Heroism shows that cats have been maligned

I’m delighted that Tara the cat’s heroism, in saving a toddler in California from an attacking dog, was caught on camera and viewed by millions worldwide. What a long-overdue PR boost for cats.

Throughout history, cats have been maligned, misunderstood, and persecuted by people who didn’t understand them. During the witch craze in Europe, countless thousands of them were burned for being ‘familiars’ of the female alleged dabblers in black or white magic. In ancient Rome, they were also punished in accordance with superstition.

They are still suffering as a result of man’s ignorance. Today, there are 200,000 feral cats in Ireland, thanks to the failure of owners to spay or neuter their cats. They have little protection under anti-cruelty legislation: the trapping and killing of non-domestic cats is an increasing concern to animal welfare groups.