Scat cat stabbed in drunken mood

Even if this were a more “routine” story, a news story about a cat named Scat would get to be the Friday scatblogging post on name alone.

But the story has more than that.

First, it’s a therapy cat. Now, while I believe pets can help people calm their emotions, I also believe an unconditionally-loving dog would be better for that than a cat.

Second, a cat “initially leery of people” probably wouldn’t be the best therapy cat, anyway.

Third, the combination of the first two lines of thought shows just how much “projection” is involved with people’s relations to their pets.

Do dogs, or maybe even cats, have emotions? Sure. But, are they of anywhere near the complexity of human ones? Absolutely not.

Dogs don’t have guilt feelings, for example.

Finally, there’s this: Animal rescue group Pasado's Safe Haven has offered to pay all of the cat’s vet bills, now at $300 and counting.

This is a 10-year-old cat taken in as a stray. At a church that appears to serve homeless, addicts, etc., and which, religious institution or not, could use $300 for programs more than for an old cat.