Of Cats And Mice (For Kayla) Poem by Juana Cruz

My cat is my only true friend
And even shares my bed
I love to wake up and find her
All curled up beside my head.

I miss her when I am not home
Always long to have her near
Listening to her soft purr
I smile and dry up my tears.

But my mother unilaterally
And despite my angry response
Has decided quite delightfully
To have kitty's paws declawed.

I can't imagine poor kitty
Bereft of her dainty claws
But my mother has no pity
She intends to make it so.

It is painless, says the vet
And I ask, how would they know?
I would like to make a bet
There've no evidence to show.

Cats have not written journals
To properly describe the pain
They have not given seminars
To complain of their sad plight.

Without claws cats are defenseless
At the mercy of their foes
Saucy squirrels will be taunting
As they shake their tails and mock.

And the dogs will all be merry
They will chase and get real close
And even the smallest of terriers
Will know kitty has no claws.




Oh, the shame of being clawless
Oh, the trauma of the sneers
Even mice that used to tremble
Now just saunter without fear.

To Congress I think I will write
And demand they pass a law
Banning this barbarous rite that
Has gone on long enough.

If all pet owners insist
An order they'll issue on the double
Then the vets will cease and desist
And stop giving the cats trouble.

As I ponder the situation
I know I can't really change,
I ask myself, in fascination
Would kitty love me the same…?

If I was shorn of my red hair..?
Or of my pretty freckles deprived..?
Would she still softly nudge me?
If my health were to decline?

Although some friends can be fickle
My cat's love will not abate
And even were I to be cripple
She would love me all the same.

So I will love her more dearly
Keep her from dangers outside
I'll stay near to dry her tears
The same way she has dried mine.