# Yes, I know my 6 cats are "animals", you self-righteous witch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208 "2010-02-01T04:40:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/41 "2010-02-01T19:47:36Z")
“Oh yeah? Well tomorrow your kids will still be kids, but my cats will be…um…cuter?” ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/42 "2010-02-01T20:37:13Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Oh, I understand it. You are in considerable pain regarding not being able to have kids. You have my sympathy for that more than you can possibly know. Just please, please > > Please, don’t think your pets are kids. That is VERY unhealthy. LOL I will share your sympathies with my 4 kids. And my pets are still my “babies”. 😛 Believe me I am well aware of the differences between my children and my fur-babies. For one, the cat won’t have nearly the college tuition bills that I am facing for my son. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/43 "2010-02-01T20:44:55Z")
Blech, my cats are no babies of mine. I can barely tolerate those brats some days. Hey, they really are like kids! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/44 "2010-02-01T20:53:55Z")
Can you imagine dealing with someone who actually thinks their cats are their own children? ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/45 "2010-02-01T20:57:53Z")
In one of those ‘Wish I could go back and do this…’ moments, I think I’d have just stopped still after the lady said that, stared at the kids running around like maniacs, and say “I know what you mean”. Edit: Beaten to the punch twice! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/46 "2010-02-01T21:22:36Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > In one of those ‘Wish I could go back and do this…’ Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight! I thought of a comeback I needed last night! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/47 "2010-02-01T21:34:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight! > I thought of a comeback I needed last night! Are you the witch mentioned in the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/48 "2010-02-01T21:44:10Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Blech, my cats are no babies of mine. I can barely tolerate those brats some days. Hey, they really are like kids! 😃 Well, when you have kids you can hope that one day they’ll leave for college…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/49 "2010-02-02T00:40:29Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > In one of those ‘Wish I could go back and do this…’ moments, I think I’d have just stopped still after the lady said that, stared at the kids running around like maniacs, and say “I know what you mean”. > Edit: Beaten to the punch twice! Or, “Yeah, they sure are.” I can’t remember just how it was phrased, but Sheldon from “Big Bang Theory” had the perfect response when he couldn’t think of something to say - “I don’t have a response now, but keep an eye on your email.” ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/50 "2010-02-02T02:29:35Z")
You made a joke that didn’t go over well, that’s all. She’s not “mocking” you. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/51 "2010-02-02T03:00:52Z")
Or maybe not, Happened at my workplace… i was at supply with another officer… the ladies who run supply keep a bulletin board up with pictures of the newest offspring of officers or dispatchers etc etc… so this genius i work with (he’s my friend so i can clown him) says to this older southern black lady… "can i bring a picture of my baby next time?? he’s 2months old… She smiles and says of course and ask him what his name is… and is genuinely interested until he remarks that this is his (some breed) puppy… She then throws the uniform or whateever at him and says thats for babies… and promptly walks away from him… While i shouldn’t have i laughed and clowned him the rest of the day… haha I reminded the New Yorker that he does live in the south now… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/52 "2010-02-02T03:02:57Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I believe in treating pets with respect and dignity, but they are just animals. The two are in no way comparable. Except, you know, them both being animals… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/53 "2010-02-02T03:06:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > They are just cats. And you are just **A Monkey.** And not to paint with too broad a brush here, but there _are_ “Serious Christians” who look down upon kitteh as not such a godly pet. (Remember, it’s the only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible!) ---
**Author:** ![Shakespearo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Shakespearo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakespearo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/54 "2010-02-02T03:39:23Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I understand the tendency to sympathize in MPSIMS, but that’s not what I read. The “villain” here merely pointed out that cats aren’t kids. We have one quote from her in the entire O.P. > > The rest of **shakespereo’s** O.P. is an attack on a grandmother. I can’t get on board with that. I did not think my rant was pit worthy, however if a Moderator disagrees with that assessment, I am sure that is where they will send this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/55 "2010-02-02T03:54:51Z")
> [@MitzeKatze](#): > > LOL I will share your sympathies with my 4 kids. And my pets are still my “babies”. 😛 > > Believe me I am well aware of the differences between my children and my fur-babies. For one, the cat won’t have nearly the college tuition bills that I am facing for my son. 😉 And you don’t have to potty-train cats. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/56 "2010-02-02T06:03:42Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > In fact, I’d usually take it as a self-deprecating joke, as if saying, “Oh, they don’t let us try out real children yet, we have to start with cats,” or something similar. (Full disclosure: No kids, one ferret.) Wait, one ferret? _One?_ I thought you had, you know, like, a herd. Did the others go somewhere? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/57 "2010-02-02T14:36:13Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I understand the tendency to sympathize in MPSIMS, but that’s not what I read. The “villain” here merely pointed out that cats aren’t kids. We have one quote from her in the entire O.P. > > The rest of **shakespereo’s** O.P. is an attack on a grandmother. I can’t get on board with that. Yeah…poor grandmom put out all that incredible effort into disgorging her grandkids, and then runs into someone who takes pleasure in raising cats. You’ve got to put these _animal_-lovers in their place, even if it means coming off as a nasty, rude old twat. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/58 "2010-02-02T14:42:43Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Wait, one ferret? _One?_ I thought you had, you know, like, a herd. Did the others go somewhere? ☹ Well, ferret herding is harder than it sounds, they tend to scatter hither and yon if you don’t watch them at every moment… On a more serious note, we had 5 at our high point. We had two until a couple years ago, when the male went in his sleep. (I posted about his misadventures with adrenal disease and difficulty with urination in the thread about accidental pet tricks. The Lupron injections gave him another couple years.) We just have a female left, who’s officially elderly at coming up on 7.5 years old and probably our oldest-lived. Adrenal disease, insulinoma. Monthly Lupron, and oral prednisone BID. She’s slowing down a bit now, but still very strong physically. Fur loss on her tail and flanks. I’m not sure what we’ll do next, after the inevitable, whenever that happens. Our decision keeps coming around to “guess we’ll wait and see.” Anything from a rabbit to fostering ferrets with chronic illnesses via the local ferret shelter. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/59 "2010-02-02T15:18:43Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I understand the tendency to sympathize in MPSIMS, but that’s not what I read. The “villain” here merely pointed out that cats aren’t kids. We have one quote from her in the entire O.P. > > The rest of **shakespereo’s** O.P. is an attack on a grandmother. I can’t get on board with that. What’s wrong? All he did was point out that her grandchildren were illegitimate and had different fathers and that the woman’s behavior as well as her children’s was not a good illustration of “devout Christian” values. Facts are just facts, and if there’s nothing wrong with pointing out one fact, there’s nothing wrong with pointing out the others. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208/60 "2010-02-02T16:03:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yeah…poor grandmom put out all that incredible effort into disgorging her grandkids, and then runs into someone who takes pleasure in raising cats. I was going to say something like this but you said it better. Most of the grandparents I know are reasonable, rational people, but there are a few who take inordinate pride in their grandkids – not the kids themselves, just their existence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-i-know-my-6-cats-are-animals-you-self-righteous-witch/527208.md?page=4)