Cats Quote by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
![“[At the scene of a murder] The cats' bloodthirst was normal; it was the way God had made them. They were hunters, they killed for food and to train their young--well maybe sometimes for sport. But this violent act by some unknown human had nothing to do with hunting--for a human to brutally maim…” quote by Shirley Rousseau Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d1/shirley-rousseau-murphy-44289_cats_at-the-scene-of-a-murder-the-cats-bloodt_1774000.jpg)
““[At the scene of a murder] The cats' bloodthirst was normal; it was the way God had made them. They were hunters, they killed for food and to train their young--well maybe sometimes for sport. But this violent act by some unknown human had nothing to do with hunting--for a human to brutally maim one of the own kind out of rage or sadism or greed was, to Joe and Dulcie (the cats), a shocking degradation of the human condition. To imagine that vicious abandon in a human deeply distressed Dulcie; she did not like thinking about humans that way.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Cats’ Perspective”, 2012
Human cruelty is seen as a profound moral failure when contrasted with natural animal behavior.
In simple terms: Human violence is a moral decline.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge human cruelty.
Themes
morality
human nature
animal behavior
violence
empathy
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
narrative
When to use this quote
- animal shelters
- crime investigations
- ethical debates
- educational curricula
- animal welfare advocacy
Key Concepts
ethics
psychology
species hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives humans to act violently beyond instinct?
- How can empathy toward animals inform human ethics?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may oversimplify complex social factors behind violence.
![“Sometimes she could swear that she saw, in Joe Grey's eyes, a judgment far too perceptive, a watchfulness too aware and intense for any cat. Charlie didn't understand what it was about those two [cats]. Both had a presence that set them apart from other felines. Maybe she just knew them better…” quote by Shirley Rousseau Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68b/shirley-rousseau-murphy-44289_animals_sometimes-she-could-swear-that-she-saw-i_2269894.jpg)
