Do you ever just get those random thoughts that pop into your head? Maybe its a fact, joke or quote that you heard from a professor, friend or family-member, but regardless of its source, it just pops up out of nowhere.
Today, for some reason, the idea of catness popped into my head. What is catness? What makes a cat a cat? If most people were asked what makes a cat a cat, they’d most likely come up with a list like: a cat has four legs; a cat has fur; a cat has whiskers; a cat chased mice; a cat purrs, etc.
Here’s what popped into my head: If a cat only has three legs is it still a cat? What if the cat was one of those hairless cats with no fur or whiskers? What if the cat didn’t purr or chase mice, would it still be a cat?
If a cat can possess none of the typical cat qualities, but still be a cat, then what does that mean for humans? What makes a human a human?
Do you have a cat Mike? I am guessing no becuase my cat often acts more like a puppy than a cat but Wyatt is all cat. Then too I think part of what makes a cat a cat is their fickle nature.
Humans I am not sure but I think we are very similar.
James,
Thanks for the comment. And good thinking. I hear where you’re coming from. And no, I don’t have a cat, I’m more of a dog person myself, but I do love it when cats act like dogs, I had a friend of mine who’s cat loved to play fetch, etc.