Is it appropriate to ask your neighbor to collar or 'bell' her or his cat? What is the proper etiquette? Is it unthinkable to even bring it up?
Kristy of Oregon say, " . . . that's like telling a parent how to raise his or her child. . ."
Evangeline in Ohio agrees. . .
Walt of Western Pennsylvania states, ". . . cats should not have collars on them. They sometimes depend on silence, stealth to save them from dogs and other enemies. Dogs, now that's another matter. . ."
When two local veterinary clinics were posed the question; To collar or not to collar, the recommendation was unaminmous, "You have to be careful, they (cats), can get caught up and hang themselves. You have to be sure to get a breakaway collar. . ."
Annie, also of Ohio, says, "Oh my. . ."
Dr's Foster and Smith, an online and catalog business carrying a plethora of pet care items displays kitty collars, leads and name tags on it's web page and lately has introduced the "New"
Pet SafeR Micro I.D. TMRescue Cat Collar which stores your pet's vital information on a USB flash card (compatible with Microsoft and Mac), right on his neck for easy retrieval and quick recovery in case of loss. Incidentally, this Pet SafeR Micro I.D. TMRescue Cat Collar is a "breakaway collar".
When was the cat first domesticated? Does anybody know? Tippy and Alfred's Free Pet Newletter online reports that the Egyptians of the Nile Valley were the first to domesticate pussy around 4,000 B.C. The Nile Valley dwellers were largely an agrarian people who accumulated vast stores of grain. Cats moved in to the area from the jungle and outer regions to feed on the rodents who raided the stores of grain. Before long the little fellows grew on the Valley dwellers and they took to setting out table scraps to keep the cats close to 'home'. Eventually the Valley folk allowed the rodent slayers into their homes and discovered all of the kitties erogenous zones. The rest is history!
Archaeozoology in it's October 30, 2007 issue postulates inconclusively that domesticatin may have occurred a little sooner in an article titled, "Early Cat Taming in Egypt", which states ". . . The exact place and date of domestication is unknown. . ." and goes on to reveal that". . . a tomb painting. . . dated 5th Dynasty (c. 2500-2350), depicts a cat with what seems to be a collar around it's neck. . ."
The New York Times Magazine, article by Bruce Barcott, "Kill the Cat that Kills the Bird", Published: December 2, 2007 explores the cunundrum cat versus bird. Barcott details the drama of a retired science teacher/birder who shoots the feral cat, belonging to a "local managed colony" that attacks the endagered species that he is championing and the consequence of those actions. When brought to trial a dealocked jury was unable to come to a verdict and the case was dismissed.
In "Letters: Kill the Cat that Kills the Bird?" Published: December 16, 2007, one reader, LesDreyer of Pittsburgh, wrote that her ". . . domestic felines obey their predatory instincts thus she has employed the 'obvious solution'. . . a small brass bell on a sting around my cat's neck. . ."
The American Bird Conservancy on the web at www.squirrelsanctuary.org/cat.htm cites: ". . . one regularly fed cat that roamed a wildlife experiment station killed more than 1600 animlas (mostly small mammals) over 18 months. . . Birds that feed on the ground are most susceptible to cat predation. . ." The website goes on to disclose The Cats at Bird Feeders Study: A continent-wide study of 5,500 h0mes with birdfeeders during the winter of 1989--1990 showed that the domestic cat was a significant predator of birds at feeders. . ."
Lastly, Petsweekly reports, a "cat will kill it's prey based on movement, but may not recognize that prey as food. Realizing that prey is food is a learned behavior. . ."
If the first collar showed up in Egypt, where does the notion 'to bell the cat' come from? Wikipedia's invaluable resources describes "Belling the cat" or "to bell the cat" as ". . . an English colloquialism that means to suggest or attempt to perform a difficult or impossible task. . . " The origin of the phrase is attributed to Aesop's Fable "The Mice in Council". The mice in the story meet to discuss what is to be done to stop a disagreeable, marauding feline who is attacking and brutalizing their small community. One spunky, snarky young mouse proposes tying a bell around the feral beast's neck in order to sound a warning when pussy is near. An elder of the gorup asks, "Any volunteers?" The moral of the story: it is easier said than done!!!
"Cats and Wildlife A Conservation Dilemma" by John S. Coleman, Stanley A. Temple, and Scott R. Craven, reiterates that sentiment disappointingly, ". . . bells are mostly ineffective in preventing predation. . . even if the bell rings, it is usually too late for the prey being attacked. . . " They go on to predict a violent death of disease or being struck by a car as what awaits kitty if allowed to venture out on her/his own and recommends retaining kitty within a ". . . fenced enclosure. . ."
Helen, who works in wildlife rehabilitation and specializes in song birds strongly warns, " . . . keep your cat in the house. . . there are many more diseases that can be passed on from bird to cat and cat to human" today.
In the summer of 1729, after three years of drought and famine ravaged England and Ireland, Jonathan Swift wrote the essay, "A Modest Proposal" a ferociously brilliant satire suggesting that a "well nursed. . . one year old is a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food. . ."
Does it perhaps follow that in 2008 with increasing rates of unemployment and dwindling resources, human over-population and excesses in the pet trade, could the domestic feline be the next white meat? Can we solve the world's hunger problem with pussy? Certainly the 'domestic long hair' is the most difficult to fricassee from the litter box to the frying pan, but with adequate gorging on native American bird species, the 'domestic short hair' could provide adequate and ample nutrition to the mutitudes unable to procure pork and chicken due to rising grocery costs. And isn't the white meat the most versatile, the most tender, delectable and toothsome?
Broasted Mr. Jingles this evening, Miss Kitty tomorrow stewed, broiled Emily and Elsa for company on Sunday, jerky of Felix in little Timmy's lunch pail!!! The vicissitudes of feeding on the friendly tabby down the road that ravaged your cat-mint at 3:00, the splendor of sauces succulent with the sweet meat of Tom from across the street!
One question, was Mr. Jingles wearing any identification? Was he clad in a glad plaid collar that tinkled delicately? If so would you, could you choose Mr. Jingles for your dinner? I think not!!!
Isn't the collar with the bell the outward sign of feline civility? It may or may not follow that 'Daisy Mae' knows why she is not as successful at the kill as 'Blue' or 'Grey' with that jangling bell-a-dangling at her throat, but it is a visible symbol of ownership, domesticity and responsiblility to the wild kingdom at large. This puss is no ration; no stray, no killer.
I am not suggesting that we start ingesting un-collared kitties or kitties in general, but what would the criteria be for choosing your dinner if cat was cuisine and you were hungry?
End.
The staff and management of ARTIBLES@blogger.com in no way propose ingesting domestic felines for their nutritive values which have not been established and are not under scrutiny by the FDA.
The names have been changed to maintain the anonymity of the sources.
All websites, journals and magazines that were reasearched and cited have been documented to the best of my ability within the text of this article, thanks.
Thanks to all those whose invaluable input provided fodder for this article.
Note: the writing style of this article is based on that of Carrie Bradshaw, "Sex in the City" the series.
Enjoy your pets responsibly and protect Native American Birds.
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