How about the topic of our “scratching?” This seems to be a sensitive subject for both us cats and you humans, with a lot of misunderstanding involved on the part of the latter group in particular.
This very feline-like activity provides us with multiple benefits, including the cleaning and sharpening of our claws, marking our territories, and a means of exercising our legs to keep them in tip-top shape.
Isn’t it amazing how a few little paw movements can result in so much enjoyment and advantages for our protection, authority, and health? In short, we get into scratching on a frequent basis because we need to, and we like to!
Unfortunately, my caretakers’ perspective on the issue is totally different from ours most of the time and I am often scolded for my so-called bad behavior. Between you and me, I don’t think it would matter so much to them if it weren’t for the obsessive attachment they have to the material objects and personal possessions that are spread around my house.
For reasons beyond my comprehension, they appear to want the wooden chairs and table legs to always remain with their from-the-factory design, the sofa cushions to be boringly smooth and without any little holes or tears in them, and their clothing, bed sheets, pillows, and countless other items to be left in what they consider to be a natural state of existence. What’s the deal, huh?
Besides the tremendous benefits provided to me on a personal level that I already outlined, this is the inner artistic expression in us cats that is coming out in full force when we so creatively redecorate and redesign many of those household items that had been previously left abandoned to a sad, lifeless state of physical appearance month after month and year after year.
Do you see what I mean? We’re just making our environment more attractive and less generically conformist by our dedication to and interest in the scratching activities, that’s all.
Reflect on the following a bit, please. Many humans themselves are constantly buying different clothing to hang on their bodies, restyling or changing the color of their hair, putting on make-up of different shades and forms, and adorning themselves with all kinds of jewelry. True or not?
I mean, observing their personal actions and what they do with their own bodies, it would seem that variety is truly the spice of life. Yet when it comes to a bunch of stuff hanging out around the rooms in my house, they suddenly become the highly dedicated protectors of the status quo and want to eliminate altogether the whole idea of spicing for flavor and good taste! Hmmm. Is it just me, or does that seem rather hypocritical to you too?
What’s a cat to do, huh? One thing though that I would highly recommend, or even beg of you is that you never ever even think about taking us to some doctor surgeon monster and have us declawed. Never ever, okay?
Look, if the scratching is so upsetting to you, I’m sure we can work out some kind of compromise, such as inside the house you could offer us one of those boring but more or less effective poles with carpet glued on it. And outside, well, we could perhaps do our thing on the neighborhood trees or other available objects that might take the place of our preferred furniture and cloth-based targets. How does that sound? Can we go with that?
You see, this gruesome declawing leaves us quite defenseless due to our not being able to swat or climb our way out of danger. It also can bring about tremendous amounts of physical and emotional pain for us, as well as result in infections and/or permanent weakness in our paws or legs.
In brief, it’s a very insensitive and cruel thing to do to my species, and we hope and pray that no more of our kind will have to suffer from this. Please take into account my heartfelt request for a permanent halt to this practice, will ya? Please.