struggle and stand up and/or wriggle. He’d probably vocalise too.
That said I am not condoning what has happened. I am just discussing it.
Yup You may be quite right Michael and let me learn from you but I will never experiment it ever, because my vision let me serve cats and help them for their natural being.
I have a millions of miles to research about cat behaviors and I love what Ruth sister is saying and I will say YES to her 🙂 God bless you <3
Thank you Ahsan, some of us know in our hearts how cats feel, our empathy is great, what hurts them hurts us, right?
I am with you Ruth, with the same mission, you have, that’s all what I have.
1. Love cats.
2. Respect every one.
3. Never be personal.
4. Always learn from my senior’s experiences.
5. The basic aspect in all priority is “WELFARE” not joke or fun.
The answer of the article is:
YES, CATS LOVERS ARE REALLY DAMN SERIOUS PEOPLE and are not JOKERS or ABUSERS, neither to the cats nor to the persons. 🙁
Yes Ahsan, you are so right, true cat lovers are serious people because cat abuse is a serious subject x
I can see the photo now
but not the video
But according to the photo the guy/girl is pulling from the neck leash. The neck means a sensitive breathing tube place. I am not in favor in any kind of leash and if necessary it should always be in front feet and at the back bone end from down the stomach of a cat.
1. get a sock(not a tight one)
2. wear it to cat so that front feet are through the sock. it is better to make a belt in that shape.
3. leash should be started from the middle front of the backbone, and it should be at least 15 feet long stretchable to let the pet roam freely in open ground.
4. Never scratch the body of a cat or dog in this way, just get it in your arms when needed to put it in the car.
Its the same feeling for me as to hang any person. because the cat’s neck, or human’s neck are the sensitive parts of body 🙁
sick of people doing like that and specially cat owners. Please don’t do that 🙁
Yes I’m sick of it too Ahsan.
He says …’The leash attaches at their shoulder blades and is designed so that there is no pressure exerted on the neck’
How would he like to be dragged by a being much bigger than himself while that huge being laughed at his discomfort!
How very stupid to take cats to a public park to begin with and to keep on dragging Simon even though he obviously didn’t want to be there!
This has really upset me, what else does that man do with his cats for laughs!
It’s not funny and I’m not being negative saying so and anyone who thinks it is acceptable does not love and respect cats the way we do.
I will never ever dare it to any cat
You haven’t got the grass to do it on 😉
HAHAHAHA I think I got a lots of grass in nearby park Michael <3 <3 <3 Shall I try with LAILA? would you allow me? But where should I get a big heart to do this???? never <3
Just having a joke. My image of Pakistan is of a hot, dry country with little grass 😉
But Islamabad is green ever green.
much clean than other cities
There are areas where people are settled from village and they do not have manners to live in big cities, they make much dirt and pollution in air, as I told in my replies before that they love to have goats, sheep, cows but hate dogs and cats.
One of my neighbor woman said that cats poop every where. I asked her about her three goats but she became angry. She said that cats are dirty animals and goats are clean and neat. It smell hell from their house. And specially now a days, Smell of shit of goats, cows, sheep and camels all around. The roads are full fledged dirty. And hard to breath. People have no sense to keep these animal whether it is a religious occasion, in a manner or to clean them. I don’t know but the ZOO of Islamabad smells hell and allergic, too. I will visit there in winter and share with you one day. Last time Mr. Crocodile was not there in the bars. Perhaps the single chroc died last year.
Phuuuhaaa, I don’t know when things are gona be changed here but let me do my job Michael and inform you all about my fellows. 🙁 I have taken the medicine now and now I am gona sleep, see you tomorrow everyone, good night <3 <3 <3
Good night Ahsan. Thanks for your interesting comments. I am pleased to hear that Islamabad is green 😉 I think I have driven through it in 1971 but have forgotten whether I did or not.
I am a bit confused about something if you could steer me right. How do you make a new topic? I scanned the top options and it doesn’t seem to answer the question. That would be nice to know for future reference. Thank you.
Jayme, I used to have a form for people to complete with new articles but it didn’t work well enough. You can do it in two ways:
I always welcome the articles of regular contributors and visitors.
My assessment is that the leash is not pulling on the neck but the shoulders (a short of harness – you can see the same harness on the ginger cat). If it was only attached to the neck it would obviously be wrong but it would show. The neck would extend. The cat does not seem distressed to me but a bit pissed off perhaps.
Thanks for that reply about submitting articles. But you know what is odd? Not always, but some of the time, when you answer, it doesn’t let me know that you did so. I often come back to the article and there i see you replied without knowing you did. I got it anyway, so thanks for that info. =)
As someone pointed out, I would probably be a bit concerned what was on the ground that I was unaware of. No matter your intentions however, people will always find negativity. Everything will teeter on the boarder of searching for and pointing out the “bad” in everything. Critical people can be real downers, just like energy vampires. No matter what you say, they always find some way to derail the mood! Yes, had Simon been tied to the back of a truck and dragged for 2 miles, then yes, it would of been one horrific mess. Was Simon dragged so violently that he was stirring up the dust? Was Simon wailing and thrashing about as if he was going into convulsions? No. Cats, like any other animal and any other person for that matter, know the fight or flight syndrome. Any cat, other animal or person if they are having some dreadful, discomforting thing done to them knows what feels right and what feels uncomfortable, and are going to take measures to resist and fight in some form. No one or animal just lays there and takes it!
I find negativity where it is and that video screamed cat abuse to me, I am ALWAYS on the side of the cat, putting myself in Simon’s place I was livid at that man dragging him and laughing!
Too many idiots are making videos of cat abuse for the entertainment of the fools who watch them and laugh!
Show me a nice video where the cat is happy and no one is laughing at him and I will find no negativity in that.
Ok, then in your opinion what will a cat do if he is in danger or feels discomfort and is just not happy? What will that look like? Curious….
Jayme work it out for yourself if you are supposed to be a cat lover! Simon was enduring it, trying to force a cat to do what he obviously doesn’t want to do, is ABUSE. Does he look happy? No, he looks resigned!
We know cats hate being laughed at.
Now I’m going off to enjoy some time with our 2 much loved cats who I would never ever exploit even for a million £.
I don’t understand any of you… i am done with this site for good….. all you goody too shoes are making me ill.. and its only a handful of you here anyway…..every damn one of you are just too blasted opinionated about everything and you think its your way or the highway! SO SICK OF DOGMATIC AND POMPOUS ARROGANCE !! There is room for other views other than your own and that doesn’t make it right either! so WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SIMON WAS NOT BEING ABUSED!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEACE TO YOU MISS CAT EXPERT AND THE REST!!!!!!!!
Much more than a handful read the articles on PoC, many don’t comment but they read everything! It is a web site for people who love and respect cats, so if you think it’s not abuse to drag a cat like that then you are surely in the wrong place!
Our way is the right way, defenders of ALL cats!
GO TO HELL OLD BITCH!!! YOU DON’T KNOW SHIT.. A CAT PROTEST ABOUT ANYTHING THEY DON’T LIKE. THEY DON’T JUST SIT THERE AND RESIGN AS YOU SAY YOU NO GOOD KNOW IT ALL!!! CATS ARE INDEPENDENT SPIRITS THAT DO AS THEY WISH AND DO AS THEY PLEASE!!!! THEY DON’T TAKE ANYTHING LYING DOWN!!! SO SMOKE THAT IN YOUR KNOW IT ALL SMOKE STACK OF KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jayme, please chill out. I don’t want you to be annoyed and I’d like you to stick around. We are all concerned with cat welfare and good cat caretaking. We all understand cats but have slightly different ideas about things. We should let people express their ideas without fear or favor even if they are different.
Jayme, stick around please. I respect all views including yours even when they might differ from mine. For what it is worth I understand your point of view and this video for me is not that bad. As I said it made me laugh although it is borderline for me. The reason for the page is to start a discussion – success I guess 😉
I accept the opinion of Ruth and others. That is fine. We are all concerned with cat welfare and have slightly different ideas about things which is normal.
no i would rather not Michael!! I’m sick of know it alls! People that think they have some high and mighty degree in animal welfare or whatever! Sick of all the riff raff thinking they know it all and how a cat feels inside down to its very core of thinking!!! I’ve lived around cats enough to know that no damn cat is going to take it lying down!! They get up with their dukes a swinging and try and get away from anything threatening and unpleasant!!! What cat or person wouldn’t!??!?! I’m just sick of the outlandish arrogance !! I put up enough with that in my real life, i don’t need it here as well!!!
How can that happen Michael? Do tell. When everything and i mean everything that is ever presented its with abuse in mind. Never and i mean never does anyone support anything that looks or sounds a little out of the ordinary. Either its wrong or its bad. There are no shades other than black. Either its bad and wrong or its nothing at all. Period! I rarely see any supportive comments. I think today when i read your comment about how you smiled when you watched Simon’s ambivalence on the video, is the first time i ever, and i mean ever read anything that even came close to positive! Everything else is written with this high expertise as though every cat presented is being bashed, neglected and or abused or something bad is implied. I have never seen the likes of it Michael!! I just don’t get it!
The title to my article on this page makes a valid point judging by the comments.
I believe there are shades of cat abuse and exploitation. It seems there is a middle ground where what I call “mild cat abuse” takes place. For example, some say that Grumpy Cat is enjoying himself as a cat celebrity and all is fine. I say Grumpy Cat is exploited for commercial gain. People have different opinions and all we can do is present our opinion and leave it there.
Jayme, this site is for voicing opinions.
None are more right than any others.
We’re all here because we care about cats and their welfare.
I like a lot of your comments even though they conflict with some of mine sometimes.
We don’t have to see eye to eye. We can agree to disagree. We haggle, argue, and can get down and dirty here when it’s called for.
But, we don’t name call.
It’s all about cats.
God knows, I’m not always on mark. I need people like you to kick me sometimes.
Spot on Dee. It is about expressing our views without being criticised for them because we all have similar ideas. None of us are nasty cat haters or trolls making stupid comments.
I deliberately chose this video as one that is somewhere between cat abuse and entertainment with probably more abuse than entertainment. It is a discussion topic.
Understand the point you’re making Jayme.
Simon wasn’t harmed. He may have even enjoyed the “ride”. But, I would have been devastated if I had drug a cat through some broken glass that was deep in the grass.
My motto is always to err on the side of caution. I would have chosen not to have given him a “ride” even if I thought he would enjoy it.
Cats are natural performers, and there are plenty of laughs to be had.
Yes, the big issue with this is that the video maker continued to pull the leash for more than 12 inches or whatever but without dragging along it would not have been a video that got a lot of views.
A lot of views and that’s what counts to some people and that makes me M A D
I’m glad Walter wasn’t sitting on my desk when I watched it!
Cats deserve RESPECT and kindness, NOT to be used for cheap laughs.
That is a really nice photo Ruth. Tidy desk too 😉 You’re organised.
Understand.
Exploitation is exploitation.
A one cat circus for viewer enjoyment.
For viewer enjoyment, but not for true cat lovers enjoyment, I can’t see anything positive at all about it! Simon wasn’t enjoying it he was enduring it.
That is the point I was trying to make. It is the bottle half full, half empty analogy. Most things are not black and white. I have a feeling that Simon sort of accepts it and almost enjoys it a bit like the cat curling play:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/cat-curling-good-or-bad.html
What is downright sad, is that i have seen videos where the cat loves sitting atop a vacuum cleaner while it is in motion and i declare if people didn’t have something negative to say about that as well! I guess the only thing one should do with a cat is sit on a sofa and watch TV. Or enjoy its still stance as it poses by your side sitting on the computer desk. Then hope the desk doesn’t tumble.
If I saw a cat that hopped aboard a vacuum voluntarily for the ride, I would be amused and intrigued, because I can’t see any cat of mine doing that. Some of mine even think that machine is their mortal enemy. LOL!
But, as I said before, there are plenty of cat antics for enjoyment without creating them or forcing a cat to participate.
I live with a clown named Damon, but I don’t feel the need to put him on Youtube for “hits”.
Just to name a few from an article I wrote
https://pictures-of-cats.org/damon-an-indoor-cat.html
-every curtain rod is bent from “walking tightrope”
-window blinds have crashed to the floor
-racing room to room clears every surface
-anything hanging down is for peeing on, including
clothing tossed over a chair
-kitchen rugs are “slip and slides”
-pocketbooks are for hide and seek and treasure hunts
-cabinets are for exploring
-potted plants are for digging
My Damon is, probably, a perfect example if a completely indoor cat.
Yea, same here. The use of my vacuum cleaner is the only time i get Tyler’s attention. ha. He runs from room to room while i vacuum. I try and get it done quickly. He is petrified of the landscapers as well. Weed eaters and mowers! Forget it!
I used to vacuum only when Charlie was outside in the garden. For a concerned cat caretaker/guardian, a lot of the things we do are centred around our cat and how it affects him. We do it instinctively without realising it sometimes.
That would be an ideal situation. I live in an apartment and Tyler only got out one time and that was because he had ripped the screen and walked out. I haven’t opened a window since. I never figured out any tricks that would work where i could get some breeze and also let him look out. That’s why i work room to room. Closing off the bedroom so i can do the living room and then vise versa. It works. Are you isolate where you are? Sounds cozy with a garden.
I live in an apartment with very quiet and beautiful gardens. It’s on the ground floor and far from the road (about 500 yards). It is about as safe as it can be for an inside/outside cat in London. I bought the apartment for him basically. However, I used to supervise Charlie and he always stayed close to the apartment because there was no need to go further afield.
That sounds very quaint! You are fortunate to have your spread of the land and outdoors. Here where i exist, is nothing but noise, cars, pollution, screaming kids, horns blowing, traffic, drug sales and sometimes gun shots. I live on a first floor and my level of safety is zero to none. Of course i live close to the city so that doesn’t help any. It’s all i can afford at the moment.
Here is a picture:
It can be tough to find a good home for cat and person. I have a bit of a dream: to have a detached house with a large south facing enclosed garden for two cats, brother and sister. The garden is completely secure, can’t get out and animals can’t get in. I think that is a good ideal. I’ll be doing it within the next 12 months hopefully.
The land looks so lush and vibrant. I can see why you would love it. I see why Charlie would love it. That was Charlie on the grass correct? What a fortunate cat he was. I know this is off base, but i would love to reside in a tree house. I don’t know what kind of landscape London has, but could you not see a big beautiful tree house close by? Tyler would not have to climb cause he would already be up in the tree. Lots of windows where he could see the birds up close. ahhhh. nice thought to start off the day.
You are so correct with your statement about finding places for a person and an animal. It seems to be the biggest restriction now a days when looking for a place to reside. Nearly everywhere you go its NO PETS ALLOWED! What is the pisser here is that nearly every animal shelter and rescue are begging for people to adopt. How can you when so many places deny pets on the property? One thing i fear very soon is that it might be happening here. Recently there has been a big thing happen where i live. Management handed out letters to anyone on the property that has an animal to come to the rental office and sign a paper and they will mail this form to your doctor. They already knew years back when i had Chad that i needed an animal. He was my stronghold. I looked forward to seeing him when i arrived home. They received something then. But now its different. If it can’t be proven that the animal is a service animal, those who have pets will be forced to remove them from the premises.. The tenseness will not subside. I ache inside until this is resolved.
We just don’t have that sort of thing in the UK. Nearly always cats and dogs are allowed in owned apartments. They will be a rule about noise so dogs have to be reasonably quiet and perhaps there may be a rule about dog size but cats are always allowed. Renting apartments and houses is different. Like the USA landlords often forbid pets.
Well if you don’t mind, i will let you know the outcome of all this mangled mess concerning the cat situation i might be facing soon. I plan on scheduling an appointment with my doctor to discuss all the imperative details as to why i need him to include favorable information into his report. Otherwise, i shall be forced to get rid of my boy. Should that happen, i will not comment on at this time. Wish me some kind of good fortune. I’m going to need it.
Yes, please write an article on it. It is of interest to others.
The point of the article is to discuss the very things you refer to. Thanks for raising this point. How far do we go? I believe we should be passionate about cat welfare while sometimes have some fun and enjoy the cat’s ability to entertain us but at the same not exploit the cat.
Jayme, I enjoy your comments even when conflicting with my views.
I could use a good shake up now and then.
Jayme, I don’t recall seeing pictures of your precious cats.
Can you direct me to the posts please?
I can only find Chad and Joey (so sorry).
I can’t find your current cats or what your charitable efforts are today anywhere.
I have to figure out how to download it again. I have a whole coffee table album i made of Chad after he died from cancer. Many i left on the computer. Joey, in his short life with me had a few pictures and i am in the process of bringing Tyler up to par. He was the difficult one. I have had to work with him alot and after close to 2 years, he is making small strides. He is doing things i never thought he would. So, patience has paid off. Maybe i could put Tyler on here on this post. Lately, i had been walking to the local PetSmart to help clean out the cages so when potential buyers walked in they could see clean cages. Not saying it was from PetSmart with those cats, but Tyler caught an awful bout of fleas. It was so bad, i had to take him in for treatment. I put frontline on him, but she said i had to treat the environment now. So i bought a 25 dollar can of spray and treated the rooms. Things are alot better and his hair is coming back in thick. I stopped going to petSmart because i am not sure if i caught them from the cats or not? No one can give a clear answer. I hated stopping because i met some beautiful kittens/cats along the way.
Nope, that didn’t work, let me try again.
Tyler
I love his appearance: exotic Turkish Van looks, statuesque with a nice shaggy mane and plumed tail. He seems to have dilute ginger Van type pattern.
tyler2
Egypt and exotic are the words that come to my mind when I see this picture.
I honestly do not know his specific breed. I never owned a long hair before and the moment i saw him in the shelter it was love at first sight for me to him. It has taken awhile for him to open up and going on almost 2 years he is still kind of skiddish. I have worked slowly with him and his character is changing slowly. I get discouraged sometime. I might of changed my mind had the shelter i went to, had a room where you could take the cat to see how he interacts with you. They didn’t. To this day they said i can return him if he is not working out. I refuse to give up. I still try. He is like family to me. He is all i have around me in this area. So, i work and work and hope for change. Thanks for the comment. I have had a bad bad night. I feel bad with things that went on yesterday. Perhaps i should not of logged on the computer at all. Just personal stuff that i allowed to send me into a spiral. This is a good group with others who have a feline bond. Thought maybe i could learn something. Who knows. I still feel a sense of not belonging here. I just have to try harder in making something a success. I really sabotaged the day. Ugh! Thanks.
tyler3 this was tyler relaxing up on a shelf. He was leaning next to a vintage piggy bank that my grandmother gave me when i was 13 years old. He knocked it down soon after this pic and it broke in 20 pieces. Ugh!
tyler just being a ham for the camera.
Oh, wait a blasted moment here! You are not trying to pull one of those Leah on things with me are you with asking me what i do for animals while others here have involved themselves in animal welfare and have witnessed the worse blah blah are you? To which i would sense a conspiracy. So are you saying that the only people that come here are those that dedicate themselves somehow to organizations and or other animal domains, and those that have no affiliation should shut their flaps? Just curious….
Heavens, no, Jayme.
Anyone here will tell you that I don’t have hidden agendas. And, I’m not a conspirator. I’m a straight shooter.
Tyler is gorgeous and that you have and are working with him is enough in itself.
I frequent our Petsmart here but have never gotten fleas or such from the cat area. They’ve been treated.
But, I’m a little wary of people bringing in their own pets to walk around. There are no checks at all, even to see if they are vaccinated. Those dogs and cats could be flea ridden or be suffering from any malady.
I’m guilty of being critical many times, for sure.
But, I try very hard to understand what makes people do what they do.
I can put myself in the place of an animal services worker who can’t stand to have beautiful, healthy animals killed and brings them home. There’s heart in that, no matter how quirky.
But, I find it hard to put myself in the place of someone who exploits their cats for views or money.
I don’t see the heart in that.
Agreed DEE
Word… I never thought of that till you just said that! Other animals coming in. (slaps own head) Yes, that is true. I had never put two and two together. The real mystery is that it could of happened by any other means as well. I took my own flea comb in the store with me once. I combed all the cats/kittens and each of them had a flea or two on them. I figured i took some home with me. How possible is that i do not know. Dang. Maybe i should of never quit doing that. Oh well. Thanks for assuring me what you said. It’s all ok. I guess i am getting my answer as i go along. That i don’t have to be any thing special or belong to anything. Just be yourself and the rest will follow. Thank you for the comment on Tyler. There are some uncertainties going on right now beyond my scope of vision and knowledge. I hope this works out. I’m certain that if it don’t i’ll be shouting for support in some manner of speaking. So far is a cold morning out. Refreshing. The sun is out. Hope where you are its the same. Get out and do something special to seize the day. Old man winter soon will be arriving and we will wish that we did. Peace for now.
I read your comment about the pet situation in your building. It sucks!
You’re right to race to your doctor and put him in your back pocket. I find that most docs are agreeable, and I’m sure he/she will agree that having Tyler is “good medicine” for you.
And, yes, I get outside plenty. We’re getting a little relief from the heat right now and I’m loving it.
I’m not at my best when I’m pouring sweat.
‘GO TO HELL OLD BITCH!!! YOU DON’T KNOW SHIT.. A CAT PROTEST ABOUT ANYTHING THEY DON’T LIKE. THEY DON’T JUST SIT THERE AND RESIGN AS YOU SAY YOU NO GOOD KNOW IT ALL!!! CATS ARE INDEPENDENT SPIRITS THAT DO AS THEY WISH AND DO AS THEY PLEASE!!!! THEY DON’T TAKE ANYTHING LYING DOWN!!! SO SMOKE THAT IN YOUR KNOW IT ALL SMOKE STACK OF KNOWLEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
Oh yes, this disgusting childish rant shouted in capital letters tells me all I need to know about YOU Jayme, while you know NOTHING about me.
BTW with BITCH you got the wrong species…..call me an old CAT if you must resort to name calling and I’d be proud to be that 😉
ok i get it.. if you know all you need to know why are you continuing to push the issue????.. why can’t you leave well enough alone!?! why are you acting childish and trying to keep shit going .. why? why can’t you leave well enough alone and move on!!>!?! why is this still an issue that you keep on pursuing!??!?! ill leave you alone and you can leave me alone!?!?!? can’t you call a truce and stop with this egging on and on an issue that is now past?!?!?!
I’ll leave you alone when you apologise for SHOUTING your insults and disgusting names at me, you’d be banned from any other site for insulting another person like that!
I thought i already did. Oh word, now i am getting confused, but nonetheless, YES, let’s do it! Let’s start this cool Sunday off on a better note and get back to our cat post. Yesterday was not a good day. As i stated somewhere to someone, that i should not of ever signed on the computer. It’s best to clear the air and start fresh. One important lesson learned here. For me that is. So, lets go places and leave the ugly behind. For everyone else, lets all do the same. Let’s all make today a fine day for all. I’ll do my part.
Apology accepted….
now back to the important stuff, the welfare of cats and the fight against the abuse of them no matter how small.
THANK YOU.
No, I don’t find the video to be funny mostly, as Babz pointed out, there could have been something harmful in the grass. It may have been a little cute had it just been about Simon not budging when leashed. But, dragging him was poor caretaking in my book.
And, ofcourse, any decent cat caretaker takes their responsibilities seriously. But, there are plenty of cat antics that are amusing that don’t involve dragging.
That is a good point. I suppose if the distance travelled was 12-24 inches things would be different.
No it is not acceptable to drag a cat like that at all….at all…at all not even 6 inches 🙁
No I didn’t find it even remotely funny, there could have been anything sharp, like a piece of twig or glass, concealed in the grass which could have caused injury (to both cats!) while the cat was dragged over the distance it was, maybe the harness does not pull at the neck but surely it was quite obvious that the cat didn’t want to, and wasn’t going to, walk so the only purpose for making the video was money money, money, as the “owner” stated so yes it was exploitation and yes it was abuse, would you expect to see a parent dragging a child along the ground on a walking rein? No I didn’t think so, and if you did would you laugh? No I didn’t think so. Would that be classed as child abuse? Yes I think so. I rest my case
I see this as a mild form of abuse, not that any abuse is o.k. with me.
Since I see pets in the same way as children, dependent on us for their welfare. This action was in no way for the best interests of the cat.
The methods for training a cat on a halter is to put it on in the house for awhile, until the cat feels o.k. with it. Then try the leash, in the house. If the cat still won’t walk, then perhaps a treat held out for the cat to reach might work.
I did this with Mitzy, and after awhile, she knew that the halter and leash meant going outside. Once it was on, she went right to the door, and we had our walks in the yard, am and pm, just like a dog.
I don’t use the halter anymore, because I don’t want her outside. She has an enclosed porch to watch the birds at the feeders and trees, and she would still like to be free to go beyond it.
I remember that she picked up a lot of fleas when she was outside on the grass, so this is a better arrangement for health reasons.
Downright cruelty dragging Simon along like that AND what’s more laughing as if it was a funny sight.
NO NO NO NOT FUNNY AT ALL
If I had seen that happening in real life I’d have punched that idiot’s lights right out!
Now how many more idiots since seeing this ‘funny’ video have dragged their cats along like that too!
Things like this really upset me.
I HATE that video and the person who filmed it and I DESPISE the cruel owner of that poor cat!
Cat lovers can never be too serious about the welfare of cats!
Ruth your response is what I would expect. Well said. You are a wonderful cat advocate.
Agreed with Ruth <3
Thank you Ahsan….there speaks a true cat lover!
You both are delusional.
Here speaks a true lover of all animals.
Thanks for commenting but who are you calling delusional? I hope it is not regulars to this site. I can assure you that Ruth and Ahsan are not delusional. Far from it. They are the opposite: great advocates of cat welfare and very knowledgeable as well.
Thank you Michael, I must say this person is not fit to lick the boots of a true cat lover like Ahsan!
delusional? lol! Do you mean you think you are a true lover of all animals and we are not?
I think if you laughed at this video of a cat treated that way to give people laughs, just the opposite is true!
True lovers of animals hate to see them exploited in any way.
Now think that over and look to yourself tessy!