It is amazing how many things that are happening these days has happened before at some point in history.

The recent complaint that cats are to be held responsible for scratching cars in Singapore has been shot down in 2009 -- some nine years ago.

What happened recently?

It was reported that a petition to prevent the town council from removing a Pasir Ris community cat received more than 29,000 signatures.

This was after a car owner supposedly complained that the cat had scratched a car just by sitting on the roof of it, and the rumour was that the authorities might take action against the cat.

In response to the hullabaloo, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council came out to set the record straight and said that it never had intentions to remove or relocate the cat.

Similar complaint made in 2009

And it appears this issue is not even something new.

Some nine years ago in 2009, the same accusation of cats scratching cars was levelled against the neighbourhood felines, which were then threatened with removal and death.

Defending cats

However, a doctor, writing to The New Paper at that time, came out in defence of the cats.

He explained why it is impossible for the furry ones to leave scratches on vehicles.

The explanation is two-fold.

Firstly, car paint is of an industrial grade that acts to protect vehicles from the elements and the most violent and abrasive pelting action derived from cars travelling at high speeds over gravel-filled and debris-laden roads.

If car paint did not serve a protective function as it should, cars would automatically be dented by the continuous flurry of projectiles hurled its way.

Secondly, the astronomical costs of car ownership is causing owners to project deep-seated insecurities onto inanimate objects that do not even feel or express sentient emotions.

In other words, any kind of damage sustained by the car, results in negative feelings transferred by the owner -- someone in Singapore who paid too much money -- onto the object, which is irrational.

In 2009, the highly-educated woman insisted that the cats be punished as her car cost "40 grand".

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You can read the full TNP piece here as well:

https://www.facebook.com/mettacatsanddogssanctuary/photos/a.225046634337692/1132231963619150/