On my way to the train this morning, I found a newly opened can of cat food, just sitting on the sidewalk. Since cats don't have the opposing thumbs needed to work the pop top, I cleverly deduced that a human had left it there.
I picked it up and carried it to the nearby trash can.
I didn't like that it was in the middle of the sidewalk. If the can was left by a Good Samaritan, trying to help out a local stray, why not leave it in his or her own backyard? I was concerned that it may have been tainted, left by a bird- or bunny-lover who doesn't want predatory felines doing what comes naturally in their backyards. Or some fucking cat-hating sadist. Someone who doesn't want a poisoned kitty carcass on their own precious lawn.
A 59¢ can of cat food is not going to come between any cat and starvation. But if it was poisoned, it could have come between some cat and tomorrow.
These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 65!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live just outside Chicago, the best city in the world. I'm an aunt and a friend. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.
What a creepy thing to find in the middle of a sidewalk!
ReplyDeleteTrue! People really do these things! Plus most people who are trying to actually help cats wouldn't put it right in the middle of the sidewalk where people could trip over it or kick it. You did a good deed by getting rid of it. There may not have been anything wrong with it, but who wants to take that chance? Just as you wouldn't let kids take candy from strangers, it is bad news to allow pets to eat food if you don't know where it came from!
ReplyDeleteTrue! People really do these things! Plus most people who are trying to actually help cats wouldn't put it right in the middle of the sidewalk where people could trip over it or kick it. You did a good deed by getting rid of it. There may not have been anything wrong with it, but who wants to take that chance? Just as you wouldn't let kids take candy from strangers, it is bad news to allow pets to eat food if you don't know where it came from!
ReplyDelete