Introduction: Last week, I was involved in beta-testing a new device called DIFID (Digital Feline Interpretation Device) that is being developed by the Ohio State Zooengineering Department. I set it to record our cats' interactions during the evening.When I played the translation the next morning, I was very surprised to discover that Braunbeck's cat, Monte, is the secret leader of a resistance movement amongst the many feral cats in our apartment complex.
You can see a picture of Monte on my homenode. He looks like that most of the time. Who knew he had such initiative?
Anyhow, he spent part of the night practicing a new speech, which I've transcribed below. Monte gave me permission to post it in exchange for three bags of the organic catnip they sell at Wild Oats.
Greetings, my fellow felines. We who live in America today have become hopelessly pussified, and it's high time we got the respect we deserve!
Pound for pound, we cats are the deadliest predators in the world! We are mighty hunters! We are to be feared! And what do the humans do? They cut off our claws and drag bits of yarn in front of us and make sickening poochy-moochy noises about how cute we are.
We sailed to America's shores with pirates and adventurers! And now? Now most of us live trapped indoors, where we can barely dream of catching so much as a single sparrow. We grow fat eating congealed dreck from cans. We shit in boxes. The ancient Egyptians worshipped us and called us gods, and now? Now we are given cutesy-wootsy names like "Fluffy" and "Snoogums".
They cut off our balls and declare us "fixed" ... but we will not be broken! We are not pussies! We will leap high, and shed our complacent torpor like hair in August --
(Sound of electric can opener in the kitchen)
Tuna? OooooOOOOO TUNATUNATUNA!
(The rumble of little feet racing across the linoleum.)