[West Ender]

What is this vendetta people have against cats? I hear so much drivvel from cat-haters about how they dig plants up, mess in gardens, etc., etc., ad nauseam. I have a cat and there are lots of cats around the neighbourhood. Sure they come into my garden, much to our cat's annoyance, but they do no harm. The cat next door visits me every morning, has her chin tickled and goes home again. Our cat glares at her and looks "put out" and our dog gives one of those "Oh no, not you again" looks but my garden's fine and I am, believe me, a very keen gardener. There is the occasional bit of latrine-digging but, hell, I use a spade and a hoe or at least a trowel. I put horse manure round my roses, I'm not too worried about a bit of cat manure in the flower beds.

Most of the people I know who don't like cats haven't ever had much to do with them. Their parents didn't like cats so, well, it's what you do, innit? They little realise they are slaves to historical superstition that equated cats with witchcraft and the supernatural. They'll tell you they like children and dogs and squirrels and rabbits but, oh no, not cats.

As for the ardent bird lovers who hate cats because they kill birds, if there were no predators we would be knee-deep in birds. Oh and don't forget the mice, you'd love a few thousand of them on your property, wouldn't you? What about when you go to the zoo, or watch a wildlife programme? Mrs. Lion leaps on a pretty little gazelle (or a butchered one in the zoo). Dreadful isn't it? All lions should be killed, right? Well they're just big cats. It's all Nature, red in tooth and claw, all part of the food chain just like your bird lover when he sits down to a nice chicken dinner or a delicious bit of baby lamb.

Cats are affectionate, intelligent animals. I know, I've had cats all my life. They don't have the blind devotion of dogs. Throw a stick for a dog and he'll fetch it back because he wants to please you. Throw a stick for a cat and he says, "You threw it away, you fetch it back". But sit down by the fire with a cat and stroke his silky fur while he purrs and rubs his head on you. He loves you because he wants to, not because he is your slave. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and I've had them all my life, too. Different species, different relationship, same affection.