Caring For Cats, Properly

I HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR with the feline family. I have had the pleasure and honor of a baby black panther sitting on my lap. I have rubbed the belly of a three hundred pound Bengal tiger, albeit a bit nervously. MY sister, a true saint, was once sprayed by a tiger, and standing near her several other tourists were likewise sprayed. They recoiled in disgust. She said she considered it an honor, and was reluctant to wash her clothing. Maybe it runs in the family. Especially housecats, several of which I serve while they generously allow me to live in their home. All seven of my cats were strays, who entered my yard, thus receiving my love and attention. Mark Twain said it best: "Any man who loves cats is automatically my comrad, without further introduction". Among Trump associates, the only one I can abide is billionaire hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, who says that he prefers the company of cats to people. At least twenty five percent of the American people claim to prefer dogs and cats to humans. This number is doubtless an underestimate, since we Americans are not well known for liking one another. A friend of mine came to America from Shanghai, China, and made the observation: "You Americans are the loneliest people in the world. You like your dogs and cats more than you like each other." Guilty as charged. But we are not alone. Islamic culture reveres cats, because the prophet Muhammed loved them. Acccording to legend, a poisonous snake was on the verge of biting the prophet, when a cat intervened, and killed the snake. The prophet appreciatively, gently stroked the cat's back, and there ever after all cat's became beautiful. Soon thereafter Muhammed prepared to attend prayer, and noticed a cat asleep on his prayer garment. In order to avoid awakening the cat, he cut off the sleeve. In Islamic culture, cats are considered to be clean animals, and it is required that all good Muslims treat all cats well. Failure to do this will land a votary in deep trouble. Cats may enter one's home, dogs, which are not considered clean, may not. I remember praising the Islamic societies for their reverence for cats at my local senior center, and sure enough, the very next day, I found on my table a pamphlet titled: "Converting from Islam to the true faith: Christianity". Talk about missing the point..No ma'am, I wasn't attempting to make any comments or express any opinions about the validity of any particular religion, I was merely speaking of the treatment of stray cats, in a cultural context. No sir, I am not advocating that anyone convert to the Islamic faith, nor telling anyone that I have or that I intend to so convert to Islam. I honestly have no intention of waging jihadi holy war, nor of joining the Taliban. I just happen to love cats, and to love people ho care for them compassionately and properly, no matter their cultural or religious context. The only issue here, in my remarks, is the treatment of stray cats..cat-wise, and maybe only with regard to stray cats, the true faith, among the world's great religions, is Islam. In northern Turkey there is a cat sanctuary of several acres set aside for the benefit of stray cats. May the dear lord bless and keep the people who established this. I am told by people who have been there that in Islamic cities, stray cats are well cared for by the general population. The very moment my American-Christian brothers and sisters begin to treat cats in this manner, I will begin to respect them.