I stopped by my parents’ house on the way home from work and while I’m there, I like to see McGonnigle, the cat, if I can. He enjoys the scratchies that I give him and usually rolls on the ground for them. It’s great. He’s a good cat–always glad to see me and it is nice because it kind of bothers me that I can’t have him where I live; but I understand that he’s most happy where he is.
Anyway, today, I immediately notice that his left whiskers are short. A few inches has been taken off the ends, as if someone took a scissor to them. Male Maine Coons have incredble, long whiskers, so they are not close cropped, but clearly, they are altered.
I went in the house and told my mother that the cat’s whiskers were cut, I thought, and she said that yes, Pumpkin’s whiskers were cut. “I’m talking about McGonnigle, not Pumpkin”, I said.
“Oh, McGonnigle’s too?!”, she asked.
So we have the two cats there and both of their left side whiskers have been cut by humans, apparently and we are annoyed, shocked, scared, disturbed, puzzled, you name it. WHO would do such a dopey thing? Who would cut a cat’s whiskers? Kids? I hope so, because when they get bored, they’ll move on to some other dopey pursuit. A deranged neighbor? Disgruntled? One who thinks that the big male, McGonnigle, is beating on their darling cat? Hmm…dunno.
Pumpkin is an old female Manx and we could see her getting fooled into holding still, but the trouble is, she doesn’t go more than 50 yards from their house! McGonnigle, on the other hand, goes up to a quarter mile away, as male cats do, but he is soooo careful and circmspect, that we are just beside ourselves to think that someone could fool him into holding still for the cutting. Chances are, he put up a fuss, and that’s why Pumpkin’s whiskers are cut close and McGonnigle’s are not so close.
If I saw someone hurting McGonnigle, I do not know how much control I could muster. Hopefully, Gonnigle is now on the alert and will not be fooled again.
If anyone knows of any kind of ritual, or kids’ scavenger hunt or dare contest that might involve this, leave a comment. At least then, we would have a compass to judge this by. Thanks. Fog
[...] Maine Coon Cats – Bigger Than Dogs Filed under: Day in the Life — mcgonnigle @ 10:11 pm Sept 24, 2008: Vandals cut McGonnigle’s whiskers~! [...]
Pingback by Maine Coon Cats - Bigger Than Dogs « The Pinetar Rag — September 24, 2008 @ 7:48 pm |
We do not burn candles. Candles cause more housefires than just about anything else you can name. Candles kill people and destroy lives–particularly with cats to knock them about. Don’t burn candles, and these things can not happen to you.
Comment by mcgonnigle — October 5, 2008 @ 8:31 am |
I have a cat the is like yours but a little smaller. Would love another, if you know of anyone with a cat like McGonnigle please email. Thanks- whiskers will grow back. Don’t let him out of house.
Comment by Lisa — October 17, 2008 @ 10:16 am |
I can not think of anything that would be crueler than denying McGonnigle the outdoors. It would crush him. I’d rather him live 5 years outside than 20 inside. He’s just shy of his 10th birthday this January. I understand the idea, but in reality, it would crush him. Good luck on your search.
Comment by mcgonnigle — October 17, 2008 @ 11:22 am |
What a beautiful cat and what a sad story regarding the the beginning of his life with humans. I worked in Calif state Prisons for 27 years and I can assure that the human trash that first had your cat are more prevelant than you would like to think. You did a good thing by calling the cops, rescueing Mc and getting yourself out of that mess. People do cut a cats whiskers in an attempt to keep them out of there yard, probably someone with alot of flowers and therefore birds, so MC hunting grounds. He is beautiful and if you ever rescue another one contact me.
Comment by will — July 28, 2009 @ 12:30 pm |
I’ve heard of people cutting outdoor cats’ whiskers in an attempt to stop the cat “from coming around”. To hear such things just makes me feel all the more justified in not allowing any of my three cats outdoors. So my best guess would be that it’s one of your lovely neighbors who doesn’t want you cats in or around the yard who did it. By the way, you coon is absolutely beautiful.
Comment by Ashley — October 19, 2008 @ 2:15 am |
You did a good job rescuing Mcgonnigle. Anybody that would hurt a cat has major problems and should be placed in a camp taking care of cats.
Mcgonnigle is very precious, I know I have a Mane Coon and he is the sweetest cat I’ve ever taken care of and loved.
Comment by Howard Hunt — November 3, 2008 @ 12:06 pm |
I just stumbled across your blog, as I was googling Maine Coon Cats. My parents have a ginormous orange one very much like yours! In regards to the whiskers, here it a little something I can add. We recently adopted a very large male Himalayan from a friend who now requires assisted living. The first day we brought kitty home, I noticed one side of his whiskers was barely 2 inches long (the other side was more like 7 or 8 inches). This kitty was an indoor cat (we also keep him indoors – as there’s lots of coyotes around here). I know our friend didn’t cut the cat’s whiskers. I wonder if our cat (and possibly yours) managed to crimp and brake them off himself somehow (shut in a cabinet door or something)? Our cat is VERY rambunctious.
Comment by beachy — November 3, 2008 @ 4:17 pm |
Beautiful Maine Coon!! I have a 30lb-er named Furby who is a big fan of the outdoors too. The same thing happpened to Furby a few years ago and we suspected my younger brother. Well time came to pass and again the same thing happened. But this time when Furby came home he was piggy backing an unwanted wisker-chopper, a Prey-Mantis. We knew after this that it was just a case of curiosity killing the Cat-wiskers.
Comment by Jason — November 25, 2008 @ 11:38 am |
Hi!
I read a book many years ago about an english (scottish?) family with 5-7 siamees cats. It was a lovely book but I can’t remember the name. Anyway, the writer described the cat mother at one time biting of one side of the whiskers of her favorite kitten. Maybe your mothers two cats have only been very affectionate to each other.
What a brave thing to brake in and rescue McGonnigle and I love that you are letting them be out doors.
Comment by Ulrika — May 13, 2009 @ 5:55 am |
I love your giant cooner. I have two Maine Coons, one that I rescued as a kitten (in a New Jersey park, so her name is Jersey!) and an adult MC that my daughter rescued from some doofus – a cook at a diner where she works. This guy had thought it was a great idea to keep a cat in the cold, dark, damp basement of the diner to catch mice. Even worse, one morning she saw that the cat had been tethered to something by a string around his neck, so that he wouldn’t wander. She literally “catnapped” him when the cook was off the premises, and took him home. The kitty didn’t get along with her female MC, so I was happy to take him in. He has a forever home with my other 3 cats and me, and I’m crazy about him.
Comment by Leslie — June 17, 2009 @ 2:03 pm |