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We all know that the Internet is rich with cat photos and videos. Cats are celebrated through stories, cartoons, jewelry, clothes, and even songs (I have a whole album of songs featuring or about cats). But in some cases, the depiction of the cat is rather derogatory, critical, and downright insulting.<\/p>\n
Just this morning, I saw a picture on the Internet with the caption\u2014\u201cIs this a cat or a dog?\u201d Maybe you saw it. The photo shows a very hairy animal whose ears are kind of camouflaged and it\u2019s difficult to tell for sure what sort of animal this is. Turns out, of course, it is a cat.<\/p>\n
There seems to be as many people who enjoy belittling the cat as there are who put the cat on a pedestal. There\u2019s Grumpy Cat and now some take-offs on this poor, mad-looking feline dubbed what? Crabby Cat, Cranky Cat. And let\u2019s not overlook those cats we\u2019re invited to laugh at when they fall off a couch, someone scares the be-jeebers out of them, they get stuck in a box, or they happen to have a strange habit or odd voice.<\/p>\n
There are people out there who are drawn to the underdog cat\u2014the one with a crooked ![\"some_text\"](\"http:\/\/allforanimals.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/feelingsorig.gif\")
tail, a funny-looking face, a missing limb, or a deformity. There are even people who will adopt or foster ailing cats\u2014those on hospice\u2014and love them tenderly to the end.<\/p>\n
I think that before we laugh at, turn away, shun, or even\u2014heaven forbid\u2014try to punish or harm a cat, we should remember what my friend, Karen Lee Stevens teaches and preaches\u2014animals have feelings, too.<\/p>\n
In fact, this would be a good time to purchase copies of her book of the same name: \u201cAnimals Have Feelings, Too\u201d for the children on your holiday list and help support the author\u2019s organization, All For Animals. Check it out here: http:\/\/allforanimals.org\/book<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We all know that the Internet is rich with cat photos and videos. Cats are celebrated through stories, cartoons, jewelry, clothes, and even songs (I have a whole album of songs featuring or about cats). But in some cases, the … Continue reading