I was strolling in my garden. Watering the edible honeysuckles and the rhubarbs. I saw a big beautiful green lizard, Lacerta viridis, in the pleasurable sun. What a beauty! I went back to my work: building a dry stone wall.
Then I saw my neighbour’s obese cat moving fast in the background and realised she had just caught the elegant reptile I admired one hour before… I shouted and tried to save the victim. I almost caught the pussycat but my grip was too weak and she managed to escape with my lizard friend in her mouth. I watched the dreadful killer escape in my neighbour’s garden where I couldn’t possibly go… I gazed at the prey moving between the feline’s jaws. And now I'm full of tears...
That’s the second time she caught a green lizard in my yard; I swear it will be the last! I know, while I’m writing here, the obese pussycat is torturing the lizard. Cats don’t like reptile flesh. It makes them sick. With zero empathy, they just kill for sport and torture for fun.
I’ll build an electric fence around my garden, as planned. And, I swear, I’ll make clear to any cat that they ought to stay away from me.
Tell me “It’s the cycle of life!” as anti-vegan would argue, if you dare! Why love dogs and eat pigs? Why is there a cat lover thread in this forum and no lizard lover thread?
I used to be a cat lover when I was a child. I chose our pussy’s name: Aster, like the flower… I must say we had a great relationship… But that was in the Good ol’ days, the Great ol’ days, the Grand ol’ days! I like her to be the best mouse assassin in town! She slaughtered so many! In the barns, the cellars, the fields… I was so proud of her! We cuddled so often! One morning, she ate a rodent who was intoxicated with rat poison. She must have been very thirsty because of the stuff…. She drank so much water, her tummy might have exploded… Live by the sword, die by the sword!
But anyway… I’ll dedicate this tread to all the victims of our carnivorous beloved pets.
Hello
,
I am a vegan and a lover of all animals. I do prefer dogs, but I love my cats.
I agree that it would be better in many ways if all (suitable) cats did live indoors. I love all animals and care about wildlife very, very, very much...
However, I will say that it is in cats’ natures to hunt. It is their natural instincts. It’s what would have kept them alive in the wild...
Humans are different. Humans have a choice and have greater capacity for empathy and morality than cats do. Humans also often have far less instinct to hunt and kill, although humans do more unnecessary violence to other animals than any other species and some humans do hunt and kill animals.
I understand that you’re upset about the lizard, but please try to understand that it is natural instinct for cats to hunt and kill, even if they don’t eat the prey. They possibly don’t actually hunt for “fun”, even if they don’t always eat their prey, even if they let the prey go and then pounce again (they are likely to be practicing their hunting skill when doing this - a natural behaviour which other, wild felines as well as our domesticated feline friends may do as well).
Please don’t hurt or kill that cat, or promote cruelty or killing of cats. It goes against the ethos of veganism to abuse or kill animals unnecessarily, or to promote or support unnecessary killing or cruelty to animals. That cat is still a sentient being with a right to live and live well. That cat still has the right to kindness. As vegans (and as people), we should all be kind, compassionate and loving towards all animals, and all sentient beings, no matter what. Cats have rights and feelings, too.
Instead of putting up an electric fence, maybe you could ask kindly that the cat’s carer keep their cat/s inside all the time? This way, you could help save more wildlife. You could help protect the wildlife in the whole neighbourhood/vicinity rather than just in your garden... If they won’t keep the cat inside all the time, maybe you could try using lots of humane cat repellents and deterrents. You could also put up a better (non-electric) fence that would keep cats out of your garden...
If the lizard died, maybe you could hold a funeral for the lizard and bury him/her properly and let his/her body be eaten by other critters. You could also pray and sing for the lizard and do him/her a grave and plant some native, wildlife friendly flowers, trees and plants in his/her memory, helping other wildlife, too. You could also make a stone grave for the lizard. You could also donate to wildlife charities in his/her memory...
If the lizard is still alive, but suffering, please, please take that lizard to a good vet and/or a wildlife rehabber...
Thanks
.
