Rebecca's birthday and angry thoughts on declawing cats.
I don't mind growing older (I'm now wise enough to realize that it's a blessing), but I'm not crazy about having Happy Birthday sung to me. We've always done this at my job whenever someone has a birthday, and I've always found it embarrassing - like, aren't we too old for this? This year, I had it sung to me twice, once at work and once during the oneg at my temple. I share my birthday with an old Jewish lady at temple whose the matriarch of a big family and probably related to half the people there. (She was probably turning 200.) I think they were planning to sing just to her, but then they realized it was my birthday too and threw me in. We were having outdoor services that night for Sukkot, and they gave us each a cupcake and sang to us under the sukkah. The temple's sukkah is so beautiful this year.
On Saturday morning, Sara and I woke up early (ugh) to take the cats to the vet. Our old vet is no longer open on Saturdays, so we took them to a new one, and I'm pretty sure she now thinks we're awful pet owners. We couldn't remember which one of them was microchipped, and while she was examining Tovah, she said, "She's front declawed." We hadn't known.
It was HARD news to hear. I was gutted because I know that declawing is deeply traumatic torture for cats, with a long, painful physical recovery and emotional and psychological scars that NEVER heal. I have seen it on so many cats at the animal shelter where I volunteer. I was furious that some ignorant jerk did such a horrific thing to my sweet Tovah. I was guilt-stricken because after five years of owning Tovah, we didn't know. We weren't told at the shelter where we adopted her. Our old vet never mentioned it. I thought sometimes that she might be declawed, then I'd think, "No, if Tovah was declawed, I would know."
Tovah has always been SO high-strung and anxious. She is constantly on alert and startles and runs away at the slightest sound/motion. Maybe she was always like that, but more likely it was an effect of the declawing. Claws are a cat's natural means of protecting themselves, and without them, declawed cats feel completely defenseless. Sometimes they never feel safe again. After five years with Tovah, I think she feels safe with us now, but it is so sad to imagine that she could've been much happier and more relaxed, more like Mayim. She could've been an entirely different cat. It's sad to imagine that with the cats at the shelter, but with my Tovah, it really hits hard. We've had her for five years now, but she was already about 9 when we got her, so it's only a third of her life.
But anyway, getting back to my birthday. On Saturday afternoon, Sara treated me to my favorite pizza place, then we went to the library, and that was my birthday. Mom sent me a shirt and some money, but otherwise, I got no gifts, and I was happy about it! Gifts with my family get too darn competitive.
On Sunday afternoon, Sara and I walked to the Dairy Queen again. And this time, I suggested it! I must be losing my mind, but I had a craving for pulled pork sandwich, and the long walks aren't as rough for me as they used to be.
P.S. This new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was just released today, and I have already watched it about 100 darn times! December 15, you can't get here soon enough!
On Saturday morning, Sara and I woke up early (ugh) to take the cats to the vet. Our old vet is no longer open on Saturdays, so we took them to a new one, and I'm pretty sure she now thinks we're awful pet owners. We couldn't remember which one of them was microchipped, and while she was examining Tovah, she said, "She's front declawed." We hadn't known.
It was HARD news to hear. I was gutted because I know that declawing is deeply traumatic torture for cats, with a long, painful physical recovery and emotional and psychological scars that NEVER heal. I have seen it on so many cats at the animal shelter where I volunteer. I was furious that some ignorant jerk did such a horrific thing to my sweet Tovah. I was guilt-stricken because after five years of owning Tovah, we didn't know. We weren't told at the shelter where we adopted her. Our old vet never mentioned it. I thought sometimes that she might be declawed, then I'd think, "No, if Tovah was declawed, I would know."
Tovah has always been SO high-strung and anxious. She is constantly on alert and startles and runs away at the slightest sound/motion. Maybe she was always like that, but more likely it was an effect of the declawing. Claws are a cat's natural means of protecting themselves, and without them, declawed cats feel completely defenseless. Sometimes they never feel safe again. After five years with Tovah, I think she feels safe with us now, but it is so sad to imagine that she could've been much happier and more relaxed, more like Mayim. She could've been an entirely different cat. It's sad to imagine that with the cats at the shelter, but with my Tovah, it really hits hard. We've had her for five years now, but she was already about 9 when we got her, so it's only a third of her life.
But anyway, getting back to my birthday. On Saturday afternoon, Sara treated me to my favorite pizza place, then we went to the library, and that was my birthday. Mom sent me a shirt and some money, but otherwise, I got no gifts, and I was happy about it! Gifts with my family get too darn competitive.
On Sunday afternoon, Sara and I walked to the Dairy Queen again. And this time, I suggested it! I must be losing my mind, but I had a craving for pulled pork sandwich, and the long walks aren't as rough for me as they used to be.
P.S. This new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was just released today, and I have already watched it about 100 darn times! December 15, you can't get here soon enough!
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