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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2006How much is a cat's life worth?
This is a story about Bom Bom. Bom Bom is a pure-bred Devon Rex cat about a year and a half old. Despite his young age, he has already become the father of a few litters of beautiful kittens, two of them with my ex-wife's cat, Isis. He is such a nice, healthy, friendly and strong cat that deserves a long life and all the best of it. But around this weekend it seemed that it all went wrong... Bom Bom had been living with a family just outside Oslo (Norway) where he had lots of space to run around in, and kids who loved him. But this spring they moved, and they had decided that they couldn't have cats anymore. So Bom Bom was to be replaced to another family. So far, so good. But... When Bom Bom came into the new home, he found there were *four* queens there! What does a healthy male cat do? He walks around through the house, and starts spraying to mark his territory. I mean, what would you expect? But the lady who was in charge just panicked, called the owner and said that she could not have him in the house! "Take him back! Now!!" So she and her co-owner, a friend of hers, took him back. Then they called my ex to ask if she could keep him in her bathroom over the weekend, until they got time to pick him up. Although my ex-wife lives in a small flat with two cats, Isis (now pregnant with Bom Bom), and her father, five years old Loomis, she agreed to take him in for the weekend. But she was suspicious... What would happen on Monday? Her worst thoughts were confirmed through a phone call yesterday: If they couldn't find anyone to take him, they planned to put him down! Obviously, there was no plan to advertise him through any rehoming organisation or whatever, if they couldn't make more money out of him and his litters, no one else should. Please take a look at a picture of him at alt.binaries.pictures.animals with the subject "Bom Bom - A beautiful Devon Rex cat". My ex-wife decided that putting down this beautiful cat just wasn't going to happen, so she said that she would take him anyway. And, if she should have found it impossible, I would have done it, even though I have got much less space, and two cats already. The case seems to be solved, a woman in Trondheim, 500 km north of Oslo, says she will tak him, so I think this story will get a happy ending, but what if nobody could have taken him in? Then a healthy, happy boy would die for no other reason than selfish thinking from the owners. I find it disgusting! In the meantime, Bom Bom is having a good time at my ex-wife, she let him out of the bathroom, and Loomis immediately took care of him and wished him welcome to his house. Loomis is a strange cat, he thinks that all cats that comes into his house are friends, and should be treated that way, but strange cats and dogs coming on to his lawn without an invitation, will get a lesson they never forget! He once chased a Golden Retriever down the road, so the dog didn't dare to come back before his owner went down to pick him up...  SignatureHans Schrøder han-schr@online.no > ending, but what if nobody could have taken him in? Then a healthy, > happy boy would die for no other reason than selfish thinking from > the owners. > > I find it disgusting! I'm sorry, but the entire time I read your post, I could think nothing but: Yes, hundreds of thousands of animals die this way every year, and is exactly why I don't understand why people don't neuter their pets. There are too many unwanted cat pregnancies to justify breeding them. If this beautiful boy were neutered, if those queens had been spayed, would he have been spraying? *sigh* Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> ending, but what if nobody could have taken him in? Then a healthy, >> happy boy would die for no other reason than selfish thinking from [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > *sigh* If he had been an outdoor cat, it would have been different. But he isn't an outdoor cat, so he is no threat to the alley cats in the neighborhood. Hans >>> ending, but what if nobody could have taken him in? Then a healthy, >>> happy boy would die for no other reason than selfish thinking from [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Hans But still, he could be neutered and solve all difficulties including the previous owners not wanting him to have kittens they could not sell. It won't change him other than that he won't spray and be territorial. Better all around, but I'm glad he found a family. > I'm sorry, but the entire time I read your post, I could think nothing > but: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > If this beautiful boy were neutered, if those queens had been spayed, > would he have been spraying? Probably! (Cat's - even female cats - spray for a variety of reasons, it's not a purely sexual thing.) I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most people who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the litters are already "spoken for" before they are born. You're not really suggesting that "thoroughbred" cats with their distinctive characteristics should be eliminated as breeds, are you? SignatureNewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth > I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most people > who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the litters are > already "spoken for" before they are born. You're not really > suggesting that "thoroughbred" cats with their distinctive > characteristics should be eliminated as breeds, are you? I don't think most purebreds are bred responsibly, but even if they are, sure. If there were no breeders, I bet a lot of people who own purebreds would "stoop" to getting a cat or kitten from the shelter instead. Bingo, far fewer animals killed. I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly, the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it. I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for > cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and > herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly, > the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it. > I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all > these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me. Someone on this newsgroup once wrote, "I've never been into purebred cats. Frankly, I think Mother Nature's breeding program is much superior..." I saved that in my quote file, so I'm quoting it verbatim. I'll bet that Takayuki can tell us who posted it. :) I admit to being fond of certain breeds - Maine Coons, Abyssinians (sp?), apple-headed Siamese. But I don't much care for the look of certain other breeds, and I think some are even cruel - eg, the poor modern Persians with all their sinus problems. I'm with you - why not go to the shelter and save a moggie from being euthanized? I guess some breeds are a status symbol. The same goes for dogs. When I walk around in a wealthy part of town, *everyone* who's walking a dog is walking a purebred. What, are they too good to have a mutt? I have to wonder whether they adopted their animal because they wanted a companion to love, or because they wanted the proper accessory for their beautiful home? Alright, that's a broad generalization. I'm sure many wealthy people adore their Afghan hounds and Himalayan cats. But how come you never see a mutt or moggie with those people?? Joyce > I don't think most purebreds are bred responsibly, but even if they > are, sure. If there were no breeders, I bet a lot of people who own [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all > these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me. I agree with all you said. I know I have purebred cat, but I don't have her because she's a purebred, I have her because she needed a home. OTOH, it would seem that the stray and feral cat problem is a thousand times worse in the US than it is in Scandinavia. I don't know why that's so. We certainly have our fair share of irresponsible owners who don't speuter their cats and let them run free. Maybe it's just that the climate is too cold for them to survive very long in the wild. :( As I've mentioned before, I've never seen a feral cat here in all my life. I've read several articles on the local shelter claiming that they can usually return strays (escapees) to their original home, and they ones they can't are rehomed. Somehow, the system seems to work here. I don't know exactly how it is in Norway (where Hans and Bom bom are), but I'm assuming ther situation is similar. So though I don't support breeding, ummm... what am I trying to say here? Maybe that breeding purebreds isn't such a big crime if there aren't a lot of homeless cats to begin with. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > assuming ther situation is similar. So though I don't support > breeding, ummm... what am I trying to say here? Maybe that breeding > purebreds isn't such a big crime if there aren't a lot of homeless > cats to begin with. Yeah, maybe ... The way I see it, though, there are still lots of homeless cats. They just happen to be in another country. But I guess it's a little much to imagine that people would mail order their cats from the US. I should apologize to Hans. I was not really trying to attack him, honestly. It's just hard for me to read about intact animals being bred when there are so many animals dying for want of a home. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca on Monday 03 April 2006 09:19 pm, Monique Y. Mudama blabbed incessantly producing the following: >> I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most people >> who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the litters are [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all > these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me. Different breeds of cats have different traits though. I wouldn't mind having a ragdoll that plays fetch, but I really want a Bengal. I already have five cats (two of which are getting "altered" as I speak). I love my "alley" cats, but I want a Bengal too! SignatureThe Raven Dogs have owners, Cats have staff. "The Raven" <the_raven<nospam>@icnet.net> wrote in message news:12354bskut9mi24@corp.supernews.com > Different breeds of cats have different traits though. I wouldn't mind > having a ragdoll that plays fetch, but I really want a Bengal./// I have an alley cat moggie kitten who plays fetch... and swims in the sink....and helps herself to my food, and exhibits all the traits of a bengal, a turkish van, a main coon (without the hair) and has the voice of a siamese when she's yelling... :o) I tell everyone who asks what breed she is, that she's a Thai Water retrieving cat. ;o) Helen M on Tuesday 04 April 2006 12:01 pm, Helen Miles blabbed incessantly producing the following: > "The Raven" <the_raven<nospam>@icnet.net> wrote in message > news:12354bskut9mi24@corp.supernews.com [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Helen M I never had a cat that fetched, but I did have one that played in/with water. They're rare unless they're bred for them. Don't get me wrong I love my "barn" cats, but I would like to have a purebred cat to accompany my barn cats. SignatureThe Raven Dogs have owners, Cats have staff. The Raven > on Monday 03 April 2006 09:19 pm, Monique Y. Mudama blabbed incessantly > producing the following: [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > have five cats (two of which are getting "altered" as I speak). I love my > "alley" cats, but I want a Bengal too! I would dearly love to have a Sphinx, but there's no way I could justify spending the money, when there are (as others have pointed out) so many homeless "oridnary" cats. SignatureNewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth on Tuesday 04 April 2006 09:49 pm, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) blabbed incessantly producing the following: <snip> >> Different breeds of cats have different traits though. I wouldn't mind >> having a ragdoll that plays fetch, but I really want a Bengal. I already [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > could justify spending the money, when there are (as others > have pointed out) so many homeless "oridnary" cats. Justify it to whom? I have five "ordinary" cats, and when I've saved the money I'm getting a Bengal (Because they're so cool looking!) I feel no responsibility for someone Else's irresponsibility. They won't spay/neuter their cat so the "blame" for the homeless cats rests on their, not my shoulders. SignatureThe Raven Dogs have owners, Cats have staff. On 2006-04-05, The Raven penned: > on Tuesday 04 April 2006 09:49 pm, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) > blabbed incessantly producing the following: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > irresponsibility. They won't spay/neuter their cat so the "blame" > for the homeless cats rests on their, not my shoulders. It's not a matter of blame. The fact is, there are more cats out there than there are people to take them. Therefore, some cats will die. By buying from a breeder, you are encouraging the breeder to continue breeding cats, resulting in yet more cats. Some of them will get homes. Most of them won't, and will die for it. I don't want to encourage the breeding of yet more cats, so I am happy with a moggie (same for dogs and mutts). Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > On 2006-04-05, The Raven penned: >> on Tuesday 04 April 2006 09:49 pm, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > I don't want to encourage the breeding of yet more cats, so I am happy > with a moggie (same for dogs and mutts). Can I point out, without anyone taking it too badly that there is a lot of diversity in this group. One of the things we have agreed to disagree on is in vs out. Another should be rescue vs purebred. Those that have and love purebred cats (or dogs) shouldn't be made to feel they are somehow inferior persons and must defend themselves. Same goes for responsible and caring breeders. Jo > Can I point out, without anyone taking it too badly that there is a > lot of diversity in this group. One of the things we have agreed to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > inferior persons and must defend themselves. Same goes for > responsible and caring breeders. Yeah -- I apologize. You're right. And as others have pointed out, the cat overpopulation issue is also particular to certain regions. I like this group because overall it's easy going and tolerant, and I don't want to screw that up. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> Can I point out, without anyone taking it too badly that there is a >> lot of diversity in this group. One of the things we have agreed to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > like this group because overall it's easy going and tolerant, and I > don't want to screw that up. I remember a story from last year from the Channel Islands, they had to import rescued cats because there weren't enough localy to meet demand. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk on Wednesday 05 April 2006 01:16 pm, Jo Firey blabbed incessantly producing the following: >> On 2006-04-05, The Raven penned: >>> on Tuesday 04 April 2006 09:49 pm, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Jo I concur. SignatureThe Raven Dogs have owners, Cats have staff. > By buying from a breeder, you are encouraging the breeder to > continue breeding cats, resulting in yet more cats. Yep. "If you buy it, they will make more." :) Consumers actually have a lot of power. Joyce > This is a story about Bom Bom. > [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > -- > Hans Schrøder Like you, this story disgusts me. It disgusts me in so many different ways I can't even separate them all. Not the least is the *first* family. They could have taken Bom Bom when they moved, no? They took a beloved pet away from their children, and taught them that pets are disposable. I better just stop now. I'm very glad your wife took Bom Bom. He's a lucky cat. Sherry > This is a story about Bom Bom. > [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > chased a Golden Retriever down the road, so the dog didn't dare to > come back before his owner went down to pick him up... I'm glad he has found a home or so I hope. Yes it is disgusting. But what is just as disgusting or even more disgusting is that none of the cats have been neutered or spayed as is appropriate. If they had been none of this would have probably occurred. I am glad that Bom Bom wasn't PTS because some people are stupid or at least negligent. >> This is a story about Bom Bom. >> [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > none of this would have probably occurred. I am glad that Bom Bom wasn't > PTS because some people are stupid or at least negligent. Appending to my own post. Note that the above doesn't apply to Bom Bom's original owners who deserve whatever they get in live. -what goes around comes around. I mean geez - moving then deciding they can't have cats anymore that is the worst - almost as bad as just dumping them. > What would happen on Monday? Her worst thoughts were confirmed through a > phone call yesterday: If they couldn't find anyone to take him, they planned > to put him down! I think people who think like that ought to be banned from ever owning cats again. I'd also beat them up personally, but that's just me. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> What would happen on Monday? Her worst thoughts were confirmed >> through a phone call yesterday: If they couldn't find anyone to take [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > cats again. > I'd also beat them up personally, but that's just me. They're probably not fit to raise children either, if that's the sort of example they show them. :-( SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk What on earth is on people's mind when they move and don't take their pets with them? It's not like the animal is an appliance. I don't think I'll ever understand some people. I'm glad that Bom Bom has found a new home. Please keep us updated. SignatureFlippy in Melbourne, Australia. Catpage: http://www.flippyscatpage.com "Hans Schrøder" wrote in message ... > This is a story about Bom Bom. > [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > road, so the dog didn't dare to come back before his owner went down to > pick him up... > What on earth is on people's mind when they move and don't take their pets > with them? It's not like the animal is an appliance. I don't think I'll ever > understand some people. Well, that's how I got my latest addition! Much as I deplore her owner just moving out and leaving her behind (in the empty apartment) I would probably never have gotten a new companion for Melisande, if left to my own choice. (And Cendrillon is such a dear lttle thing, now she's getting used to a new person and a feline companion.) SignatureNewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth > What on earth is on people's mind when they move and don't take their pets > with them? It's not like the animal is an appliance. I don't think I'll ever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Flippy in Melbourne, Australia. > Catpage: http://www.flippyscatpage.com I don't get it either. If we can take our cat from Thailand to Australia, which is costing us around $5000 when you include everything associated with it and with us being able to do it, and is delaying our arrival in Australia by 6 months, then anyone who would abandon their cats because of a lesser move is just making sorry excuses! -- Britta > I don't get it either. If we can take our cat from Thailand to Australia, > which is costing us around $5000 when you include everything associated with > it and with us being able to do it, and is delaying our arrival in Australia > by 6 months, then anyone who would abandon their cats because of a lesser > move is just making sorry excuses! Now that is the best point I've heard yet on this issue!! Joyce > I don't get it either. If we can take our cat from Thailand to Australia, > which is costing us around $5000 when you include everything associated with > it and with us being able to do it, and is delaying our arrival in Australia > by 6 months, then anyone who would abandon their cats because of a lesser > move is just making sorry excuses!/// LOL, somehow I relate! ;o) I don't cut people a lot of slack when they tell me they can't take their pets with them when they move! Helen M > LOL, somehow I relate! ;o) I don't cut people a lot of slack when they > tell me they can't take their pets with them when they move! That's how I ended up with Cocoa :-)))) Deb. Signaturehttp://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield |
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