This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Celeste MacMurray. Find her on Instagram at @clsmsanchezx. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you’re a cat lover who always has a feed full of cat videos, you’ve probably stumbled across the cat distribution meme while you scrolled. It’s an enigmatic concept that only cat owners and cat people seem to understand like you need to be in the know to know. It’s a peculiar phrase when you hear it for the first time, because “cat distribution system”? It makes you wonder if there’s some secret society you don’t know about. Even if the video’s caption doesn’t say cat distribution system itself, you’ll find people in the comments dropping the term. Like this video with an ambush of kittens, for example.
There’s no secret society (maybe), but the phrase refers to the phenomenon of how many cat owners got their cats. If you know people with cats, there’s a chance you’ve asked them how they got their cat and at least one person will say they found their cat outside and took them in. That’s the cat distribution system at work.
The cat distribution system meme is meant to give a name to this common occurrence of just how many people have adopted stray cats. I’ve even heard stories of people being approached by the cats themselves, showing the other side of this system. Sometimes it seems like the cat chooses you themself to be their owner, making the phenomenon all that more special. The “cat distribution system” is thought to be a natural way that cat ownership and adoption just happens by the unknown force of chance.
If you happen to be blessed by the cat distribution system, you should make sure you have the means necessary to take care of them. This includes taking them to the vet, buying food, a litter box and any other health expenses they may need. This is especially important if that cat you’re taking in has been a stray for some time; they need the check-up to make sure they don’t have any health problems and to get any necessary vaccines. Spaying and neutering your pet is also a responsible choice to make once your cat is old enough as newborn kittens are too young to have a procedure done.
Spaying or neutering an animal may sound intimidating, but ultimately it is for the overall wellbeing of your pet. You should talk to your veterinarian about the kind of procedure you would like to have done for your cat as there are different spaying and neutering procedures available. Most surgeries remove the gonads, but hysterectomies and vasectomies are options that can also be performed.
By getting this procedure done, you prevent animal overpopulation, unplanned litters and lower your pet’s chances for future health risks. By spaying a female cat you prevent them from getting uterine infections and reduce their risks for breast cancer. You can also prevent your male cats from developing testicular cancer and other testicular diseases. You will also stop your female cats from having heat cycles every month as these can be particularly intense. Neutering a male cat will lessen their breeding behaviors such as urine-marking, for example.
As you are researching on how to care for your new cat, you may come across people who advocate for cat declawing, but know this is a highly unethical practice. It’s illegal in several countries and the states of New York and Maryland. Not many other states have outlawed the practice, but many cities across the country are passing their own legislation against it.
The procedure is not a medically necessary one and is only ever done by choice of a cat owner. What declawing entails, however, is a highly painful process for a cat. Declawing requires the removal of the last bone of each toe, while tendonectomy is the removal of the tendon that controls the claw.
Both procedures remove a cat’s claws, but the complications that can arise from these surgeries are not worth it. Cats experience higher risks for infections, paw pain, back pain and even possible tissue death after these surgeries. The healing process afterwards is also incredibly painful for a cat. There are some cases where claws have grown back after incorrectly performed surgeries and cause further nerve damage. Some cats may even become biters after the procedure as they no longer have any claws.
All in all, the procedure is not necessary and is an inhumane one that will only cause problems for your cat. Instead of a surgery like this, you can trim your cat’s nails regularly and purchase scratching posts and scratchers for your cat.
The cat distribution system is a glorious thing, but if you plan to take a cat in, be sure you’re well-informed and have resources readily available so you can give your pet the best care possible.
Have you ever experienced the cat distribution system meme first hand? Tell us the story behind you and your fur baby!
Leave a Reply