Two Cats Facing Each Other on the Path

By Remez Sasson

We often waste immense amounts of time, emotional energy, and peace of mind defending our ego and fighting for “honor” or dominance.

This insightful story uses a confrontation between two stubborn cats to expose the irrationality of the ego and reveals how our deep-seated subconscious habits can trick us into fighting unnecessary battles instead of enjoying life.

Two cats were walking on a narrow path toward each other. When they came near one another, no one was willing to let the other pass first. They just stood there, screaming at each other.

“You let me pass first,” said one cat.

“No! I was first here,” said the other cat.

“No, I must be first, because I am bigger.”

“No, I must be first, because I am more beautiful.”

“No, I am wiser than you, and you must, therefore, respect me.”

“I am stronger.”

“I have many cats that will hurt you if you don’t let me pass.”

After a while, the screams turned into a fight. The cats started fighting, scratching, and biting each other.

A little while later, a wiser cat arrived on the scene. He looked at them and started to laugh.

The two cats stopped fighting, at looked at him, amazed.

“Why are you laughing?” The cats asked him.

“I am laughing at you and your behavior. You are wasting your time and are hurting each other just because you won’t let the other one pass. The path is wide enough for each cat to pass to the other side.”

“Why are you fighting? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“It is a matter of honor and power.” The two cats said.

The wise cat was amused and said, “Do you need to prove you are stronger? Who cares about this?”

“Someone, who is really strong and self-confident, doesn’t feel the need to show this to others. He or she feels good about himself, and others feel his strength, and respect him, with love, not fear.”

“There is life, there is good food, there are wonderful things to enjoy and to do, and you are standing, here, facing each other, yelling, scratching and fighting. Is this a practical and rational act? Open your eyes and grow up!”

“Is it really important who passes first to the other side of the path? Is it worthwhile to have all these scratches and bites? You are wasting your time, energy and health on nonsense.”

“Look around, and see all the animals around you laughing at your irrational behavior.”

The two cats were bewildered and didn’t know what to say. The words of the wise cat made sense, but their subconscious, programmed behavior and habits were too strong. It was not easy for them to resist them.

Did the two cats stopped fighting and each one went on their way? I leave that for you to think about.

Key Takeaways on the Ego, False Pride, and Subconscious Programming

The interaction between the fighting cats and the wise observer highlights three major blocks to emotional freedom and rational living:

The Trap of False Pride: The cats fight over who is bigger, more beautiful, or stronger, calling it a “matter of honor.” This perfectly mirrors how the human ego creates imaginary conflicts out of a desperate need to feel superior, missing the fact that true self-confidence requires no such proof.

The Abundance of the Path: The wise cat points out that the path is wide enough for both to pass. In life, we often slip into a “scarcity mindset,” assuming that for us to win, someone else must lose, which blinds us to the practical, peaceful solutions right in front of us.

The Grip of Subconscious Conditioning: The story ends with a powerful psychological truth; even when the cats realized the wise cat made sense, their programmed habits were too strong to easily break. Intellectual understanding is not enough; true self-mastery requires actively retraining the subconscious mind.

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