Here are two hidden or underlying reasons why some people hate feral cats. No doubt, there are others. I has always surprised me that for some people the feral cat is at the opposite end of the spectrum to the domestic cat. They can hate the former and love the latter, yet they are the same species of animal.
Reason 1
To some, it is obvious that we are not that good at caring for the environment. Even the most arrogant, self-centered and narrow minded among us will find it hard to deny that we are poor guardians of the planet that sustains us. We are making a bit of a mess of it. We won’t admit it but we feel guilty particularly because we can’t change our ways. At present, we appear to be incapable of doing something about the way we abuse the planet, its natural resources and environment.
So what do we do? We blame something or someone else. The human animal passes the buck to an non-human animal that is considered an outsider. All outsiders even humans are shunned and criticised. They are not part of the group.
Feral cats are an ideal scape goat for human transgressions that mess up the environment. Blame the feral cat. What is particularly galling and guilt-making is that we created the feral cat through our carelessness and throw away mentality.
The feral cat is but one animal that takes the rap for our misdemeanors with respect to looking after the planet together with the other species of animal that share it with us.
Detractors declare that the feral cat spreads disease and kills millions of native species. These people are blind to their own prejudices, neuroses and weaknesses.
Reason 2
People have preconceived ideas of what they like and what they believe is right. Take food. If it does not fit in with what they like it becomes trash. People do tend to have fixed ideas about all sorts of things and then the mind remains closed to other options and ideas. What does not fit in, is out. Literally thrown out.
Does that remind you of something? Abandoned cats. Relinquished cat to shelters to be euthanised. People do have fixed ideas about fluffy, cute family members that are cats. They don’t want to open their minds to a much more complete knowledge of the cat.
If a person has a fixed and closed notion that the cat is a cute, fluffy creature that decorates the home, they will detest the dirty, scrawny feral cat that is outside the home; the outsider.
The solution is to open the mind and educate the brain.
Photo by Michael Newton
HI Dee, Thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad this site is here and I know there are like-minded folks out there in the world who feel as I do. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable in the situation I’m going through now. I understand some cat colonies can get out of hand/too large (cats -and dogs-had to be removed from the Gallapagos Islands, I agree with the need to remove those cats it was having a major impact on a fragile eco system). But these are two males left over from a “colony” that was never any bigger than 4. No one is eating off the land nearby so these cats are not pooping in someone’s crops, etc. And again, who has a bigger impact on the land than man? This guy drives a monster truck that sounds like it needs a new muffler, who knows what pollutants he’s spewing. PS: while I’m at it, look at the poor beaver! Its treated like a “pest” now because it builds dams indiscriminately. Well guess who builds dams that stops water flow by the billions of gallons, effecting people and wild life eco-systems down stream so someone can have a green golf course or a water park? M-A-N. It just make me sad. Sad and angry. Oh well. I wish I could take these two cats inside but I have 3 cats in a small condo already, I can’t officially adopt any more. Well, you have a nice Labor Day weekend!
Dana, you comment is amazing. You covered so many areas that I hold dear – and, are truthful. I just loved it.
You have a sound knowledge of ferals. I’m so impressed and look forward to an article done by Michael.
Thank you so much for being here.