The Midrash tells us that when Moshe Rabbeinu was shepherding Yisro’s sheep, a little goat ran off. Moshe chased after it and found it drinking by a stream. When Moshe saw this, he said, “Oy, I didn’t realize you ran away because you were thirsty! Now that you drank, you’re probably tired too.” So, Moshe picked up the goat and carried it back on his shoulders. Hashem said, “If you have such compassion for sheep, you’re the one to lead My sheep—the Yidden.”
The Arizal once stayed in the home of a simple Jew who treated him with great honor and went out of his way to provide for all his needs. To show his appreciation, the Arizal offered to grant his host any request. The man explained that while he and his wife had been blessed with children in the past, many years had passed since they last had one. He asked the Arizal to help them in some way so that his wife could have another child.
The Arizal looked at the man and revealed the root cause of the problem. He said, "Once, you had a ladder in your yard that chickens used to climb up and down to reach their water. One day, your wife told the maid to remove the ladder—not to harm the chickens, but because she was frustrated by the mess they were making. However, without the ladder, the young chickens couldn’t reach the water. Their distress caused them to chirp in sadness. Hashem heard their pain and as a result decreed that you and your wife would no longer have children."
Hearing this, the man immediately replaced the ladder, allowing the chickens to drink freely again. Not long after, they were blessed with another child.
The Kav Hayashar (chapter 7) cites this story in the name of the Charedim to illustrate how Hashem cares deeply for all of His creations, showing mercy even to animals. If Hashem is so compassionate toward animals, how much more so does He protect and care for His beloved nation, the Jewish people, punishing those who cause us harm.
Rav Zilberstein discusses an interesting question: If you see a cat stalking a bird, ready to pounce, are you allowed to shoo the cat away to save the bird? Or is this simply part of the natural order that Hashem established, where cats hunt birds as part of their survival?
He quotes the Sefer Chasidim (#589), which explains that Hashem purposely created animals that hunt and eat other animals. This was meant to teach humans not to feel guilty about eating animals ourselves. Just as animals hunt and eat as part of their natural instincts, so too, it is entirely permissible for humans to slaughter and eat animals without guilt. It’s simply the way Hashem designed the world.
With this perspective, Rav Zilberstein suggests there is no obligation to interfere and chase away the cat, as this is part of Hashem's natural order.
However, he adds an important distinction: Since cats often live off scraps and garbage, and food is generally not scarce for them, it would be proper to chase the cat away. The cat will easily find food elsewhere, and there’s no need to let it cause suffering to the bird unnecessarily. That said, when it comes to cats hunting mice, the situation is different. Rav Zilberstein points out, based on the Gemara in Bava Kama (80a), that eliminating mice is beneficial for humans, so one should not interfere with cats in this case.
This discussion highlights how much care the Torah and our Gedolim show for animals, ensuring they are treated with compassion and not harmed unnecessarily. If those who campaign for animal rights truly understood the Torah’s teachings on the respect and care we give to animals, they would stop opposing practices like shechita, which is designed to be as humane as possible.
If the Torah obligates us to treat animals with such care and thoughtfulness, how careful we must be to show kindness, respect, and care for our fellow Jews!
