Actually, that's not fair on the cats. They also love me for my bodyheat and my stroking. And it must be tough living with a vegan when you're an obligate carnivore.
So despite all the seeds and nuts and grains and such like on my shelves, I am of course responsible for supporting the farmed animal industry. A matter of hypocrisy that makes me cringe inside.
That was briefly discussed in a three-day anthrozoology symposium I attended online recently. The incongruity of all these animal lovers funding animal exploitation tends to be the elephant in the room. And it's especially noticeable to me as I am always one of the few more concerned... or as concerned... about wild animals as about domesticates. My colleagues talk about the thousands of dogs and cats their organisations have saved, and I think about the birds and the amphibians and the little mammals killed by the felines, the farmed animals and fish killed for pet food, and the disturbance to wild creatures by snuffling, chasing, bounding canines. I think about how the circle of our empathy hasn't really expanded much beyond "family", given that people often consider companion cats and dogs as "part of the family".
Today a friend showed me pictures of what had been an old orchard - supporting birds and bees and fungal connections - which has been ploughed up for paddocks for horses. It'll be rye grass (that'll give the horses laminitis anyway) and offer precious little to the wildlife.
God, I am so depressing, aren't I? I hear people talk about how there really is a tipping point happening in human consciousness and the young folk really do care about critters and climate. And I think, oh yeah? Show me the change. Life will, I fear, carry on following the money and the money is not in critters.
There always seems to be an elephant in the room. And it's humbling. Thanks for this post. xx p.s Good photos of the cupboard cats btw.