don't read this

saying sorry to a cat

it may sound cute

but does it make sense to say sorry to a cat

does it make sense to say thank you to a cat

do these make sense even if the cat understands you?

rather, i should ask...

if you say sorry to a cat and the cat understands... how does the cat understand you? (the cat understands you as saying what?)

(cat: are you sad and need reassuring? do you need absolution from me? why are you demanding something like this... i am a cat)

and if you say thank you... (cat: for what? i do what i want to (and i want you to be happy). are you saying i am doing this out of obligation? am i being trained? why can you not just love me as a cat? do you love me like a hunting dog you feed and starve and train? am i a slave and not a cat?)

even if "thank you" may feel to the speaker like "i am happy, i am glad you did this"... is it "glad" because to not do that would be the wrong answer?

if you ask something of a cat, and the cat understands (and loves you! and is loyal to you!)... won't it try its hardest?

what happens when a cat has the power of a god... (how is one cursed with this, what ill fortune produces such a creature, and at what cost is such power enacted)

you better fucking be careful about what you ask.

but can you be?

what do you ask without meaning to? AND WHY ARE YOU? WHAT RESISUDE COATS THE CRYSTAL OF YOUR SOUL, WHAT CRYSTALLINE DEFECTS WARP THE LIGHT THAT ENTERS? TINGE IT FROM ITS TRUE SHADE AND WEAKEN THE BONDS BETWEEN YOU.

and what does it mean for a cat to apologize to you?

or maybe a dog...

ah, yeah, a hunting dog apologizing to you.

a hunting dog looks for the right thing to say, maybe sorry is the right thing?

dog: "sorry (please don't beat me)"

human: "(i dont know what to say to make you feel better. I am not inconvenienced and i feel useful when i do things but if i say this....then we get to 1)"

dog: "😟 (he's so angry she won't even speak to me)"

dog: "sorry (i'm scared, don't beat me, i hurt you)"

human: "it's no problem! it's no effort for me (don't want you to feel like i'm inconvenienced)"

dog reads above as "it's no problem! (I'm hiding my discomfort, building a grudge in secret)"

dog (out loud): "ok.. (i'm more scared and i think i messed up but i'm doing my best still to show you i'm afraid)"

human, to self: "but also, it wasn't much effort and i had fun too it was silly (i enjoyed it! or is it i made myself have fun which builds resentment or is it i'm so scared i need to enjoy this or is it yay i was helpful or is it ...)"

think...