"Other groups tried to persuade pet owners to spay and neuter their pets in order to cut down on the overpopulation problem and the increasing number of animals killed in shelters each year. In 1997, it was estimated that over 5 million animals were being killed annually.
"Unfortunately, a large group of people who claimed these colonies were dangerous to the health of people, or otherwise dangerous to wildlife, prevailed on the Government, so the lawmakers passed laws preventing the feeding or rescuing of feral cats. Huge protests were held, and a number of the caretakers were sent to prison. Volunteer posses were organized and licensed by the government, and bounties were paid for delivering dead cats to the Collection Bureau. Cat breeders were also outlawed--a large group of these people received lengthy jail sentences for defying the laws.
"I'm sure you're all familiar with "The Cat Riots" of 2011, which you've read about in history books. Cat owners soon learned to keep their own cats locked indoors to keep them safe from the bounty hunters." Maria's shoulders drooped, as she summed up, "And of course, the Mandatory Neuter Act of 2015 was passed by Congress, which proclaimed an immediate death sentence on un-neutered owned cats, and 10 years prison for their owners.
"Brenda, here," Maria nodded toward the cage, "makes her home with an anonymous benefactor, a member of a family who has kept cats alive since those former black days. This person is part of an underground network of cat lovers with a similar desire - that one day the government will once again legalize cats as pets.
"Brenda has had her litter, and will now be spayed. Since her mate has died of old age, this time two of the kittens will be kept intact, a male and a female. The rest will be neutered, and will be shown in expositions such as this one. At an appropriate time, the unaltered kittens will be bred and the same thing will happen with their offspring. It's a small start, but eventually we hope that some responsible people will be allowed to keep cats as pets again. We can only hope and pray."
The crowd drifted away as Maria solemnly arranged the satin over the cage.
Emily's gaze was fixed on the cage, and she was very quiet as Rose buttoned up her coat again and brushed her hair back from her face. Finally, as they trudged down the steps outside, gasping as an icy wind blew snow crystals against their cheeks, Emily spoke in a tiny voice, "Mommy?"
Rose squatted on the brick stairs and looked into Emily's stricken face. "Yes, Pumpkin?"
Emily raised her eyes. "Do you think we'll ever have a real cat? One that purrs? Maybe a black and white one, like that kitten?"
Rose swiped at her eyes with a woolen-gloved fist. "We can only hope and pray, Sugar.
"Now let's go home."
