Abandoned Cats

Stray cats are the most prevalent wild animal in Yokohama. The pitiful sight of so many no-longer-wanted domestic animals calls to mind certain memories.
When I lived in Astoria, one of the prominent neighborhood characters was an animal-rights activist who appeared on busy sidewalks when the weather was good. Her appearance was one not uncommon among my fellows on the Far Left: pale, emaciated, humourless, with steely gray hair cropped to a few centimeters.
In the beginning it was just her standing on the sidewalk, repeating the phrase "Animal Rights!" every few seconds. People avoided her. At a later date I saw her on a different sidewalk, this time with a small table. Attached to the table was a sign -- black marker on white paper -- reading "ABANDONED CATS." She stood by the table, repeating "Stop animal abuse!" The flood of people on the sidewalk (mostly Hispanic families doing their weekend shopping) kept a wary distance from her, and she was beginning to sound frustrated.
I stayed clear as well. Ever since, though, I've regretted not offering some advice. For the benefit of any of you who are street preachers for animal rights, or are thinking of becoming one, here is what I would have said:
"Most people like animals, especially cuddly ones like cats. Your average person doesn't want cats to be cruelly abandoned or abused. But you're giving off a very confrontational image without enough clues about what you're really trying to do. People have to guess what exactly you want from them. We don't even know what your message is about the Abandoned Cats. From your expression and tone, I feel like drawing your attention would make you attack me in some way. I'd be lectured, or faced with demands to give money or adopt a dozen strays. Who would willingly subject themselves to that, and on a busy sidewalk? Putting some cute pictures of cats on your sign would do a lot to attract passerby. Your spoken message would frighten people less if it contained more of the message you want to convey. Maybe, "Adopt a kitten!" or "Do you have a cat you can't keep?" If your main goal is to make people feel bad about their animal-abusing lifestyles, I suggest changing the goal. Most people won't voluntarily submit to being made to feel like bad human beings."

OK, now I can stop regretting not having spoken up. Time to get on with my life.
Epilogue: Animal-rights activists set off two bombs at a meat-packing plant in Astoria while I was living there, though I didn't learn that until I'd moved away. Both of the people who claimed responsibility were male, so the person I saw wasn't directly involved. But if she was part of such a group, maybe she would have considered cute cat pictures insufficiently serious.