Final answer:
The husband's statement to passersby suggests he is embarrassed about trying to catch a kitten, as he dissociates himself from the act by mentioning his dislike for cats and attributing the motivation to his wife.
Step-by-step explanation:
In paragraph 9, when Carlin's husband explains to passersby that "This isn't my idea. I don't even LIKE cats. It's my wife", we can infer that he is embarrassed to be seen trying to catch a kitten. This inference is supported by his need to distance himself from the action by specifically stating his dislike for cats and attributing the motivation to his wife. This shows he does not want passersby to think that catching the kitten was his idea or that he takes pleasure in it. His statement likely conveys a sense of discomfort or bashfulness about the situation rather than anger, apathy, or commentary on the actions of the passersby.