However, the provided link does not seem to work due to the huge length of the thread (it’s trying to create a tree threaded discussion out of 4189 posts), but I was able to see several references to it inside, including the beginning as a snippet.
Due to the new release of Google Groups, I was able to go through this thread and found the original reference on page 41 of the thread, posted 08 Aug 2000.
Is the source online? The first page of Google results seems to be just people quoting the line.
I tracked down the source as rec.arts.sf.fandom, 09 Aug 2000 (previous to any use as a quote), in a thread titled, “Do cats go to heaven?”
It’s (sort of) available online in the Google Groups archive.
However, the provided link does not seem to work due to the huge length of the thread (it’s trying to create a tree threaded discussion out of 4189 posts), but I was able to see several references to it inside, including the beginning as a snippet.
Due to the new release of Google Groups, I was able to go through this thread and found the original reference on page 41 of the thread, posted 08 Aug 2000.