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June 12, 2006
Focusing on Cats
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Cats, in general, are ego-manics. They do not merely desire and crave attention, as dogs do -- cats demand it. Their purr-sonalities are such that they command attention even when they do not desire it, hence they harass you until you put down that book you are reading only to abruptly leave once you have done so. They beckon you from across a room, only to trot away once you walk toward them. As I write this, Mystical Pickles, my youngest cat, has jumped on my lap, placing herself between me and the keyboard -- if I ignore her and type, she head-butts my arm yet if I pet her, she nips at me...
See, for cats, it's all about having your undivided attention. They know they are number one, but the self-knowledge is not enough -- you must prove you it too.
While dogs seem to bask in our attentions with smiles, tail wags and looks of devotion, cats expressions most often display disgust, annoyance, repugnance, and at best, a mere tolerance. This is why cats often make the best subjects for photographs.
No matter what you do to a cat, no matter how silly the sunglasses or hats, the cat remains aloof. The cat's expression remains that of a cat: he finds this all disgusting, annoying, repugnant or to merely be tolerated. He endures such primitive, immature behavior because this is simply what such divine creatures must put up with from inferior creatures (who fill his dish).
When all is said and done, the reason the photo is so funny is because the pose or props are secondary to the cat's indignity. We all like -- no need to see an indignant cat now and then. It tells us we are the ones in charge.
...But if you peer closely at the photographs, past the silly hats and other props, you might just see a very smug cat... A cat who knows that in the end, he has won. Because once again, all of our attention is focused on the cat.
Posted by photocartoonist at June 12, 2006 2:33 AM