Gifts...

Where I work, Yankee Clipper Pet Grooming, customers can look in from different vantage points and see us grooming pets. Most folks are suprised when they see me working on cats. They ask, "Is that a CAT?" They ask, "Is it DRUGGED?" Most of the cats I groom are very still and cooperative while I comb, clip and primp them.

I answer them this way; "You know how everyone is born with certain gifts? Some people are amazing teachers. Some are gifted artists. Some have a flair for making money. Well, God has a sense of humor and he gave me the gift of being good at grooming cats!" And it seems to be true. Most cats lie fairly still while I work on them; giving them a hair cut and a bath. I fluff them dry and trim and primp. It's an odd gift, to be sure, but I am grateful for it- and the accompanying sense of humor.

Juggling chainsaws...

God gives people individual gifts. Sometimes the gift we receive is one we never could have imagined when we are 5 years old and patting our Aunt's cat ever-so-gently and being severely bitten.

Some people have gifts of compassion, of healing, of creating something wonderful, or of making gobs of money. My gift? Grooming cats. The cat pictured here is a Maine Coon Cat. A big guy... 15+ pounds. Solid muscle, and long, matted fur. And I groomed him... combing his back, sides, muscular thighs. I shaved his belly. I gave him a wonderful, warm, fragrant bath. Then I combed and fluffed him dry. He was mostly very sweet about all this... but he had his moments, see above. This grooming thing is a feat I repeat often.

Please note the size of the fangs on this kitty. And he had claws to match.

Here is a point of interest to non-groomer types. MOST cat bites become infected. This is because cats have these fangs that inject pasturella multocide bacteria, a little staph and a variety of other nasties deep into your flesh. In the last 25 years I have only had a handful of cat bites... only one requiring medical attention (and it healed beautifully!) I groom most cats with no restraints, occasionally having someone hold the cat for just some small portion of the procedure, like when I clip the "potty" area, an area no self respecting cat will tolerate without some struggle.

I am not sure why I have this odd talent. But I do. God does have a sense of humor.