Cats emotionless and selfish?

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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by otto

in my definition of selfish
Click to expand...
You've been amending dictionaries now?

Yes, cats and all animals are selfish - by the proper definition of the word. That's just what an animal is. Humans are as well since altruism is very much a made up concept that does not exist. People just like to believe otherwise because it makes them feel better (which is in turn selfish, too).


To the OP: if the person believes that cats are coldly indifferent animals it's simply their lack of experience with them. You probably wouldn't believe all the misconceptions that at least half of the people posting in this very thread would have about snakes - of course it's more accepted to believe BS about them.

If the person can't connect to animals very well, so be it. Everyone is different and some people simply do not have it in them to make those connections, or they may have to mature further before they appreciate what having animals in their life means. You can't force it on someone. So for for your sanity's sake its often easier to let the subject be.
 
mystik spiral

mystik spiral

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I love snakes.
I always wanted one, but never thought I could bring myself to feed live mice to one...
 
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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

I love snakes.
I always wanted one, but never thought I could bring myself to feed live mice to one...
Click to expand...
You don't feed live mice to snakes, it's cruel and irresponsible. The only time you get stuck doing that is if a snake absolutely will not eat prekilled or prekilled frozen - there are products and a lot of information on how to properly transition just about any snake. But any captive bred snake should not have this issue to begin with.
 
mystik spiral

mystik spiral

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That's interesting, I never knew that! I guess I am also a victim of the "snake stereotypes" you were talking about...
I would still love to have a snake, but I don't have room for a terrarium in my place...
 
otto

otto

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

You've been amending dictionaries now?

Yes, cats and all animals are selfish - by the proper definition of the word. That's just what an animal is. Humans are as well since altruism is very much a made up concept that does not exist. People just like to believe otherwise because it makes them feel better (which is in turn selfish, too).


To the OP: if the person believes that cats are coldly indifferent animals it's simply their lack of experience with them. You probably wouldn't believe all the misconceptions that at least half of the people posting in this very thread would have about snakes - of course it's more accepted to believe BS about them.

If the person can't connect to animals very well, so be it. Everyone is different and some people simply do not have it in them to make those connections, or they may have to mature further before they appreciate what having animals in their life means. You can't force it on someone. So for for your sanity's sake its often easier to let the subject be.
Click to expand...
I disagree with you that animals are selfish, I believe selfishness is a human emotion.

Animals are not selfish, they are who they are. HUMANS can make the choice to be selfish or not.
 
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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by otto

I disagree with you that animals are selfish, I believe selfishness is a human emotion.

Animals are not selfish, they are who they are. HUMANS can make the choice to be selfish or not.
Click to expand...
It's an animal emotion and humans are animals. We're just selfish over stupid things. Animals are selfish over very basic things because they don't want the ridiculous stuff that we do.


It's very basic, really. Selfishness = survival in the animal kingdom. And there's really nothing wrong with it. My cats can be selfish, I don't care.
I'll be selfish, too, and not share my supper with them.
(note: I cook with a lot of garlic and onions)
 
otto

otto

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All right. So what it comes down to is our individual interpretations(
) of what selfish really means.

And yes, I checked my Websters Unabridged.
 
ut0pia

ut0pia

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Originally Posted by otto

I disagree with you that animals are selfish, I believe selfishness is a human emotion.

Animals are not selfish, they are who they are. HUMANS can make the choice to be selfish or not.
Click to expand...
lol, I feel like it's the other way around, humans can make the choice not to be selfish, but by default we're all selfish, all of us in the animal kingdom..it's just that human values and morals teach us to reject what comes instinctively and naturally to us, and selfishness isn't the only instinct we try to overcome, another good example of going against our instincts IMO is choosing to be monogamous..
 
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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by otto

All right. So what it comes down to is our individual interpretations(
) of what selfish really means.

And yes, I checked my Websters Unabridged.
Click to expand...
So you mean there's no otto version of the dictionary coming out? Common reinterpretations of words by cat lovers - with pictures! If done well enough it probably would get picked up for publishing..
Actually that could make a great and fun thread if anyone is interested and has their own definitions for words with a pet/cat twist.
 
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Everybody here knows cats aren't emotionless. And that they do form powerful bonds with humans.

They are selfish, but so are humans.

Dogs are natural sycophants - their survival depends on it - and I think that the dog lovers who hate cats have some need for absolute, unwavering, complete and total loyalty. Of course, not all dog lovers are like this. I love dogs and would have at least one but there is an allergy issue in our house. Thank goodness for cats, they will love you to death if you show them love.
 
otto

otto

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Hmmm...perhaps you and strange wings have it right, that is, if you see selfishness as an inherent part of an animal's make up, regardless of species.

You are defining selfishness as an instinctual drive to survival; with humans, and their more advanced brains, able to reason and make more logical choices.

That's not the way I interpret the meaning of the word selfish, so I can't agree that four legged animals are capable of selfishness.

I am selfish, for instance I have very little free time, and don't like to share it with anyone, want to spend it in solitude, and with my cats, and I don't like to share food, nor do I like to loan out books.

Tolly doesn't like anyone else to play with his fur mice, Mazy doesn't like Jennie to poke her nose into her supper dish, but that, to me is territorial, instinctive behavior, not selfishness.
 
bellaandme

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I think "selfishness" is another human trait on which we try to label our cats. Cats are cats and always have a good reason (in their minds) for doing what they do. I would be insulted if a "friend" of mine said that to me--knowing I love cats--what would she be implying about me? And as far as being emotionless; well, that's just crazy talk! Every living thing can feel emotion...
 
ut0pia

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Originally Posted by otto

That's not the way I interpret the meaning of the word selfish, so I can't agree that four legged animals are capable of selfishness.

I am selfish, for instance I have very little free time, and don't like to share it with anyone, want to spend it in solitude, and with my cats, and I don't like to share food, nor do I like to loan out books.

Tolly doesn't like anyone else to play with his fur mice, Mazy doesn't like Jennie to poke her nose into her supper dish, but that, to me is territorial, instinctive behavior, not selfishness.
Click to expand...
I agree that it's up to interpretation..
And I see what you're saying, how instinctive behavior is just that, with no characteristics attributed to it, and selfish is a human word that describes a human characteristic..in that context you're right.
I'm sure we overanalyzed the definition of selfish to death
 
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