or
"Personally I would be inclined to threaten the cat with lingering death rather than resort to this kind of appeasement, but I admit to some prejudice. "
I realize that some of this is pure humor but is there a reason behind it? Where does the prejudice come from? Was Cecil attacked by a cat when he was little (did they have cats back then :eek: ?)
Gods have never been particularly tolerant of their peers and rivals. Just look at the squabbles among the Norse, Greek, and Roman gods! Not to mention the ages-long conflict between the Christian god and Satan!
I have a cat, my third, and I love him (as I did his mom and this other one that ran away), but Cecil is right in this: though they lick themselves constantly, cats are filthy animals that shed dander-laden hair all year long. After petting, I run always to the sink and watch brackish, gray water flow off my hands as i rinse the soap off of them.
This would be ok; I’d be willing to wash my pet each week, except, as everyone knows, cats are very hard to wash because it makes them try very hard to hurt you. Without some inexplicable and pre-established devotion to these odd creatures, these aspects are sufficient to deter or even disgust the casual observer. They certainly give me pause.
Thus Cecil is just being reasonable in his loathing. cats really are thoroughly and irredeemably dirty things.
To be serious for a moment - veg_all, do your cats go outside? That level of ‘dirtiness’ is not, in my experience, normal for cats. I have a small breeding program, belong to a purebred rescue group, and also function as a sort of unofficial cat shelter (since our local shelter sucks). As a result, I sometimes have upwards of 100 cats living here (not all in my house!)
Very rarely have my hands ever been actually ‘dirty’ after petting any of the cats - I wash my hands frequently to avoid transferring bacteria, virii, and fungi, not because of actual dirt that becomes visible in the water.
Exceptions are when a cat has found a nice cobwebby, dusty hole to explore or has taken a dustbath - which is why I ask if your cats go outside. I’m not sure what the attraction is, but some cats seem to love dustbaths, and will spend 10 minutes or more rolling around on a suitable piece of dry ground. I’ve also had a few that, intentionally or otherwise, did some rolling around in soot and ashes - quite an effective disguise for an otherwise-white cat.
When I first became involved with cats, I showed one of my kittens to a regional award and never bathed her once (I didn’t know I was supposed to!). She would hardly have made such an impact (long story, but she was briefly famous) if she had left a dirty residue on the judges’ hands!
Shedding is another matter entirely. In pedigreed cats, some breeds shed a great deal and others hardly at all - which appears to have some connection with the type of coat they are bred to have. In non-pedigreed cats, it’s the luck of the draw: depending on the individual cat’s inheritance, you may find you have a heavy shedder or a light shedder.
As far as bathing - you HAVE heard of the toilet-bowl method, haven’t you?
coosa : Of course he goes outside. How else would he ever eat? Just kidding; I just could never keep a cat inside; they love to romp so. Thus this toilet-washing notion is very intriguing. Do you just close the lid and flush repeatedly?
Well, LL, it looks this is one question the Great Cecil isn’t going to answer. I, however, am full of useless opinions and will be glad to share one with you. (Then you’ll have half of a useless opinion for your very own!)
I don’t think Cecil hates cats at all. I think he makes those remarks because they fit with his image of a brilliant-but-cranky curmudgeon with little patience, a large ego, and deep-rooted cynicism. Legend has it that such people invariably have a soft spot for puppies, kittens, and babies buried somewhere deep inside (although it may require surgery to find it).
I’m not going to stick my neck out and claim he likes cats or anything, just that he doesn’t hate them.
veg_all, I see your momma didn’t raise no dummy! Thought of that before, have you?
The Toilet Bowl Bath is one of many “How To” lists that have been making the rounds of various cat-related groups for years. A second method involves a rubber wet suit, steel mesh gloves, and a locking shower/bath door. There’s also How to Give Your Cat a Pill and How to Wrap Christmas Presents, among others.
As an experienced veterinary assistant (read: shit shoveler) and cat owner, I’m going to be generous and share with you my absolutely fool-proof, injury free method of cat-bathing:
Take him to the vet clinic/grooming shop and pay someone else to do it. Not only will your cat get at least somewhat clean at no risk of injury to yourself, he might even be glad to see you when you arrive to rescue him from the gulag.
