by Matthew Cobb
Despite my impression, it appears that Jerry never blogged on the case of Casper the commuting cat, who lived in Plymouth (UK). Casper, like any self-respecting commuter, would get the bus, as shown on this BBC news video:
Now, Casper is no more, the victim of a hit and run driver. As reported in The Guardian: “A notice appeared at the cat’s usual bus stop saying: “Many local people knew Casper, who loved everyone. He also enjoyed the bus journeys. Sadly a motorist hit him … and did not stop. Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed … he was a much-loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended him.”
Vale, Felix!
Laser Cats 5
This sad case is an excellent example of why cats should not be let outdoors in an urban environment.
You can’t keep most of them in, not if you don’t want to be cruel. It’s a trade off between freedom and risk, just like human life.
Cats who are let to roam in a city have a lifespan about half that of indoor cats. It seems cruel to me to expose them to that risk. If one lives in the city and doesn’t want to be cruel, perhaps the least cruel thing is to not keep a cat. After all, it would be cruel to have an elephant and not let it roam, but the conclusion is not to let elephants wander the city, but not to keep them.
(I have had multiple, much-beloved cats, and all of them have lived very happy and extremely long lives fully indoors.)
Reminds me of the pigeons that hopped the subway in New York.
Why fly when you’ve got an urban infrastructure to serve you?
Glen Davidson
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
So it goes.