During the
evening of one of my moms days off she received a call
from lady looking for a home for me,
a small brown tabby female with
double paws (no claws). I had been loyal to this lady for two years.
My mom had heard that if a home wasn't found for me soon,
I would be put down.
Other options were suggested but the lady was
adamant in her decision. Already having many of
her own kids, my mom
was in frustration of this lady's reasons which sent her rushing in raging
anger
to phoning the woman. You see, her reason was because of my fur
and that I was vomiting... hairballs (?!?!).
The woman attempted her
explanation when my mom abruptly cut in and said "look, I'm going to try
not to be rude but I am really upset with this and honestly,
I have no
interest
in hearing justifications, they are poor excuses for giving up a
living being". Then she told the lady that she was coming to get me and
would like to do so as soon as possible. She was at my house within 15 minutes.
My mom was met at the door and found she was justifying herself
by saying
"you know, I really apologize for my disposition but I'm an activist
and this
is really upsetting". As if pacifying my mom, she rubbed her
back and said
"oh, I know, it's ok". They talked a bit about my favorite
subject,
animal issues, of course and in another moment, "the big
one"...
Mom was reminded of something... I had been declawed!!!
AND I'M DOUBLE PAWED!!!
Without looking up, mom's right forefinger brushed across the top bone of
her left one and quietly but coherently said "you know, when they declaw,
they remove their first knuckles". Then it happened, it took
all my mom
had not to sit at the table and weep when she was informed that I still
favor
my paws, at times.
Well guys, she might have been a nice woman but because
of my dilemmas, my mom didn't like her.
When my mom looked over my vet records, she couldn't understand why.
I had been well cared for. All my shots were up-to-date and I was spayed.
The woman even told her that I like to lay on your chest and cuddle.
My mom also called the animal hospital to be sure I am healthy and that
nothing was being kept from her, this way if something was wrong she
wanted
to know what and how to care for me.
Anyway, mom ended up saying a prayer to her Higher Power that night in
forgiveness in the way she treated the lady and found that she was
justifying
herself to Him, explaining it was in the defense of animals.
Then it occurred to her that He already knows.
She wondered if she'd get
judgment on how she treated her or how she
helped to speak for those that can't speak for themselves?
A closing question for those that made it this far:
My attitude is the first mom has ever experienced. She could barely get
near me.
I wouldn't even let her show me where the litterbox is, but I found it on
my own.
I would spit and growl and makes puffing sounds like I was
hyperventilating.
I was just very scared.
I had nothing to eat or drink and there was water
everywhere. As good as everything looked and smelled, I didn't even
want the yummies she offered but...
I ended up having a weak moment the first thing the next morning...
Cat Nip... I think for that small time, I actually forgot where I was.
Then she found me on the counter (ok, for now). I shoved myself into her
hand.
She rubbed my face a bit and ran ran her hand down my back,
then she saw the look on my face and... I SPIT AT HER... LOL.
It wasn't funny but what else could she do but take it lightly in hopes
I would get over it soon.
Mom would just quietly shush me and talk softly. Every so often she'd reach
her hand down in attempts to make friends and hope... she didn't pull back a
bloody stump... At one point during one night, mom
hunted the house high &
low for me & figured I was in the basement, so she went to get a coffee.
When she happened to turn and look to her right, her eyes looked like UFO's,
because there I was, hunched & stretched out from the edge of the top
of the refrigerator like a gargoyle.
I was staring her dead in the eyes and
scared the hell out of her. She gasped and scared the hell out of me and
again...
I SPIT! She knew it will take time and that I was scared.
She knew that I had just left the only home I'd ever known and realized
that I may have never have even seen other cats before.
So she just waited as patiently as possible and know what?
I THINK I'M GONNA LOVE IT HERE!
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