July 26, 2006

A New Twist on the Paris/Nicole Catfight

Independence, a knack for perfect timing and advanced grooming techniques are just some of the traits two kittens share with their new owners, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, who have just added a completely new meaning to their catfight.

It seems that all those small dogs that used to peek out from purses and get manicures, making the lives of the rich and famous so much more entertaining, are now being replaced.

Nicole still totes around her Balenciaga bag. Paris still wears trucker hats. But when was the last time you saw a recent shot of infamous Tinkerbell?

New, cuddly-soft things bring a lot of attention, and there is no better time to obtain an attention magnet than right before your August CD release. Hilton has already let the cat out of the bag and graced the airwaves with her newest single. “Stars Are Blind” has generated a lot of controversy, even raising the unexpected question, “Does the title refer to the singer’s fashion taste?” (All evidence in favor). Now the little critter will be responsible for playing a mascot, for which these intelligent and usually withdrawn animals are not a top pick. But what does Paris know about any of that?

No one can be sure what Nicole Ritchie is planning to do in order to exploit her cat, at least not until she gets those four more songs she needs for her album to drop. Maybe she is just doing some market analysis.  The little fuzz ball with which she was photographed earlier this week seems as slim as she is. I hope that Nicole’s “carrot stick and Dasani” lunch menu will not apply to her pet.

But what happens to the old pets when a new favorite arrives? If they are in the same household, the acquaintance with various other species can be stressful for the owners and the pets. The conflict may be mitigated if you own four houses.

But the little ones that used to be in the center of attention, carefully tucked in to a Louis Vuitton case at fashion shows and photographed thousands of times with their owners, will now have to relinquish their positions.

That kind of replacement is heartbreaking for a pet. Animals feel a range of emotions as humans do, and abandonment or replacement is as painful to them as it is to us.

What young women in Hollywood are passing off as the newest trend can be damaging to young audiences, who see the glamorous as never satisfied and constantly pining for new things, even at the expense of others.

Without hitting any soft spots and asking how your kid is doing with that Tamaguchi she promised to love forever, I would like to point out that trend of non-commitment.

Your dog gets old and likes to sleep a lot, so let’s replace him with a brand new energetic puppy. The puppy needs to be taken for a walk, which is a pain in the winter, so maybe you should think about a cat.

That is not to say that people cannot enjoy the company of several pets. The real problem lies in the intentions the owner has for the four- legged addition to the family. Like with family members, it is important to be proud of all of your pets, not only the fresh and popular ones but also the good old buddies with joint and shedding problems. 

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Paris and Nicole can sure pick up some lessons in loyalty and friendship from those who have been around the block a few times. Literally.