Save A Kitty From Extinction! by Mike Royko is an incredibly humorous and offbeat plea to get someone to adopt Royko’s unwanted fourth cat. After reading several of Royko’s columns, I was unsure of where this column would go based on the title, but I knew it would be the unexpected.

I enjoyed how he opened the column with a belief not only he held, but also one that many Chicagoans held as well. I think it was an excellent way to connect with the audience but also address some of the beliefs and superstitions associated with cats. The stories he told of Slats were not only comical but also a bit ridiculous, which helps to further disprove the superstitions.

Even though he states several times, in several different ways, how he could get rid of this unwanted fourth cat that he has acquired, it’s clear that he doesn’t condone the cruelty or sending the cat out to roam since it’s against the law to do so. He does an excellent job of using humor and surprise to compel the readers to save his cat from any danger that might occur if he can’t relocate the cat.

I found this column amusing and engaging. It read almost as a short, creative story rather than a column, something that I think greatly enhances the overall success of the column. It was also rather short and simple in writing, but it told relatable stories and used off-beat humor to make a plea to the audience (one that I’m sure was successful). The column connects a personal story with what’s happening in the world, mainly by mentioning the revision made by the Cook Country Board regarding its animal ordinance. It’s a clever way to tie in the commentary and relate it to what many people could be experiencing regarding roaming cats or their overall feelings about them. I think this column helps to dispels the stigma surrounding cats and could help readers stop and think about their own opinions and beliefs surrounding the issue by Royko’s own outrageous “treatment” of his fourth cat.