is a very intense cat. She came to us from a senior woman, living in an apartment, who had decided to put her to sleep. Faith had fur-balls and would bite the woman whenever she tried to brush her. I asked if we could take Faith home and give her a second chance. The woman agreed. Faith was very frightened at first. She had her own room so the other cats wouldn't bother her. After a couple weeks, she learned to trust us and we let her out into the rest of the house. She loved exploring and seemed to get a long fine with the other cats. Soon she was introduced to the outdoors. She was ecstatic! She chased the leaves falling from the hawthorns, and she chased bugs, other cats, and phantoms unseen to the human eye! Now, she goes in and out all day long. She loves to bat all the other cats with both front paws like she is boxing. Most of the other cats have learned that she has no front claws and they ignore her.

Faith loves to step up onto my chest from the kitchen counter and give me a little kiss on my chin - sometimes she gives a little nibble! Faith purrs like a litte motor boat and she is happy all the time. She loves to lay on her side and frolic on the extreme edge at the corner of our deck - 7 feet above the ground!
 


Faith's first day outside, eyes wide with excitement.

 

We discourage anyone from having their cat declawed. The process of declawing involves removing the bone up to the first joint above the claw. The cat is maimed for life after the operation, and it is extremely painful for them. This procedure affects all cats differently. Some cats become depressed. It makes it harder for the cat to balance and jump from one object to another. Our little Faith still performs the act of sharpening her claws on the sisal rope scratch post, despite the fact that she doesn't have any. She has shimmied all the way up to the top of this pole to our amazment. She does this by hugging it with her front paws and digging in with her hind claws as she races up. The alternative to declawing is to provide enough things for your cat to scratch instead of the furniture. We have carpeted shelves and rope scratch posts inside, and many logs, posts, and trees outside for all our cats. This works exceptionally well. Non of our cats scratch our furniture.

Faith had many furballs when we got her. She would not tollerate us trying to cut them out. Soon after she was acclimated to living here, we took her to our vet and he shaved her whole body except for her head and legs. Hence she was lovingly dubbed the nick-name, "Pom-Pom Head"! She was so happy to be shaved. Those furballs were so uncomfortable. Her fur has grown back now and she grooms it well, keeping it smooth and beautiful. The condition of a cat's coat is a sign of the cat's well-being. Sick or depressed cats will not groom their coat as often, if at all, and it will become matted and dull. Cats experiencing a lot of anxiety will groom excessively and even pull out their fur. Happy cats groom their coats moderately which keeps them shiney and mat free.

 


Caught it!


Faith's favorite thing to do is leap up to grab flying objects! The animation at the top of this page was made from a series of photos (as seen in the 'filmstrip' above) taken of Faith leaping up to catch tiny twigs we were throwing for her. These pictures were taken just after Faith had been shaved.

 


Faith and spooky playing chase around the hawthorn trees.

 


A calm expression of happiness and well-being, loving life in her new home.

 

 

 

 

 

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