On Cats

Having dwelt upon dogs in the last entry, I come to another common pet, namely, cats. My attitude towards cats is the exact opposite of that towards dogs. I like cats, especially the Burmese cats, the "posh pussies". They are very adorable. In comparison to dogs, cats are much less passionate. They barely want company. They have the virtue of enjoying loneliness and serenity. They suit my temperament in every way.

Cats, unlike dogs, do not greet you when you come home except on rare occasions. Training is not required. Even if you try, they will not listen. They barely comply to your commands. A strong sense of individuality. It is almost as if they have free will. That is why many people have the impression of cats always being unfriendly. But not at all. Sometimes they are friendly. They behave like dogs except that they replace the noble act with "meow" and with much less excitement instead of barking and whining. They talk to you. But most of the time, they are quiet and living their lives in solitude. They are smarter too. I once had the fortune to observe how a cat managed to open a door with their bare claws. They know how to use a human toilet when they are told to do so. And they talk to birds. They do not display anything inferior to the human intellect.

Our attitude towards cats also greatly differs from dogs. They are always associated with divine and mystical qualities in both East and West. Also both good and evil. In Japan, cats are bound up with mystical qualities. There is a story which you often hear around the Fuji mountain that if you happen to live in one of those hotels around the Fuji mountain, the next morning you will wake up with scratches all over your body. And it is rumoured that the "evil cats" do them. Whether this story is true, I have not had the chance to investigate. Another example would be that cats can help increase our wealth. You will often find that these types of cat figures are placed in front of the door of most houses in Japan which you also often see them in Hong Kong. Cats also play a significant role in modern Japanese popular culture. You see in many Japanese cartoons that cats are associated with divine quality such as Dragonball which is always wise enough to give advice to humans and offers beans to help replenish energy. In ancient Egypt, cats were sacred animals. The solar and war goddess Bast was always depicted in a cat form. A great deal of cats were mummified in ancient Egypt. They were treated with a lot of respect. Little wonder the sphinx is a cat.

In the West, people have negative superstitions about cats. The most significant one is black cats which are often associated wickedness. It is considered one will have bad luck if he happens to see one. In films and novels, dark cats are often depicted as a sign of evil.

Having said so much about cats, it is natural to come to the conclusion that the relationship between humans and cats is friendship. But is that really so? They are seen as equal. Both of us have a strong sense of free will. Unlike dogs, cats have liberated themselves from the bondage of master and slaves. Even surpassed that of master and servant. They want to be treated as ends, not as means. They often send you the message that you are not the only owner of the house. But we are!

Cats are usually owned by lonely adults while dogs are usually owned by a family. But why? Why does a cat deserve so much attention for lonely adults? Because they are equal. And the adults are lonely. Owning cats gives you a strong sense that resembles friendship. Like humans, they exercise their free autonomy. You do not take care of them because they do. When you talk to them, they respond. When they dislike what you are saying, they walk away. They do things which resembles what a friend would do to you. Moreover, some of their behaviours are humanlike. Living in a contemporary era where friendship is difficult to attain, cats are the solution. They play with us literally, emotionally, and psychologically. Cats deserve a higher place than dogs. Just a thought.

W