Photo Credit: © iStock Photo/Michael Pettigrew
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary. . ." Thus, the moving words of the Declaration of Independence, penned by John Hancock on July 4, 1776 set forth the standards by which the United States of America lives today. But what does Indendence Day have to do with cats, you ask?
The earliest cats known to history were wild, independent as all get-out, and subsisted on snakes and rodents who destroyed grain in fields and food storage areas, which was a staple of the Egyptians' diet. Gradually, the Egyptians recognized the benefit of having cats in close proximity, and brought them into their hearth. The human-feline relationship developed over the centuries into the human-feline bond, and today, we acknowledge that bond by accepting our pet cats as beloved members of our family.
Our cats have retained their independence within our homes. They rule our hearts with fur-clad fists. With the flick of a tail they can reduce us to slaves, and we accept our slavery willingly, as the price of their company. When we domesticated cats, we took on the responsibility for their care. They need no longer to forage fields and granary for mice and rats; instead, we provide them with wholesome food, clean water, shelter, and play to keep them from boredom. They no longer need the "independence" of outdoor living: the independence to be hit by speeding vehicles; injured or killed by dogs, other cats, and predators; the independence of scouring through alleys and garbage cans for food, to be picked up and disposed of in animal shelters. In my opinion, it's an uneven trade: They owe us for longer, safer, happier lives, but we owe them much more, for the lifelong unconditional love only cats can give.
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