Cats etc.

[Toffee]

This is the third time I have tried to submit this question and nothing happens. What do all you catlovers out there think of the latest crazes reported on tonight's BBC News website of firstly being able to place obituaries for your dead moggies in a so-called quality newspaper, and secondly buying "specially formulated" bottled water for consumption by live ones? how many of you would go for it?

[Wisebird]

I love my cats and give them as good a life as I can, but I wouldn't consider going this far. I don't even buy specially formulated bottled water for my family! None of my family has ever had an obituary placed in a newspaper, so I won't go for it with my cats. I would rather give my money, if I had any to spare!, to a charitable cause. However, I don't suppose it does any harm to those that do such things and if it makes them happy then good luck to them. We all have different values.

[Greedyfly]

My cat rarely drinks water so I wouldn't buy it - waste of money, if I can drink tap water I am sure my cat can. As for obits - how daft is that, but I don't believe in them in general anyways. If and when my moggy dies I will bury him and miss him but thats it - thats life.

[PurplePixie]

Probably catch on with cat lovers who have more money than sense...I'd rather spend my money on pets when they are alive. I have 11 cats at the moment & when they pop their clogs, I give them a dignified departure,a great send off & plant them in the garden. i definitely don't think any of their cat friends would read a daily paper if I was to announce the death. As regards specially formulated bottled water, pleeeeease...my cats prefer pond water everytime!

[smudge]

What would be the point of obituaries for cats, dogs or any other animals! I'd prefer to donate the money to Gt Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. As for bottled water, we only drink it when we're out for a drive & tap water when at home. Our cat Smudge preferred pond water & we would often find her with her head down the loo lapping away, bless her!

[Toffee]

I was trying to be slightly provocative with this question but it didn't work. I'm interested in people's views on their perspective's on living beings. Anniekon says we all have different values -- undoubtedly true, but should we, when we're talking about living beings. Should we treat chimps with the same respect with which we should treat fellow humans. If so, how far does it go "down" the animal chain? A few days ago I posted a heartfelt invective against wasps. If there is a cut off point where is it? I have my own view but I would be very interested to know others' views. I think perhaps I should have posted this as a separate question, do you think?

[Toffee]

Sorry. There's an errant apostrophe there.

[smudge]

It was a good question though Toffee!

[Wisebird]

Toffee, Well it is Friday 13th! I personally think that all creatures, including humans, have the same right to to be treated with respect and understanding, and that we should not use the advantage of greater intelligence to abuse other species. This would apply right down the animal chain(including wasps) That does not mean that I think all species should be treated as humans. I know what I am trying to say, but it's getting late and my own brainpower is sadly lacking this evening. I don't even know if this is the sort of response you are aiming for. Am off to bed before I ramble any more. Nite.

[Wisebird]

Having said that, I find it very difficult to respect flies and earwigs! ugh!!

[Toffee]

But , Anniekon, are you a vegetarian ? Do you wear animal products? People for millions of years have prospered on their ability to use their better intelligence to survive more comfortably than other living beings. For most creatures it's a fight for survial and if that means killing or being cruel to "lesser species" that's how it has been. Should humans be outside that practice? If you have a plague of flying ants, don't you enjoy combing them out of your hair, killing them in the process? I've a colleague who I swear has more regard for dogs than humans. He must have paid about �5k in the last 2 months in vets' fees for his 11 year old CKC spaniel and it still died in surgery. Where does the balance lie morally (and if you have views, financially)?

[christina801]

My cat drinks bottled water because we live in san diego, calif. and there is so much chlorine in the water that i dont think its safe to give her sink water. as for the obituary i wouldnt go that far (but i love her though) but i would cremate her.

[Wisebird]

Toffee, No I am not vegetarian, but I only eat a small amount of meat and only if it has been produced under humane conditions. (financially, this balances out - far less meat, but more expensive) I'm quite strict on this. Like you I believe it is natural for species to prey on other species for survival and this includes man. However, to me, this does not include ABUSING animals for food or clothing reasons, ie. battery hens, pigs, mink farms, etc. This is where RESPECT comes in. I think the human race has become too greedy. As for your friend and his dog, I am afraid I would go down that road as well. Rightly or wrongly, pets become part of a family and if I were financially able I would pay out for vetinary bills. However, I would not put a pet through the trauma of keeping them alive just for my benefit. I believe this should apply to humans as well - but then euthanasia is a whole new subject. I could go on forever, Toffee. Nice to have this discussion, though.

[worder]

obituaries for cats? maybe, since some of us are sentimental about pets, but definitely you would have to have the money to throw. i think of Sharon Osbourne doing that! about the water, no way. my cats are indoors-outdoors, and they love rain water as well as plain dirty water from the streets. i do not necessarily agree with them, and find it quite repulsive, but they don't mind my opinion, and help themselves whenever they want.

[Wisebird]

Toffee, Just thought - If I were covered in flying ants then it would be instinctive to try and get rid of them which would mean killing them in the process. This is just self-preservation, a natural animal instinct. I wouldn't enjoy killing them though, or go around stamping on them afterwards just because they annoyed me!

[Toffee]

In your scenario, Anniekon, if they were in the house (and that has happened to us) I find the most effective solution is to use the vacuum cleaner.