Domesticity, it appears, leads to overpopulation. Many fundamentalists and right-to-lifers – that large group of people who are wanting to control the world and overturn Roe v Wade – refuse to acknowledge the population dilemma that we face. The fact is, there are too many people on our tiny planet. There are also too many domestic cats and too many domestic dogs.
While domestic cats at first interbred with wild cats, man began to meddle with their reproduction around one thousand years ago. They bred them to achieve certain traits, in physical size and appearance and also in temperament. They have created a “hairless” cat for those individuals who are allergic to cat dander. The same breeding “experiments” are true for dogs. They have been bred to produce over 300 dog breeds, from small dogs weighing only a couple of pounds, to breeds that rival small horses.
There are more dog lovers in the world than cat lovers. In fact, many people profess to hate cats. I believe the reason why dogs are so popular stems from the egoic desire in some humans to control others. Dogs can be trained. Cats, on the other hand, are independent. “Controlling” people do not like this trait in their pets or their children.
I have wondered why cats and dogs breed so prolifically, resulting in overcrowded rescue facilities, where they are often euthanized. Most wild cats and wild dogs are generally speaking, able to breed only once a year. While my curiosity was piqued about this phenomenon, I have been unable to find answers. I have thus come to my own conclusions. I believe that it is the abundance and availability of food and shelter, but mostly it is due to the lack of predators. Animals in the wild are faced with the near constant challenge to stay alive. They must hunt to find food. They are not always successful. They must find shelter during inclement weather. They must remain vigilant in watching for predators bigger than themselves. Often, their young do not survive the first year of life. The same was once true for our own ancestors.
The problems that humans have created are like a stack of dominoes. We have destroyed habitat. We have killed the natural predators of many species. We have thrown the ecosystems of the entire planet out of balance. Everything that we do, whether large or small, affects something else. The only hope that we have for our world, is the hope that more people will become “conscious”. We must wake up from the dream that our own life is more valuable than another’s.
I love cats. Pets are companions for many people and we all need companionship. I adore my new cat companion. He will be getting neutered in the coming month so I can be assured he does not add to the overpopulation of cats. We can pick up, one by one, the dominoes that we have knocked down. We can all do our part to curb overpopulation.
