What's the point of cats?

[Mr Pig]

The cat went out, and returned with a barely damaged, but dead, rabbit. It them continued to supply about 3 rabbits a week

That's not a real computer. It's a toy one with a picture stuck to it to make the cat look at it. The other stories are probably bollocks too!

Cats do not 'nurse you through sickness'. They sit around.

 

[Arch]

That's not a real computer. It's a toy one with a picture stuck to it to make the cat look at it. The other stories are probably bollocks too!

Cats do not 'nurse you through sickness'. They sit around.

I quoted the pic in order to link to the true story about the software, I made no comment as to the veracity of the picture.

Everything is bollocks to you, isn't it, if it doesn't suit your world view...

If sick people find the company of animals comforting, and god knows, I'd rather have the company of animals than some people, then the animals have a theraputic effect. Just as the placebo effect is very strong. The motives of the animals are immaterial, frankly, if the effect is good.

 

[purplepolly]

Cats do not 'nurse you through sickness'. They sit around.

miseryguts

So what if they probably only see the patient as a convenient hot water bottle/cushion? It's also good for the patient and you don't have to get up and take the cat for walkies.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

That's not a real computer. It's a toy one with a picture stuck to it to make the cat look at it.

I quoted the pic in order to link to the true story about the software, I made no comment as to the veracity of the picture.

That cat was working bloody hard there!! - see the look of concentration, tongue out, focused look. I think this is when she worked out perpetual motion and the best cure for a hangover but I'm not sharing now. *sulks*

 

[purplepolly]

That cat was working bloody hard there!! - see the look of concentration, tongue out, focused look.

reminds me of my cat

 

[Arch]

That cat was working bloody hard there!! - see the look of concentration, tongue out, focused look. I think this is when she worked out perpetual motion and the best cure for a hangover but I'm not sharing now. *sulks*

I loved the pic, myself....

 

[wafflycat]

That's not a real computer. It's a toy one with a picture stuck to it to make the cat look at it. The other stories are probably bollocks too!

Cats do not 'nurse you through sickness'. They sit around.

Whereas you, one who has in the past, gone public about his religion, finding Christianity, is actually one of the nastiest, most judgmental, with the most uncharitable manner, truly unchristian people I have ever had the misfortune to read posts by. I truly hope I never ever have the misfortune to meet you in real life. You are a nasty bit of work.

 

[april74]

Is it just me or are cats shoot? What is their purpose? A dog might rescue its owners from a fire by alerting them at night while a cat would run away and find another soft touch to take it in. We got one as we were starting to get field mice coming in but the cat is bone idle and I fail to see what it gives us back for the constant take, take, take. We lost it over the weekend and I've just found it on the other side of the garden fence whining and too stupid to realise it could turn round and walk out of the bush it had become trapped in. I was hoping we'd seen the last of it but no. I feel cats have become superfluous to requirements in the 21st century and unless anyone can tell me what earthly good they are, I'm going to propose a mass cull.

Can you excuse my cat from the cull if I promise to train it to shoot on the streets, bite people, run aggressively after cyclists, return sticks I throw for it and annoy the neighbours with endless noise?

 

[Archie_tect]

Can you excuse my cat from the cull if I promise to train it to shoot on the streets, bite people, run aggressively after cyclists, return sticks I throw for it and annoy the neighbours with endless noise?

Sounds like you've met the 17 year old down our street.

 

[TheDoctor]

Can you excuse my cat from the cull if I promise to train it to shoot on the streets, bite people, run aggressively after cyclists, return sticks I throw for it and annoy the neighbours with endless noise?

Don't most cats already manage most of these things?
Other than fetching sticks...

 

[Mr Pig]

If sick people find the company of animals comforting then the animals have a theraputic effect.

Of course, I think that's why most people have pets. We're just back from the vets with one of our rabbits and having it sitting on your knee for hours is nice. But when people start imputing human characteristics onto them, give me a break. Cats in particular don't care much about humans beyond how useful that human is to them.

And yes, I think a cat delivering three dead rabbits a week, because it somehow telepathically knows that times are hard, is bollocks. Rabbits, being pray animals, make it their business to be very difficult to catch. I'm sure a large cat that was a good hunter could catch the odd young or sickly rabbit but three a week? No chance. Rabbits are faster than cats and any cat trying to latch its claws into the rear end of a full-grown rabbit is going to get kicked into next week!

 

[Cubist]

Our tomcat used to catch and kill full-grown rabbits and drag them home (the warren was nearly half a mile away). Not three times a week admittedly, but he was quite capable of doing it. He was a big bugger though.

Yes, we had one that used to bring home adult rabbits to munch in the lounge, growling at anyone who tried to get it off him.!

 

[Cubist]

Of course, I think that's why most people have pets. We're just back from the vets with one of our rabbits and having it sitting on your knee for hours is nice. But when people start imputing human characteristics onto them, give me a break. Cats in particular don't care much about humans beyond how useful that human is to them.

And yes, I think a cat delivering three dead rabbits a week, because it somehow telepathically knows that times are hard, is bollocks. Rabbits, being pray animals, make it their business to be very difficult to catch. I'm sure a large cat that was a good hunter could catch the odd young or sickly rabbit but three a week? No chance. Rabbits are faster than cats and any cat trying to latch its claws into the rear end of a full-grown rabbit is going to get kicked into next week!

I think it's a bit rich of someone who clearly has a soft spot for domesticated agricultural vermin to criticise anyone else's choice of pets.
From what I remember of rabbits, they spend the majority of their waking hours terrified that they're going to be eaten. At least once they are domesticated cats appear to get a handle on exactly where they are in the food chain!

 

[byegad]

My Grandmother had a big tom cat and he would bring the odd rabbit in as he liked them cooked! On one memorable occasion bringing one in very much alive. It proceeded to do a wall of death act around the kitchen with her trying to brain it with a brush until he killed it.

That said, I regard cats as machines bought by people who want them to crap in their neighbour's garden. It really works well and we had a party when next doors cat died as it meant no more cat shoot brought in on our feet when we went for coal in the dark!
The damn thing used to do it in the shadows and in the middle of the path!

 

[Archie_tect]

From what I remember of rabbits, they spend the majority of their waking hours terrified that they're going to be eaten.

That's assuming they have a viable consciousness ... nah!