A Sad Declawed Cat Moment
by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Cocoa took a fall
Today I'd like to tell everyone of a sad declawed cat moment I witnessed a few days ago.
For those of you who don't know, my death row rescue Cocoa is declawed on all four paws and only claims ownership to one tooth in his entire head. I feel so sorry for my big baby. Imagine how defenseless he must feel.
I mentioned what happened to Cocoa to Michael the other day and he asked me to write a story around it. So here goes...
My house is a cat's paradise to my rescued death row cats. They love trying out different sleeping spots and get along very well in their indoor colony. So when Cocoa decided he wanted to return to his new favorite spot, on top of the microwave, he got my attention.
This was because his usual way up onto the mirrored bar where the microwave sits is to jump up into the padded chair sitting against the bar, then onto the back of the chair, then onto the bar and finally the microwave.
I believe the cats love this spot because they can watch themselves in the mirror between naps. I'm also sure they can keep an eye on the living room by monitoring the mirror reflection. I have very intelligent cats.
And caring cats. Lucky was asleep in the kitchen chair and Cocoa didn't want to disturb his new friend. I studied Cocoa as he walked directly in front of the mirrored bar, calculated the distance, then pushed off with his hind legs.
Then he fell! He didn't get hurt, but I'm sure it was an embarrassment in the cat world. After all, cats are known for their climbing ability.
I knew what was going to happen as it happened. His front paws made a perfect landing. A cat with claws would have had no trouble catching hold of the counter for the brief second it would have taken to launch itself over the top.
I watched poor Cocoa lose his grip and slip. Actually, that's incorrect. He didn't lose his grip because he never HAD a grip. No claws=no traction. His back legs hit the floor first.
He wasn't physically injured. Although I expect his cat ego took a bit of a bruising.
I mentioned Cocoa's sad declawed cat moment to my daughter Laura the next day and she told me she'd seen Misty do the same thing. Misty is another declawed cat I rescued from death row.
Like the poor declawed cats who knead their paws against my scratching posts, my cats can't accept their claws are gone forever.
I don't know how old Misty was when she was declawed. She's not dealing with it very well. It's hard to get her to play because cats like to bat things around and pick things up between their claws. To take away a cats claws is like asking a bird to fly with no wings. You've taken away part of it's essence.
Did any of you know declawed cats can also lose their balance on hardwood floors. Any floor that's considered slick can send a cats legs out from under them. Cats shouldn't have to worry about balance problems while walking or jumping. These are man made problems and they must stop.
Take a look at the photo of my declawed cat Misty. She doesn't have any happy looks. She's a beautiful cat, but some vet cut away a part of her spirit when he cut off her toes. I can feed her and love her and provide her with safety. I can't give her anything that can substitute for the claws she lost.
I also had to include a photo of my little Lucky asleep in the chair Cocoa wanted so desperately to use as a stepping stone to his favorite nap spot. It was so sweet of Cocoa not to want to wake Lucky up. That chair ALWAYS has a sleeping cat.
And finally, I added a picture of my Cocoa, who is trying so desperately to live right now. I can help him overcome a lot of things. A scalpel-happy surgeon isn't one of them.
Have any of you eyewitnessed any sad declawed cat moments. I know a lot of the readers here have rescued declawed cats.
Elisa
click on it for more.
What about loving cats, even though one might have to stop cats using things to sharpen their claws.