Is cat domestication acceptable?

[JVS]

Here I see so many who think that it was Ok to take cats from the wild and breed them into weak docile playthings for their human masters. It makes me sick that people would actually want to take these animals from their wild freedom and force them into houses or lawns. It also bothers me that these people insist that having a cat is perfectly sanitary, when you can watch the creature walk out of a box of pebbles, urine and feces and then jump up onto their kitchen counter or table. Do these people realize what kind of filth may be spreading while they are out to work? Then there is the dander. Cat domestication is certainly a sad situation.

edited to make the copycat nature clearer

[eyesroll]

1. Cats were domesticated milennia ago.

They now depend on humans for survival. Not much we can do about it.

[JVS]

2. We could stop breeding them to continue this wretched existence

[LDS Jock]

3. OMG.. this is the first time I was copycated

and it was a post about cats. Hmm.

[demnan]

4. But, but

don't you know it was the cats' idea after all?

We just went along for the ride. Don't believe me? Try to tell a cat what to do.

[JVS]

6. Blame the victim! How low!

;-)

[SheilaT]

5. Cats more or less

domesticated themselves when humans started storing grain, which attracted lots of mice and rats which cats hunt quite easily.

A domesticated cat who lives with humans tends to keep mice out of the house by her mere presence, even if she's not much of a hunter. I know from personal experience.

I suppose you're suggesting that all domestic cats be neutered and no new ones be born and in a couple of decades the only cats left would be the feral ones out there? Doesn't strike me as a sensible idea.

If you don't want a cat, don't have one in your house. Some people like dogs. Others birds or fish. A surprising number of people are quite content to have no companion creatures at all. Suit yourself.

[JVS]

7. Cats should run wild and free and not be near humans

[bratcatinok]

8. Cats are domesticated?

Who knew?

My cats think they're still living in the wild. They slink through the wilds of the living room attacking the evil human feet who dare to encroach upon their territory. They pounce upon poor unsuspecting pieces of paper, toy with them and then kill them. They hunt at night and have learned how to fell large creatures by entwining around their legs. They stalk the evil dog creature.

[noonwitch]

9. That's what I was going to say!

My cat would be offended if anyone called her domesticated. Okay, so she uses a litter box instead of a baseball field. And she gets her food served to her in a plastic dish (she broke the good dish I bought her). Otherwise, she's a wild creature, hunting for insects and sunbeams, and playing with her dog, who is totally domesticated.

[Rob H.]

10. Maybe...

...the question should be, "Is cat domestication possible?" As I saw on the web once, "Dogs have owners. Cats have staff." ;)

[telamachus]

11. Are you being serious?

you forgot the smilies and sarcasm....

[Pithlet]

12. It's the other way around

Cats have a brilliant little con going on. Most of us are just too suckered in to notice. Right now mine is sitting next to me with a very smug, self satisfied look on his face. He knows he's got me right where he wants me. Domesticated, indeed :D