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My Cat is a Klutz

I used to think he would grow out of it. That he was going through a developmental stage--an adolescent time of awkwardness when all four limbs weren't working harmoniously. I thought that explained his sometime clumsy failure to successfully complete a jump onto a garbage can or some other object a distance away.

Now he's definitely an adult. A very mischievous, playful feline who doesn't seem to reason things out completely before he commits to them. So he's still messing up occasionally on his jumps-- he's either stupid or gymnastically challenged. I've seen him hanging by his claws, dangling on a surface he didn't quite reach. Yeah, it's funny, but he's not laughing.

I've never had a cat so uncoordinated. Most of them when they're young and healthy have no problem with jumping everywhere. I've had cats jump on top of refrigerators, washers/dryers, kitchen counters, and all types of furniture. They usually do it gracefully with a touch of smugness. They seldom need help except for the nutty ones who scramble up a tree and then realize, no, I can't jump down 20 feet. It was easy scrambling up, but this drop could do bad things to my bottom

I've decided not to worry about his equilibrium deficits, but I can't help thinking he might have some bizarre neurological illness that will someday manifest itself and incapacitate him. Or else maybe he's just slow in developing--a little backward for his age. It's anyone's guess. I don't want to call him retarded because dementia could be just around the corner for me, so why should I make fun of a creature who also may be struggling with health issues.

His name is Toodles, and it fits him. He's as silly as his name, but he's done one thing that no other animal in the house has done. He's made friends with my hubby. Not only that, but he shows a marked preference for his lap when we watch TV. I love him for that alone.

So when I say to him, "What's new pussycat?" I'm really thinking in the kindest way possible, have you learned yet how to leap from one surface to another without injuring your butt?

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