--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And there are my cats, engaged in a…" description: "\"And there are my cats, engaged in a ritual that goes back thousands of years, tranquilly licking themselves after the meal. Practical animals, they pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/william-s-burroughs-528_accepted_and-there-are-my-cats-engaged-in-a-ritua_852379.png" --- # And there are my cats, engaged in a ritual that goes back… ![“And there are my cats, engaged in a ritual that goes back thousands of years, tranquilly licking themselves after the meal. Practical animals, they prefer to have others provide the food ... some of them do. There must have been a split between the cats who accepted domestication and those who did…” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/william-s-burroughs-528_accepted_and-there-are-my-cats-engaged-in-a-ritua_852379.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/william-s-burroughs-528_accepted_and-there-are-my-cats-engaged-in-a-ritua_852379.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ab/william-s-burroughs-528_accepted_and-there-are-my-cats-engaged-in-a-ritua_852379.png) > “And there are my cats, engaged in a ritual that goes back thousands of years, tranquilly licking themselves after the meal. Practical animals, they prefer to have others provide the food ... some of them do. There must have been a split between the cats who accepted domestication and those who did not.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cats have long practiced self‑grooming, a habit that predates domestication and reflects their independent nature. **In simple terms:** Cats groom themselves, a habit from ancient times. Key Takeaway Observe and respect animal instincts. Themes animal behavior domestication independence Mood contemplative observational Type descriptive philosophical When to use this quote - pet ownership - zoo management - animal welfare - behavioral studies Key Concepts self‑grooming evolutionary habits Questions to Reflect On - How do domesticated animals balance instinct and dependence? - What does grooming reveal about animal social structures? A Different Perspective Cats may still rely on humans for food, limiting true independence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) ## Related quotes > [“He props his elbow on the table, absently scratches his temple with his index finger, and I remember exactly what that index finger did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/he-props-his-elbow-on-the-table-absently-scratches-his-temple-with/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [New Rule: Food companies must face the facts: One container equals one serving. 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