User blog comment:ShawnCognitionCP/Alien: The Horror God, and if You've Been Influenced/@comment-26030957-20150227052405/@comment-26030957-20150228045259

Got a bit more.

Of course this film is about the rise of feminism in the 1970s.

As you pointed out, Shawn, it predates and ushers in the rise of the slasher film. But, I think we must note, unlike Texas Chainsaw, which does predate it by several years, the female protagonist running through dark shadows, chased by a monster, is no meek victim. Though she is in her underwear she is never taken captive and forced to preform in some patriaricahl family ritual. She is a strong woman who fights bravely and ultimately wins by her own merit. She is not saved by some trucker, as in Chainsaw. She does it on her own.

Okay, now you tell me what the cat symbolizes.