“The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.” – Mahatma Gandhi
We like to think that humanity as a whole is good, but all of these cat abandonment stories are pushing that theory to the limit. While a lack of education about the responsibilities of owning a pet might have been something relevant in the past, we’re past the point of giving people that excuse in 2026. Humanity has never been more informed about every topic on Earth than right now, especially with most people having access to AI on their smartphones. So if it’s not a lack of knowledge, what is it?
Purrsonally, we think it’s a lack of empathy. By convincing ourselves that it’s going to work out and then focusing on our other problems, we release ourselves from the responsibility for our actions by keeping them out of sight and out of mind. This is the opposite of what Gandhi meant by being “humane” – extending kindness to others and showing compassion to others, even animals. Making mistakes is part of being human, but abandoning a cat is no mistake. Just like the tiny black kitten that got abandoned in PetCo yesterday.
While shopping for something for her cat’s birthday (adorable) at PetCo, a cat pawrent witnessed a man opening up a cat carrier and literally dumping his black kitten in the middle of the aisle. She alterted the staff, who, fortunately, were able to get the poor kitty to safety and set up for adoption. We hope she finds a home with someone who actually appreciates her.
To all of you out there who are thinking about adopting a cat for yourselves or because your kids won’t stop asking you for one, please remember that these cats and kittens are living creatures with feelings. They may not speak the same language as we do, but they understand safety, abandonment, and loneliness. They might survive, but they will never forget.
