To the woman who brought her cat to the Apple Store

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To the woman who brought her cat to the Apple Store on Regent Street in London this month, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and I needed to write something to express my anger.

Someone asked me recently if I’ve got any opinions that I’d be reluctant to admit in front of people. One is that I’d rather see a human being tortured than an animal. I know it sounds crazy. But it’s how I feel. And I think it’s because animals can’t defend themselves. Can’t speak up for themselves. They can’t even make sense of what’s going on around them half the time. And they depend on us humans to make an extra allowance for that.

So when I see ridiculous things like cats in prams in Apple Stores, something really deep inside me breaks. And I wish I’d said something to that woman. But I wasn’t able to at the time because I was too pissed off.

To the woman who brought her cat to the Apple Store

You brought your cat to the Apple Store tied in a pram.
Let me guess, “He’s perfectly comfortable”?
Let me guess, “He loves the attention”?
Let me guess, “He goes with you everywhere”?
Your cruel grip makes me sick.
I can see you’re not ashamed, so I won’t ask.
And now, this poor cat glares, flinches, bewildered.
He was born a king, in the woods, skulking in the trees!
He was strong and independent, rolling in the leaves!
A curious whiskered wild wandering king above the eaves!
Now, he’s stuck in your wheeled cage, at the Genius Bar.
Like a voiceless prisoner paraded out
Photographed and prodded
To stroke your bloody ego.