Cat Mania

Will you look at that?!? Its a hole that has finally been clawed into our couch by our lovely cats. We thought about having the cats declawed but people here (even vets) think its pretty cruel and we still think that later in the year when we return to the US we may need to turn them out on the street* and so we need to give them a chance to survive when/if that happens. Their trip to the street could be greatly accelerated if they keep ruining my furniture.

So, "Why?" you ask. Why do we keep them? Why are they not out on their little ears? because of this. Hudson loves those cats. He is the only thing standing between them and a lifestyle of hunting our back alley.
*Special note to people who want to write a long comment and/or email about my turning the cats out on the street.

First, there is no such thing as an animal shelter here.

Second, turning them out onto the street would in all likelihood be more like "giving them to the neighborhood" since lots of people have cats but we are the ONLY people around here who keep their cats indoors. Everyone else thinks we're kind of nuts for having them inside and they often ask "What do you do with the poop?" Sometimes they ask each other, "Doesn't it stink with cats pooping in their house?" To which the obvious answer inevitably follows, "Its cat poop. Of course it stinks."

Third, people here feed cats. They are under your table at restaurants and hanging around your house. When we cook chicken, we throw the skin out the back door so that cats (and birds!) can eat it.

Fourth, we will look for someone to actually care for the cats in the manner to which they have become accustomed but we cannot board them with the vet as part of their retirement plan.

So, in conclusion, we'll be trying to do the right thing but as we do not live in the USA, we do not have all the USA options available. You are still welcome to write a long, mad comment. Just know that my response will be, "You're quite a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder you don't go into Parliament."