Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Danger: Cats Crossing

Cats can be dangerous. I have been injured numerous times by them. Most of the injuries have been accidents, and those that have not, have been my fault: putting a hand where it shouldn’t have gone or rushing trust when it required more patience. Just normal events in the life of a cat-owner.

I pick up Noah, my foster-cat, now and then. When I started doing it, I could tell that he was uncomfortable with it merely because he was unaccustomed to it. His case was not like Josie’s; my Chubs dislikes being held and her reactions to it are quite different than Noah’s. I usually hold the boy so that his forepaws rest on my shoulder, and I stroke his head and neck. He has grown to tolerate and even enjoy the treatment. His natural kittenish exuberance is, I hope, thus combined with an appreciation for quieter moments. This will, I think, allow him to mature without losing his youthful energy.

Last night, I was doing just this when we saw a crow fly past the window. Noah was interested by the flash of black, so I carried him closer to the window for a better view. I did not know that Tucker had approached, and was crossing in front of me, perhaps looking for a pet or two himself, or maybe heading for the food-bowl. In any case, I stumbled against him, my grip on Noah shifted, and the boy no doubt thought himself falling. His legs flailed and he flung himself away from me.


To get a better grip, Noah used his claws. These of course left their marks on me. Two tore small holes in my shirt and scratched my chest, while a third dug itself into the skin of my jaw. That one bled excessively. In fact, it was minor damage. I’ve done worse shaving. But at the time, it looked most impressive, as did my bloodied garment (the stain of which came out in the wash). None of the wounds are even sore today. I don’t think they will leave scars; in some cases they have.

The cats fared better. Tucker scurried away, thinking he had been punished for something and, though Noah was also unhurt, he didn’t see any more of his crow. I checked the beasts to make certain that they were all right, and to assure the roly poly one that he was not in trouble.

This was just another reminder that cats can be dangerous, just another evening in the life of a cat-owner. And I was holding Noah again a few minutes later.

13 comments:

  1. We all can relate to this, that's certain. We're glad you weren't really hurt (too much) and that Tucker and Noah were just fine too, if scared in the moment.

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  2. Having lived with cats virtually all my life, I've developed a permanent stoop because I'm always having to look down to make sure there isn't a cat or two about to get under my feet...

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    1. I can understand that. And the moment I don't look is the moment I should have...

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  3. fortunately they also live in the land of "forgive and forget" :) glad it wasn't worse

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  4. John - thank you for always commenting on my blog.

    I think Noah looks absolutely sweet. And his eyes tell me he is very bright.
    You are so right about the dangers of being hurt by a cat. Most of us who own them have the scars to prove it. The hardest part is when I have to give medicine and the claws come out.



    Debby in Prescott Valley, Arizona
    http://homelesscatcare.blogspot.com/

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  5. guys...if we may...a ree minder that thiz seen wood knot have taken place if it were knot for de bass terd crow that flew bye de window.....onze ewe haz known uz long enuff, ewe will understand that 98% of de werldz trubullz can be attributed ta...BURDZ ..at leest in R minds eye ~~~~~~

    ♥♥♥

    ☺☺☺☺☺

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    1. I hadn't thought of that. Birds are good for entertainment, but they may have their own ways of getting back at cats...

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  6. Ah yes a cat freak out can cause a lot of bloodshed. MOL
    Glad you are going to be fine.

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  7. Oh I so understand. I opened the sun room door on Sunday and both Sami and Saku darted out on me. Unlike Sasha, they cannot be trusted outside for even a minute on their own so I thought to pick them both up to carry them indoors. Bad idea! They both started hissing at one another and then the fight was on. Luckily I got the indoors and apart without too much damage to myself or them.

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    1. That was a close one. Just when you think it's safe to pick them up...

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  8. I can relate to that. We took Flynn to the vet a few years back and he is so good there, he wouldn't hurt a fly. Our vet had been called out on an emergency so a different one saw us. Flynn obviously took a dislike to her, leapt about two feet in the air and spun around at the same time and attached himself to my head. Very painful and I still have the scars on my scalp! Actually, wouldn't hurt a fly is not true. He would eat it.

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  9. Eight years ago, I was traveling home with a newly adopted cat. When I went to remove her for security, she lept from her case and attached her claws to my left cheek,left ear and shoulder drawing copius blood. I boarded my flight still oozing much to the dismay of other passengers.

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    1. Yikes! That must have been a sight, and an experience. You should have said to the other passengers something abou security screening getting tougher and tougher.

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