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Kamala Harris’ name has been spreading like wildfire as she is the 2024 presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. People are eager to learn more about her as they decide on which candidate will receive their vote. Word has been circulating that Kamala Harris is a cat lady, which can be an added bonus for voters who are fellow cat parents and pet owners. However, Kamala Harris doesn’t actually have any cats.
Despite not having pet cats, Kamala Harris is still an animal lover who has endorsed and helped pass pro-animal legislation. Her history with animal welfare and climate change policies often aligns with animal rights activists and advocates.
Why Do People Think Kamala Harris Has Cats?
Kamala Harris has been associated with being a cat lady after a 2021 interview from Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick JD Vance resurfaced. In this interview, JD Vance commented that the Democratic Party had “childless cat ladies” trying to make decisions for the entire country.1
JD Vance’s comment was meant to discredit the Democratic Party. However, Kamala Harris and the rest of the Democratic Party moved to reclaim the term “cat lady” and changed it to have a positive and empowering meaning.
Does Kamala Harris Have Any Pets?
While Kamala Harris currently doesn’t have any pets, she has received massive support from cat ladies. In fact, a cat lady-themed rally was organized recently and took place on August 4, 2024. Over 21,000 invitees across the country attended the Cat Ladies for Kamala Zoom call to show their support and raise funds for Kamala Harris’ campaign.
What Is Kamala Harris’ Stance on Animal Rights Issues?
Even though Kamala Harris doesn’t have any pets, she’s no stranger to animal rights and supporting animal welfare. During her 2016 US Senate campaign, one of her platform pledges was “Fight for Nationwide Protections for Animal Rights.”
During her time in the Senate, Kamala Harris consistently achieved a score of 100 out of 100 on the Humane Society’s Humane Scorecard. Here are just a few notable policies that Kamala Harris pushed for and supported throughout her political career.
California Animal Protection Laws
When Kamala Harris was the Attorney General of California, she supported various pro-animal rights legislation. She defended the ban on the sale of foie gras in California due to the inhumane practices surrounding the production of foie gras. She supported the ban of the possession and sale of shark fins in California.
Kamala Harris was also a pioneer in pushing Proposition 2 and AB 1437. Proposition 2 refers to the prohibition of keeping egg-laying hens in battery cages, and it was in favor of California voters in 2008. AB 1437 is legislation that bans selling eggs produced by hens in battery cages in California.
Help Extract Animals from Red Tape (HEART) Act
The HEART Act was introduced by Kamala Harris and Senator Susan Collins to help abused animals of animal fights and gambling. This bipartisan legislation was designed to hold offenders accountable by making them financially responsible for the care of the animals seized from federal animal fighting cases. It would speed up the disposition process for federally seized animals to reduce the amount of time it takes for them to be placed in humane care.
Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act
The Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act was passed in December 2020. This act made race day horse drugging illegal, and it formed the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA). HISA’s main responsibilities include regulating and enforcing racetrack safety and developing and administering anti-doping and medication rules.
Big Cat Public Safety Act
Even though she’s not a cat owner, Kamala Harris can still be considered a cat lady due to her active involvement with the Big Cat Public Safety Act. This act was enacted in December 2022. It protects big cats by prohibiting the private ownership and breeding of big cats. It also protects people by making it illegal for exhibitors to allow people to have direct contact with big cat cubs.
Conclusion
Considering the weight of responsibilities that government leaders have, we’re not surprised that Kamala Harris doesn’t have any pets. However, we can be reassured that she cares for animal welfare due to her strong track record of supporting pro-animal legislation. She’s an animal lover, and she fights for policies that protect their rights and promote humane care and conditions for all kinds of animals.
Featured Image Credit: nampix, Shutterstock
