Friday, June 12, 2009

A Cat of Nine Lives and Three Legs . . .

When I posted the cat photos yesterday, especially the fourth one with the two cats sleeping on a ledge on the wall, I had totally forgotten, and didn't realize until looking at more of the negatives along that same strip of photos taken back on a 1991 trip to France, before I moved here in 1992, that one of the two cats on the wall had only three legs to get around on . . .
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When he realized there was a photographer who had come to pay a visit, he got up from his nap, stretched, and jumped down off the wall to come have a closer look at the interloper with a camera . . .
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And then he promptly lay right back down and feigned to be asleep . . . very aloof !
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But when he thought I was about to go away and let him continue his catnap in peace, he sat back up and held out his invisible paw to me, and explained that he still had phantom limb syndrome, and could feel pins and needles in the missing limb, which didn't seem to bother him, all these years after the ferocious struggle he had one night with a young fox out in the woods near his hometown . . . or was it from chasing a mouse across a busy road ? . . . He seemed to have trouble remembering . . .
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For a finale, he showed me how he was able to jump up on the table with no trouble at all, very proud too, wouldn't look at the camera . . . may you rest in peace wherever you may be sleeping now . . . my three legged friend . . . in these photos you live on =^..^=
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34 comments:

Lille Diane said...

This is finding the words to make a story found in black and white memories. Yes, this beauty lives on. Thank you, Owen, for sharing these.

James said...

I love cats and I've been to France 3 out of the last 4 years also one of my cats only has the use of 3 legs. I'm sure I would like this post anyway but I really like this post.
Bravo!

That is the chicken said...

I loved all your cat photos and I am coming back to check them out again when I have a little more time!

Amy said...

This made me tear up a little. Now you can really tell I'm a cat person. Look at that guy getting around so well. I'm glad you spent some time with him and took these photos. Thanks for posting them. :)

Lynne with an e said...

A three-legged cat and a one-legged table: works out about right.

Don't you feel like you're being blessed when a cat comes over to say hello? I love that.

From Cats: "If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is..."

desi said...

Wow, your story gave me goosebumps!
shame, how does he hunt mice down with only 3 limbs?

Steve said...

Let's hear it for disability rights!

The Sagittarian said...

Did you use your tripod when taking those pix?
BTW they're lovely!! When it comes to photos you're just the cats pyjamas eh?

Batteson.Ind said...

there's something about cats that is ethereal and un-nerving.. I really do think they rule the universe and we are merely their experiments. Look at the look on his face.. "yes... this one is using his mind.. I am pleased....."

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

anyone who doesn't love cats is just wrong in the head

Great photos

Anonymous said...

What a great post. And I like the story you put with the photos. Truly a brave cat.

J said...

Your cat photos are a hit of catnip to this cat deprived person! :)

Chris David Richards said...

This cat is a bit of an attention seeker I think. Most cats seem to just run away...or maybe that's just me. Anyway, the black and white again brings out the colour of the photos. Mmmm, tasty abstract phrase.

DU STYLE ET DE L' ART said...

j adore les chats ! Ces photos me plaisent beaucoup

Jilly said...

These are just lovely photos. I had a dog once with three legs and she managed really well. I think, when they lose a front leg, it's not so bad - after all, all the jumping coming from the back legs. Losing a back leg is more difficult but still possible. Dogs and cats are amazing!

Pretty Zesty said...

great kitty photos. They are all fearless!

Eric said...

While I just hate seeing animals in this condition (missing limbs, hurt, etc), you have capture some very poignant images here. Very nice photographic work.

Once Upon A Blue Crow said...

It's a cat's life :) Sweet pics. I have a kitty that is missing her back left foot(we don't know the story) She has no problems at all getting around!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos Owen, and a nice story to go along with it!

Blind Fly Theater said...

Great photos and storyline, Owen. Love the phantom limb part of holding out his paw.
The third "aloof" is my favorite.

Jill said...

Poignant and well-captured... photographically and story-wise...Good for you, Owen :) That style of table makes the perfect "prop"...and yes, I like the part about the "phantom limb" too.

Anders Enochsson said...

Hi Owen,

I find your blog very interesting and the cat seems to have dignity despite his lost leg. Actually he/she appears to be more alert and alive than the other drowsy furry friends below.

/Ande

jeff said...

Et oui ! Trois pattes ! Qu'est-ce qui t'arrive avec les chats ?
Celui-ci, le pauvre, a dû se "rééquilibrer" pour avancer !
Combien d'êtres humains sont en "rééquilibrage" permanent ?...
Bon, je crois que je vais prendre ma "Beep" ce soir !
Pétard Owen, ... après les cimetières...
Bon, je vais te faire un petit clin d'oeil sur mon blog ! "Ton" chat mérite bien ça !
A plus Owen... Combien de glaçons ?
......;-)

namaki said...

this is a magic cat !

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Owen, you cool cat, what a curious series of the three-legged feline. The cat's got my tongue over your cat's tail...er...tale...

=^..^= thanks for the graphic too...it's perky-funny.<3

Nadege said...

Very special post; very touching!

Owen said...

To each and every one of you who dropped in here today, from the bottom of my cat (and dog) loving heart, THANK YOU for these lovely, funny, touching, warm, furry comments, I am purrrrrring. Am still trying to figure out how to balance time between this awful time consuming job I have, my family life with la Grenouille and two tadpoles, playing my neglected and sadly weeping guitars, getting out and taking pictures, posting and writing in these pages, answering your wonderful comments, as well as getting out to visit all your excellent blogs and leave a few comments out and around... well, maybe sooner or later I'll get the hang of it, AIN'T LIVE WONDERFUL ??? Or as Jeff would say, Life is Beautiful... well, it's you people that are making it beautiful for me these days, and again, I thank you...

erikaicha said...

very cute cat....

Michelle said...

What a sweet kitty! Your photos are beautiful. Nice to see black and white again!

Thank you for following my blog, I really appreciate that!

Michelle :)

Jo Potter said...

Thank you Owen for sharing your lovely 3 legged cat images.
It is amazing how cats and dogs seem to cope really well with only 3 legs!
Jo.

Joanna Lee said...

I love this story. I'm a cat lover, but I'm also allergic to their dander...sigh... Sometimes I can't help myself and must hold them near, even though this could lead to inflammation of the trachea... Must I breath to live?

Anyway, I've several illnesses and sometimes I can barely walk 100 feet. When I see cats with a "dis--ability" and yet they live complete independent lives...it gives me hope that someday I will achieve that goal too.

Have a lovely day!

Owen said...

Beatriz, I wish you strength and courage and hope... cats can be so totally adorable, but I think I would prefer breathing if I had to choose ...

Joanne May, the will to overcome adversity is strong in cats, dogs, and humans I guess... this feller was unbelievably affectionate...

Michelle, you're very welcome, glad you like the B&W, I like to mix up color with grey scale... these were all shot with black and white film...

Erika...thx

Vivian aka Deborah said...

If this cat doesn't touch you, than you don't have a heart!
I was not really too fond of cats, being bit by one as a child, but I love animals. We have always had dogs ( my last one just passed away about 4 weeks ago) About 5 years ago my son came home with a little calico kitten...I thought it was for his girlfriend....nope! She now lives in my house and is so sweet and shy, and my daughter rescued a tiny black kitten with green eyes from a tree in our yard last year. She's a crazy cat but I love her. And oh boy.....those darn feral cats keep multiplying around here ( my neighbor feeds them and is trying to catch them, to no avail ).
Sooooooo, this time I rescued a cute little grey tabby kitten that was crying in my neighbors yard and wouldn't follow its mom.
Turns out ( $250 later ) that it has an ulcer in its eye and needs special drops and an antibiotic and of course....it has worms!
But we are NOT keeping this one! 2 cats are enough for me. We are looking for a home for him....my daughter named him Fizzgig. hahaha

Want a cute little kitten?
There are 2 more beautiful, black kittens with stunning green eyes and 2 more gray tabbys....c'mon.

Owen said...

Hey Vivian, wow, what a cat story ! Not sure we need any more over here, already have two, which is plenty... and definitely don't need any more bills to pay ! Hope you're well, it's been a little while, time has been flying right along...