My Pact with Bob Barker

The cat had seven kittens.

I reached animal capacity as the first kitten was born. I, who love all animals, began to feel suffocated. Barry reached this level by having one dog. Me, it takes awhile. But glad to know I have limits.

I was totally irresponsible by allowing the cat to get pregnant - broke my consistent inner pact to myself, the planet and Bob Barker - but I wanted the kids to see something born. I've always gotten my dogs and animals from the pound, always had them fixed, I do my share for not coating the planet with fresh animal babies. But I decided with the cat I could let the kids see some mother nature at work.

We watched all the kittens slip out like wet baby seals. The kids got to see what a placenta is, and how good it tastes to a cat. The kids are caring for the mom cat and finding future homes for her babies with the families at school. Maybe we'll perform our own home spaying to further finish the science lesson. I'm sure I've written the Ehow article on it.

Growing up, my mom raised German Shorthair Pointers, so we saw lots of puppies being born, raised and sold. It was a great memory, seeing how the body works, seeing something from the beginning and watching it grow. We played with tons and tons of puppies, and learned how to care for dependent beings. (And clean up poop.) Which has turned out, for me -- to be the stuff of moms. I'm ten years in, caring, cleaning, feeding. And loving it.

It could just be that I don't really like cats that much, so that lack of devotion coupled with rampant cat reproduction kind of haunts me on a personal and global level. I can see how some of these people who watch "Price is Right" may need to be reminded every day to spay and neuter their pets, like it wouldn't occur to them. Adding more possibly homeless cats to the world freaks me out, cause they aren't as great as dogs. What if no one wanted them? But was it better for my mom to have bred dogs and sold them, when there were already unpedigreed dogs rescueable in the pound?

I'm not all that interested in the battle of right vs wrong. I just know when I cross my own personal lines of right, and float into uncharted territory. I'm seven cats in. But I will honor my commitment to them, and will not make them into a rug. 1already has a home, 6 more to go.