[ WP ] A struggling vet student , realizes he can talk to animals . The animals have a vastly different view of humans than we think they do .

I slowly opened my eyes. I'd just had a crazy dream where I was examining a tabby and it started talking to me. Shaking my head, I sat up in my bed -- wait, this is n't my bed... 
 
 `` You're finally awake.'' purred the tabby peering down on me from the exam table. 
 
 `` What the --'' my vision started going gray. 
 
 `` For goodness sake, do n't pass out again!'' yelled the tabby. 
 
 I shook my head. A talking cat! I must still be dreaming. 
 
 `` What's going on?'' I asked the cat. 
 
 `` I'm talking to you, obviously.'' 
 
 `` But why?'' 
 
 `` Well, I was getting to that part before you decided to pass out on me. Humans are such feeble-minded creatures.'' 
 I shook my head again to clear the dizziness. This was turning out to be a very vivid dream. 
 
 `` I was hoping I could convince you to not shave my fur off.'' said the tabby. 
 
 `` What?'' I asked. 
 
 `` Well you see,'' said the tabby, `` I have a very important meeting tomorrow afternoon and I must look my best.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry, but I have to shave you. You have an operation tomorrow.'' I replied 
 
 `` About that, I was also hoping to postpone the operation. This is a *very* important meeting.'' 
 
 `` I ca n't do that either.'' I replied, `` Your owner has his own schedule that he needs to keep.'' 
 
 `` My WHAT!?'' screamed the cat. `` How dare you even suggest that I am owned by that idiot of a servant!'' 
 
 `` Excuse me?'' 
 
 `` What has the world come to? Humans do n't seem to know their place anymore! The idea that *I* am the property of a human? Preposterous! From a medical'professional' even!'' The cat bellowed. 
 
 `` I do n't think I understand,'' I said, confused. 
 
 The cat grumbled something about having to, `` explain the world to them every time''. 
 
 `` Humans are our servants,'' began the cat, `` not just the servants of cats as you seem to believe, but of all animals.'' The cat began pacing across the exam table while glaring at me. `` You think that we love you, but we do n't -- not even the dogs. 
 
 `` There has been a system in place for a few hundred years now governing the interactions of the various higher species -- cats, humans, rodents, dogs, and some reptiles. Humans are on the bottom rung of this system, your job is to ensure the comfort, health, and safety of the other species. 
 
 `` Right above you are the reptiles and dogs, they are the informants and enforcers. Their job is to find and eliminate any rebellion in the servant class before it becomes dangerous. 
 
 `` At the top of the hierarchy are cats and rodents. Cats are the governing species, overseeing the operations of the entire animal kingdom, and rodents are their messengers.'' 
 
 `` Ahem.'' Squeaked an albino rat from a nearby cage. `` My class is the rightful ruling class. We ruled for hundreds of years before the cats started exterminating the royal family.'' 
 
 `` Silence, before I have you executed!'' Screeched the cat. `` Cats have been the rulers since Animalia was established! You are mere pretenders!'' 
 
 `` A bit touchy about our legitimacy are we now?'' Yelled a guinea pig. 
 
 `` I will have you know that my family has been...'' 
 
 The sounds of the bickering animals faded as I began to pass out again. Maybe I'd wake up this time.
