In chapter seven, there was a sick cat. Random enough for you yet? Isidore thought it was electric, but it turned out to be real. This is an important part of the novel, because it highlights Isidore's epic empathy. Isidore is able to feel for all living things, whether they are organic or synthetic, to the point where he does not even bother to distinguish between them. Notably, he even makes friends with androids; when they tell him that they are androids later (he assumed they were human), he still accepts them Isidore is more intact with his emotions and empathy than pretty much all the other people. I could go on and on about this guy, but you have the bottom line. The cat isn't as much of a symbol itself as it is a way to reveal Isidore's nature in light of the novel's themes and big question.
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