Real Men Don’t Wear Paw Protectors

This is my story about Soft Paws.  I saw my friends’ cat sporting the stylish kitty cat claw covers and thought I’d like to find some, so I went down to my local pet store and asked the bored looking punk rock cashier if they carried them:
Me: So there are these rubber things you put on your cats’ claws…
Her: *stare*
Me: And um, you, well, it keeps them from damaging things when they scratch…
Her: *pops gum* *stares*
Me: Mmm so I’d love to get some. They don’t hurt the cats’ paws, just…they…
Her: *blinks*
Me: So. They are called Soft Paws. Do you have any here?
Her: Real people don’t buy those.

I left, pondering who or what constituted “real people” and sort of forgot about the whole thing. Fast forward to this weekend, as Sky and I watched Gus and Lola take turns methodically trying to shred his record collection (yes we told them “no!” yes we moved them, yes they came back, no they would not stop until all was ruined). On Monday I voyaged to a non-local, big chain pet store and of course they had Soft Paws. After a delightful ha ha! evening spent gluing and clipping and fussing, my cats are shod in rubber kitty cat  prophylactics and all is well.

I only wish they’d had colors in stock. Next time.