See you take what I say and turn it into something that just doesn't make any sense.

All us human scum are soooo lucky that you still continue to associate with us.

And so, what exactly should our shoes be made out of? Hemp? Synthetic? Cat? Camel bones?

And no, your a naysayer because it seems to be your main point on the forum to inform people constantly how incredibly wrong the rest of us are all the time.

Anyhoo, still against people killing other peoples pets to turn them into blankets.

Just like RR's shoes, our shoes should be made out of pure smug.
<--- just in case

What can I say I am kind as well



Maybe start here and make a stand. Be active not passive. True nay sayers are the ones on this forum who are going to all lengths to justify animal slaughter (as seen on all the animal related threads).

http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/
http://www.mooshoes.com/

I think Chem you are smart enough to know that ripping any animals skin to wrap around our feet is disgusting. Most people know that but just don't want to deal with reality. Anyway have fun

As you've asked the question... there are other options, e.g. have a look at vegetarian-shoes. [edit - beaten to it!].

I've been to this guy's shop in Brighton and they are remarkably good shoes.
They used to do non-leather Doctor Martens made in the DM factory, but stopped when production of DMs was moved to China - i.e. their shoes and boots are robust and reliable not like plastic shoes.

I don't eat meat, but at least with leather one can make the case that the animal was killed for food. Turning people's pets into blankets because of an old wives tale can't be justified in any way surely.

I have to agree with RR here. I don't understand how non-vegetarians can get all worked about other people killing cats or dogs for their meat or skin, but are perfectly comfortable with having chicken or beef for dinner.

Either you approve of the killing of animals for human consumption or you don't. Everything else is hypocrisy IMHO.

I know the lady who is petitioning personally and believe me, it's real. Why is it not ok compared to other animals? Well...
... some of the cats are actually the neighbours' rather than property of the "fur trader"
... farmers refuse to sterilise their cats, very probably because of such things as the opportunity to earn money with the fur. The vets do offer to give them a special rate, to no avail. This can become a problem for the "loved moggies" as these "future fur" cats don't get vaccines etc.
... the cats are not killed in a standardised way, so a lot of cruelty goes on

Those are three fairly "neutral" reasons, minus the emotional aspect of it all. I almost had a fit when I read about it, especially as it's complete nonsense, no medical background at all. Apart from the placebo effect of course.


Back to the petitioner(s), they are Tomi and Elisabeth, who opened SOS Chats in the 1980s and devote their entire lives to the kitties. They are also strict vegetarians, so they certainly have the right to get up in arms about it all. I don't agree with EVERYTHING they do or say, but the home they run is a good idea. Basically it's a old people's home/sanatorium for cats who have had it rough and nobody really wanted, they get to spend the rest of their days with load of other kitties and are not put to sleep unless it is absolutely inevitable. If you want to see pictures, there are some here.
[/soapbox]

I can't speak for Chem but I think I'm smart enough to know that if my ancestors ancestors ancestors hadn't ripped apart an animals skin to wrap around themselves, they'd have frozen to death and we'd be extinct.

If you choose to be a vegetarian, that's great, enjoy it. Just don't ram it down my throat and don't expect me to agree with you. And certainly don't chuck red paint on my awesome buffalo skin jacket when I meet you or there'll be bother

I have to say that lot of pet cats are going missing in my area. Maybe the Swiss farmers are rounding them up?
While waiting for bus recently I overheard one lady saying to another that foreigners are stealing the cats for food. I hope she was not referring to me

I know a good dry cleaner

Umm, why? I find pet ownership generally a bit weird. Cats especially. They are not friendly loving creatures, they're cruel hunters.

I read a report from Canada (no source at present, it was some vetinary assoc.) which stated around 70% of women find cats better company than other people; better able to understand the emotional needs of their owners; believe their cat understands when spoken to and would rather be with their cat when lonely than a member of the opposite sex.

It can't be all Walt Disney's fault.

If that's not batty, tell me what is. If one's emotional needs are satisfied with feline company, one is best staying single coz most men would find you nuts.

Bring on the flames, Sisters, while I'm grilling my lambrack...

I agree here with Uncle Max, I have owned both cats and dogs, and love them both but cats are far too independent to give you much attention and its always on their terms, the minute they get fed up with you stroking them they get all prickly and hiss and scratch, dogs on the other hand are lovely soppy loyal fellows who are there for you no matter what, complete unconditional love I say this as my dog is curled up asleep on my desk next to me, she never leaves my side

Apparently, you've never met Leroy. That cat is a lover like no other. Maybe I've been lucky with my cats, cause they've all been super sweet, little bundles of fur who want to be next to me any chance they get.

But did this study by any chance focus specifically on older women who own cats who live alone?

I don't think there is anything weird about pet ownership. There are millions of studies that link having pets in the home to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and a whole host of other things. I'm not sure if I 100% buy it, but I know having animals makes me happy.

But before anybody goes and calls me a hypocrite I can love animals and eat them. I just don't eat the ones I love or love the ones I eat. I like ducks, don't eat them. I don't like cows, chickens or pigs, so I eat them. Like dogs, don't eat them, like horses, don't eat them, like bunnies, don't eat them.

My cat was called Leroy too, sadly he's no longer with us but he was certainly a character, I remember with fondness the time he brought me a live rat into my bed in the middle of the night

Oh, do I have a story to top that. I used to have a cat named Stanley who was probably the smartest cat I've ever known and also a killing machine. He was forever bringing us his kills. He caught a large bunny rabbit once and one time he actually brought home a hawk. The thing was damn near as big as he was.

Anyhoo, one night I'm asleep in bed with my then significant other, it's about 4 in the AM. He rolls over into something that just doesn't feel right. Turns on the light and freaks the out. Screaming like a girl, yelling "That better be gone when I get back" Stanley had eaten an entire large rat and apparently it didn't sit too well in his little kitty belly cause he had thrown the entire thing up, in our bed and SO had rolled onto it. It basically looked like someone had taken a rat and turned it inside out.

Leroy currently lives in the US, with an ex-boyfriend of mine. I miss him.

I've put this pic up before but I'm posting it again.

I'll try to find the source; it made me wanna spew.

At what point did you fall in love with ducks? Would you have eaten one before that point? (crispy duck pancakes - yum!) I ask because I find lambs kinda cutesy but maybe one day I'll fall in love with one and there goes my lamb rack on the BBQ.

Rabbit is great and a very affordable, tender meat in a casserole. I like Bugs Bunny though and am worried about cognitive dissonance, but I take solace in the fact he's only a cartoon.

If people get all gooey over animals it makes me wonder why they can't get that comfort from adult humans. It suggests an issue which has yet to be resolved. Lonely cat lovers, smelling of pee, ignoring the real issues in their Psyche.

Beasts of Burden have my vote. They deserve love. Cats can be skinned for all I care.

How much money is spent on cat ownership? How much does it cost to sponsor a whole bloody village in Bangladesh?

I used to be an advertising account manager for Whiskas and Sheba; I was so pleased to move on after months of working with smiling, cashmere-wearing women and their 'Tibbles'... hence my vitriol. It was like Punk never happened.

Yay for water buffalo

Because animals don't judge you, silly.

And I've always loved ducks. Don't eat lamb either, now that I think of it.

And cats don't really cost that much. I maybe spent $20/month on food with an additional $15/month thrown in during the summer for Advantage (flea medication)

I do find it funny though that there is some correlation between women who like cats and emotional dysfunction. But honestly, do you think the lady who likes the company of her cats over people actually gives a flying whoo-ha what you think?

Bloody hell!!!! This is crazy!!!


So what does one cat go for then???


(my neighbour has 2 cats lol)

You see, my sister has an adorable dog but I have to say, after a few days I find myself thinking it's not very bright because it constantly follows you everywhere, unless there is someone else to follow. That would drive me nuts. I like cats because they are not predictable, they have their own agenda.

But I also know a lot of really friendly, cuddly cats who come and sit on you as soon as you are sitting somewhere. My father has a time-share cat (it belongs to the neighbours but they don't really play with her) and she once woke me up in the night because she wanted to be cuddled and stroked. Seriously. Annoying but very cute too.

My husband probably had similar ideas before he met me, but now he loves and appreciates our cats almost as much as I do. Hee!

I have often wondered why it is that people get their knickers in such a twist about money spent on pets, when I hardly ever hear the same sort of emotions expressed over, say, expensive cars or consumer electronics. That sort of money would go even further in Bangladesh, I imagine. Can someone explain this to me?

ersatz, who has had the pleasure of knowing all sorts of cats, from "dog-like" ones to the stereotypical aloof ones.

Just SFr15 apparently.

On April 1, the NY Times published an article on cat hunting and the selling of cat fur in Switzerland. At first I thought it was a joke (being April Fool's Day) but after more research, I found a previous article from the Blick to substantiate it.

Know anything about this practice here? I've never heard of it and I live out in the country among the hillbillies.

NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/wo...rssnyt&emc=rss

Blick: http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/im-...schossen-83585