Extraordinary, magical, fascinating are cats.
They unleash deep-seated loves and opposing feelings of aversion, a dichotomy of magic and mystery, unpredictability and impregnability, which characterizes cats and not dogs (much more 'transparent').
Not everyone gets in tune with an animal that, albeit domestic, stands on its own, and at times flaunts an attitude of royal superiority and detachment from earthly things (as long as there is not some mouse or a bowl full of treats nearby. …) It is precisely his being affectionate but not servile, sweet with a hint of bitterness, tender with a wild aftertaste, that we like so much and ... make us his slaves for life.
On February 17 in Italy the Cat Festival is celebrated.
which is added to the International Cat Day, announced in 2002 for 8 August by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw).
- Read The seven myths to debunk the cat
Diana Lanciotti, the founder of the Friends of Paco Fund (initially created to protect the dogs for 24 years is also responsible for the fate of cats :) author of many books on animals try to explain that
cos is it that makes us love cats so much
?
«The characteristic we love most in dogs is loyalty, their giving without asking for anything in return.
In the cat it is that charm, that elusive being while living by our side.
That being
"domestic" but not "domesticated"
.
In Each cat is an island I wrote: "While we have changed radically, not only in the way of life but even in the physical structure,
the cat still retains all its
ferocity, not intended as ferocity, but as that set of pride. and closeness to the origins that characterizes every cat. And it is this aspect that we like about them:
their having remained close to Nature and their true nature.
We have made progress, so many and such that they have, however, the downside of the partial loss or total engagement with Nature, which we do not recognize and, in turn, no longer recognize us. The cat, on the other hand, is the pet closest to the natural dimension, from which we have long since separated. "
To keep a cat at home, there are those who have done the math: although the cat is characterized by a strong sense of independence and a great capacity for stamina, as an animal suitable for living outdoors, it still needs cures to be able to live well, in health, harmony and for a long time. The costs for the maintenance of a cat, especially during the first year of life, can reach over
2,000 euros per year,
with small differences between metropolitan areas and small villages , as well as between hospitals and veterinary clinics, says Anna De Nitto, Veterinarian expert in Feline Medicine (Santa Fara Veterinary Hospital - Bari) consulted by Kruk, the debt expert. The turnover linked to domestic animals in Italy is now of 2 billion and 300 million euros a year, for an estimated 60.3 million population of domestic animals in the country (almost equivalent to the number of the Italian population), according to data from the Assalco Zoomark Report in May 2020.
Dr. De Nitto stresses the importance of making the home suitable for your feline "to limit the stress of the animal.
Almost all cats that live indoors, without access to the outside, develop behavioral problems and diseases related to stress.
The cause is a home environment that is too poor in stimuli.
Many cats are born on the street, free, in an environment where they can hunt, run, climb and socialize with other cats.
These stimuli are almost all less in the home, especially if without access to a balcony.
For this it is necessary to pay for games, scratching posts, paths along the walls with many shelves and Tibetan bridges, to allow the cat to take advantage of the heights, especially in small houses.
Even the safety of the house, in particular of balconies and terraces that must be protected with special nets to prevent cats from falling from above, affects the expense.
It must also be taken into account that the health costs of the domestic cat are all to be paid privately.
In this regard, therefore, it is possible and recommended to also take out special insurance for medical expenses and accidents ".