Day 19- Bringing Home Kitty

For those who do know i saved a cat two years ago who was born under our porch and abandoned by her mother. I started feeding her because the others in her litter died on Eric and I as we were tying to get them help. I felt so bad because we couldn't save them so i since she was the only one left i was determined to save her. I tried to find a home for her for weeks but no one wanted a cat so i some how convinced my mom to let me keep and she has been mine ever since. Her name is Ellie and although she is one of the most unlovable cats i have ever met...beside the point...she is my baby. I have had her since she was around 4-5 weeks old. I never really liked cats till i had her. Eric and i always saw ourselves as dog people. But after raising a cat and partially helping raise a dog i would have to say that i am partial to cats....why you ask?? They are for the most part fully self sufficient. As long as she has food, litter, a place to look out the window, and a warm place to sleep she is happy. She occasionally wants a back rub, but other then that she comes around when she wants, uses the potty when ever she wants...and most of the time she even reminds me that she is hungry and there is nothing in her bowl....like i said she takes care of her self. she even gives herself a bath!! haha!!

There is only one problem i ever had with cats....the scratching. I tried everything....scratch post, cat nip, scratch pad....you name it i tried it. I finally resorted to declawing her fron paws when she was almost a year old....i hated doing something like that to her....but in the long run it was beneficial for her to because this way she could roam the house and we didn't have to worry about her. That was a year and a half ago. We brought her to our new home about two weeks ago. I forgot to mention earlier that Ellie is afraid of everything....like if you move to fast and she doesn't see you coming she sprints....and well she started scratching our brand new leather couch with her back claws. I was so upset....because i knew what this meant. I hated doing that to her because i just feel like taking away the fronts would already take away what defense she did have...but now she doesn't have any....it took alot for me to do it. Its not like we can glue them back on....they are gone. i still feel really bad but you can't train a cat to stay off the couch....they are smart but i think when it come to rules they just done care. I knew eventually it would come down to this because she is one of those cats that does not liked to be messed and she will let you know it....with her mouth or with her claws, and since we know kids are in our future eventually or the safety of the child and for her own well being i knew we would be doing it eventually.

Today when i brought her home and saw her bloody paws and the look on her face I cried. I feel like i did it to her through selfishness and connivence. I know in the next few days she will get over it and i will to.