Let’s Educate, Not Pontificate! 
By: Robin Starks

I’ve recently had an epiphany. It really was quite by accident and did not involve dogs but, in fact, cats. I was sitting at my desk and Pree’ky leapt upon my lap and made herself very comfortable with little to no regard as to my own personal comfort. Cats are wont to do this sort of thing and this particular cat outdoes herself for making use of human body parts as fine feline furniture.

Pree’ky is short for “Pretty Kitty”—I know it’s a stupid name for a cat but we’re starting to run out of names around here when it comes to pets. As I was stroking her stripey fur and admiring her pure adorableness—not to mention complete gall—I commented to Jimmy that she was so greeting-card cute that we really ought to take her to a cat show and see how she’d do . . . of course, in our spare time. Jimmy is completely smitten with Pree’ky and agreed that NO judge on earth could deny her precious little face and kitty cleverness. With that comment from James, my epiphany began at the precise moment that my mouth said: “For all we two great cat experts know, Pree’ky has 12 disqualifying kitty faults . . . or is incredibly mismarked . . . or whatever.”

I was amused and then thoughtful. How WOULD cat people behave toward us if we were to enter our much adored cat in one of their official events—uninvited as it were?

I don’t have a clue as to what breed Pree’ky is . . . Domestic Shorthair? Into what class should Pree’ky be entered . . . Cutest? Being a reasonably intelligent person, I guess I’d figure out some way how to enter my cat . . . via Cat Fancy magazine? Or the internet or . . . however? For the sake of this discussion, let’s just say that I DO somehow wade through the cat world’s intricacies and manage to get Pree’ky entered into a local cat show and that we’d arrive at the show . . . full of high hopes and wonderment at our great family adventure.

Would we know how to groom our cat? (Don’t cats groom themselves?) Would we have access to knowing what all the terminology in the appropriate breed standard and/or rules mean? Would we have the wits to crate-train Pree’ky? Would we arrive at the show with what is considered a “tacky” kitty crate? What about toys and treats for our cat? Would we know what is healthy or “safe”? If Pree’ky weren’t already a spayed female, would it be inappropriate, rude or presumptuous for us to seek out a studly mate for her? (By the way, if a female breeding cat is a “queen,” is a stud cat a “king”?)

So, what has this silly dissertation about my precious Pree’ky got to do with Rottweilers in particular and dogs in general?

My positing has EVERYTHING to do with the dog world. Though I’ve never even attended a cat show as a spectator (they always do seem to be scheduled when dog shows are on my agenda), I can’t believe that the folks who worship cats can be any more supercilious than most of us in our world of dogs.

I continued to daydream as I wondered to myself what might happen if I joined a cat fancier’s internet list. What if novice cat fancier me were to post the following note:

Stud Cat Wanted: Our Pree’ky is very feminine, very tiny and looks like a half-grown cat. Very unique: Striped and spotted! Green eyes; rust-colored nose. Current on shots, licensed. Wonderful temperament and very intelligent. Will trade pick-of-litter for the use of a large, hunka burning love-of-a-cat. Call or write.

Would cat people jump on me with their collective claws out? Would 20-25 people send me rude E-mails telling me I had no “right” to breed my cat? Would another 15 cat people demand to see my proof of health clearances that I didn’t even know were health issues in the cat species? Finally, how many of those in the cat world would let me know that it would NOT be OK were I to breed my Pree’ky but that it would be perfectly acceptable for me to buy a “good one” from one of them and then to use one of their stud cats? Possibly the kinder (slicker?) respondents might even suggest that I should pay them for the privilege of allowing themselves to professionally present one of their own kittens on the cat show circuit that I would need to purchase . . . from them, of course?

Are you beginning to get the picture? My little epiphany has made me so curious that I’m truly tempted to dip my kitty’s toes into the pussy pool and see what would happen were I to follow through on my threat to venture into the cat world. IS it just the dog people who are so dang-blasted sanctimonious or are the goat people (the horse people; the sheep people; the hog people; the chicken people; the pigeon people) JUST as snooty and overbearing?

What can we do to teach beginners how to get off on the right foot? What does it take to be a truly good mentor? How can we responsibly teach and yet NOT turn off?

People skills and patience help answer these questions . . . that and adhering to "The Golden Rule," perhaps.

Reprinted with permission from the 1st Quarter 2000 issue's Editorial by Robin Stark (pgs. 10 & 12) of The Rottweiler Quarterly, P.O. Box 900 Aromas, CA 95004, (408) 848-1313, editorTRQ@earthlink.net.