Cats in the society of the Second Polish Republic

Abstract

The article presents the attitude towards cats – and more broadly to all animals – in the society of the Second Polish Republic, and seeks to answer the question of whether any considerable evolution in this aspect could be noticed within the twenty years of the state’s existence. It discusses the living conditions of domestic cats, the issue of cruel treatment of these animals, their use as a resource (e.g. in the fur industry). The analysis answers the question of why so many people feared cats and considered them to be dangerous.