Do you think the hospital wing had resources for treating cats, too? All it takes is one dropped beetle eye, one gillyweed root, one spontaneously combusting puff ball…
And let’s face it, cats would happily chew on plastic bags and straight up danger if we let them. Electrical cords? Zap noodles. Can you imagine the trouble cats get into at a school where they have free access to magic?
“Uh hey Andrew your cat is totally stalking the giant squid”
“God damn it not again”
“My cat is terrified of the house elves and refuses to let them clean the common room, the trash is piling up, send help”
“Yeah she ate something on the floor and she’s been floating around knocking things down for about 3 days–oh yeah, she’s having a blast, but the litter box is on the ground so you tell me”
“What do you MEAN she killed it in the forbidden forest it’s 3 times her size–KITTY DON’T EAT THE ACROMANTULA”
“Guess who has a lifetime ban from the greenhouses?? You do!!”