Our Cats

The notion of the domesticated cat is based on a fallacy. Dogs can be domesticated. So, can horses, pigs, some birds, some plants, cows, and ferrets. According to the National Geographic Society, "Domestication is the process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use." The dog partnered with ancient man as a hunting partner, the horse was tamed for riding, pigs, cows, chickens, and several kinds of grass, fruits, and vegetable plants were adapted from wild stock to serve as food for mankind. There is a theory which says that cats were domesticated as a form of pest control when grain crops began to flourish in the Nile Basin. However, cats hunt for their own pleasure, not at the whim of a supposed master. A ferret or a small dog can be trained to hunt rodents to earn a reward from their masters, but if a cat does not feel like hunting, it will simply groom itself until the frustrated human walks away.

Biologists debate whether the relationship between man and Felis catus is one of mutualism where two species live together and both organisms benefit or one of commensalism where only one of the organism's benefit. If the relationship truly is based on commensalism, then it should be noted that man is the one receiving the greater benefits. Sure, people provide cats with food and shelter from predators, but these are things which a cat can and will find for herself. Cats are sometimes elusive when sharing their affection but they are usually happy to allow a human to heap affection upon them, and having something to love, whether or not that love is returned, is basic to human happiness.

During the first half of the 1950's, KFOX in Southern California featured a local program called Our Cats, hosted by Guy Bogart. Bogart was born in Iowa, 1883, and according to his obituary, " was a Reporter, Poet, Book Critic, Political Activist, Politician, and ardent cat lover." The Friday afternoon program featured Bogart editorializing an issue of interest to cat lovers, including preventing cruelty, population control of feral cats, writings about cats, the difficulty of photographing cats, and the silly notion of taxing cats and cat owners. A regular feature of the program was a poem about cats, either from Bogart's own writing or his correspondence. Bogart cultivated a network of cat experts who contributed to the show.

Our Cats was presented with the same degree of love and affection for our feline pals as we see in the countless cat videos on modern social media, but with a good deal more dignity, both for the cats and the humans they live with. As Mr. Bogart closed his programs, here's wishing you "happy purrs".

See also: Cat Collection