Paws to Admire

Have you ever noticed how really exquisite cats’ feet are?  I’ll come clean:  I have a huge foot fetish – or maybe it’s more accurate to call it a paw fetish.  But I’m mesmerized by the beauty of the feline foot.  As I write this, I’m trying to put my finger on exactly why.
Mostly, I think, I’m in love with the shape – often there’s such an elegant length of graceful leg, ending in a lovely big blob of furry roundness – the leg like a dancer’s, the paw like a powder puff.

Jingles just “happened” to have her foot out as I went by – probably knows about my paw fetish and is taunting me

Dancer’s legs.  Note – two background cats trying to get their paws in the picture

Sometimes just the powder puff itself is enthralling. 

Check out Gina’s feet, maybe the poofiest EVER.  Could she possibly have blow-dried them??

 Perhaps Gina has been inspiring the other cats, as someone else is clearly trying to compete with her for the poofiest feet.

Sometimes what I love is the angle of their paws, the way their hind feet jut out from those lovely round haunches at a cheeky side-ways angle.  Did you ever see such exquisitely poofy caramel perfection??

One of the cats in Old Aids – maybe Chip?

Sometimes a cat’s paws stick out enticingly from under a furry flap of tummy, like those of an Emperor penguin protecting its egg.  I also love the way the paws are so often white on an otherwise non-white cat, as if nature had taken a moment to highlight this exquisite detail.

Ben aka McGyver, new guy in the Moore Trailer.  “Love me, love my feet.”

It’s clear (at least to me) that the cats know how beautiful their feet are, and often display themselves to advantage.

Mr. Pink’s Toes

Unknown cat’s bottom I mean foot

And last but not least, there is sweet sweet Cookie, who knows that paws can be useful too.  When I’m sitting on the stairs giving out treats, he’ll sit behind me and use his paw to tap me on the shoulder every time he wants another one.  I don’t have a picture of his feet, but here he is learning to take selfies.  Clever boy, that Cookie.

 

Blogger: Moira Langley

Photos: Moira Langley and Michele Wright

Gucci (Gina)

Gucci introduced herself to me a couple of months back by leaning over the edge of her cage top perch and playfully swatting at my head as I stood talking to Leslie. Not enough attention was being paid to the cat, a situation she sought to rectify as quickly as possible.

As with more than a few cats at the sanctuary, this spirited sweetie has more than one name. Gucci was the name given to her when she was brought to RAPS.

Her other name is Gina, given to her by former volunteer Tess with who she lived for two years. Tess was so fond of Gina that she was happy to adopt her and take her home. Unfortunately, her other cats relentlessly bullied the newcomer. Eventually, after it became clear that the behavior was just going to continue indefinitely, Tess decided it would be best to bring her back to the sanctuary.

Tess came out to visit when she could, but Leslie tells me it took a little time for her to win feline forgiveness. For the first while, one little longhaired tuxedo kitty would have nothing to do with her, all the while being quite friendly with Leslie and other sanctuary staff.

By now, Gina/Gucci has of course allowed herself to show her love for Tess. For the rest of us? Maybe a cuddle, maybe a little swat just for fun. Cats go by cat logic, after all.