by Allan M. Heller

Created on: July 18, 2007

Anyone who is willing or claims that he is willing to spend $22,000 on a cat is not a true cat lover. Such a person considers the cat to be nothing more than a commodity, an investment whose offspring will each fetch as much or more than the original $22,000. Alternately, the poor feline will be treated like an expensive toy or piece of jewelry, meant to garner compliments or prestige for the owner from like-minded snobs. Even from a purely financial standpoint, purchasing a cat for two grand is a risky proposition: one might not be able to find a buyer vain or foolish enough.

Supporting breeders and "brokers" of animals is also ethically questionable. Not only do such businesses demean cats, they attempt to play God by breeding newer and more exotic animals, even claiming that some breeds are hypo-allergenic. A cat is not a pillow or a down comforter!

True cat (and dog) lovers, do not consider themselves to be the animals' owners, but rather their guardians or foster parents. Adopting a cat and paying the nominal $25 or $50 to an animal shelter is a true act of altruism. Felines are not meant to be status symbols or "cash cats," so to speak, but to provide their masters with companionship and comfort. The question is not even so much about money, but principle. Domestic cats often live 15 years or more, many exceeding 20. That's a lot of pet food and kitty litter, not to mention veterinary care. Cat lovers who adopt an animal for "free" might spend hundreds or thousands of dollars over the course of their pets' lives. Other costs include shredded furniture assuming that the cat is not declawed- and the occasional transgression on the carpeting. Cat lovers put up with this. If a $22,000 cat makes a mess on the living room floor, the odor will be just as bad!

There are many exotic and beautiful breeds of feline Persians, Himalayans, Siamese, Burmese- and there are those individuals who genuinely love their pricey pets. But a cat costing thousands of dollars is not a pet.

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