You cannot become famous without loving cats and having at least one in your home! Don’t you believe me? Search on the Internet for « famous people and their cats » and you will soon be convinced. Above all, you will never succeed as a writer, poet, artist, musician or actor without having been inspired by your cat….
 | There is a photo on the Internet entitled: “Bob Dylan, A Genius and His Cat, or A Genius and His Human Minion.” On the physical side, most of the exercises designed to keep us fit, such as Yoga, are derived from cat stretches. Scientists too have always been dedicated cat lovers: Dr Schweitzer, Einstein, the list is as infinite as the universe. It all goes to show that it is the cat that is the genius and that it uses its human as an instrument of expression. We compose, write, paint, discover, invent under the spiritual guidance of the cat. The cat is the soul. The Dalai Lama would not refute this. He too has his cat. « Bob Dylan, A Genius and His Cat, or A Genius and His Human Minion » |
The British Government cannot function without its cat. At number 10, Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s residence, there is always a cat on rat patrol. (No rat poison at number 10, if you please! We are too sophisticated to use such disgusting stuff!) The most famous of the Downing Street cats was called Humphrey. Published by Harper Collins, David Brawn’s book: A day in the Life of Humphrey the Downing Street Cat, describes his typical working day. It follows that if France is now in dire straits, politically and economically, it is obviously because her men (and women) at the top have no respect for the feline species and so are not listening to the advice of a little pussy cat to keep them on the right tracks. It was not the case in the 19th century, from which dates the French expression « donner sa langue au chat » (Give your tongue to the cat), which means that it is up to the cat, guardian of secrets, to reply to your question. The cat’s word had considerable weight. Humphrey the Downing Street Cat (Photo BBC) |  |
 | In the Middle Ages, the Church, anxious to suppress free spirits in order to maintain her power over the people and keep control of the coffers, persecuted cats, particularly black ones which were accused of being “the devil’s advocates” and their mistresses, especially if they were women with a craft that gave them financial independence, were accused of witchcraft. France has not evolved much since medieval times. Those who dislike cats and continue to persecute them, thus proving their own small-mindedness, are precisely those who are afraid of independence and open-mindedness. The black cat and hit magnificent look |
One day, we will certainly discover the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything. The answer, indeed, has already been identified as the number 42 by Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy, but I feel sure that Einstein himself would agree that the mystery of that unique, enchanted and enchanting being, the cat, whatever the colour of its coat, gracing this world of filthy lucre, will never be revealed….
By Suzan Kershaw
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First NALA Petition: More than 5.000 signatures for a better welfare of stray animals in France
More than 5,000 people are asking that animals are not euthanized in pounds without good reason and without written advice from a vet. They also ask that animal pounds are up to standards, they are managed in such a way that the animals therein remain healthy and associations that do not have access to a shelter can adopt animals in France. According to current legislation only associations that have access to a shelter can take animals from pounds. These are the demands of our first petition that we sent by registered letter (9th April) to Mr Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, Agri- Food and Forestry.
In our letter we make a summary of the rules and mention how stray animals are treated in France and breaches of animal welfare standards. We offer solutions by changing the legislation, giving ideas on how central and local authorities could take seriously their responsibilities to improve the system and we conclude that the functions "capture and animal pound ", for the sake of integrity, should only be managed by non-profit organisations.
Neighbouring countries seem to have found ways to manage the proliferation and abandonment of pets. Why not France? 5,000 signatories think it is high time that the situation in France changes rapidly regarding the protection of stray animals and that animal pounds are improved and, where appropriate, expanded to meet the increasing number of abandoned and stray animals.
You can read the letter in French here
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