Dude, I can’t even tell you how many times I watched Tabs climb something or jump on something with a hand on my heart, and just thinking, “Oh, no, he’s gonna fall!”
He was just so incredibly awkward when he climbed things, but also bizarrely brave. I guess this is normal cat behavior?
He was always that way, too. When we lived in that apartment in Mill Valley, and Tabs was a stray and would come around at random times throughout the day, and sometimes I’d get home from work or grocery shopping, and he’d come bounding down the hill behind our place like a majestic puma until he got to a spot where he would leap to the top of a narrow wooden fence, and then walk along the fence, which was about 10 feet off the ground, until he could hop down to a set of stairs and walk up to me.
Every. Single. Time he walked on that fence, one of his back feet would inevitably slip and he’d almost fall, and I’d have both of my hands covering my mouth, like “Oh, no!”
But he never did fall. He just almost fell about a hundred times.
Oh, but he did fall from other things, like his cat tower…
The first time I watched him ungracefully fall from his tower, he dropped like a sack of potatoes. I thought, “Uh…aren’t cats always supposed to land on their feet?”
No, I guess not, because he sure didn’t! He literally landed on his back. It was the least graceful thing I’ve ever seen a cat do, and he did it more than once! I think he was humiliated whenever it happened because he would get up from the floor grumbling and walk out of the room without making eye contact with me.
He was beautiful and brave and always loved climbing things his entire life, even though he was not a good climber. In fact, I would characterize him as having…questionable agility.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Awww, Tabs of QA. That falling photo… so artistic.
I had an akita that was gorgeous but would often trip over nothing. He, too, looked embarrassed when he did. He would also start to tip over while peeing or pooping. Totally uncool. He and Tabs are maybe trading stories over the rainbow bridge.
I think the husky boys have more trouble with balance. The weight probably gives them a bit more momentum on the missteps. 🙂 We see that with our crew. The thin gals are always much more graceful with jumping and walking on railings.
We live in a two story house and the upstairs landing has a railing around it and is open to the living room and dining room below. Nora used to love to sit on top of the corner of the railing where there was a post and newell cap. One day I was sitting at the dining room table and out of the corner of my eye saw this black blur falling from up there. There was the tiniest “ooof” sound as she landed, but by the time I turned to look at her she was already scurrying away up the stairs. I found her hiding in the back of Dear Daughter’s closet. We have high ceilings on the first floor, so that was a good 16 ft. fall. I checked her over and she seemed fine. Mostly a bruised ego. Never saw her sit at that end of the railing ever again.
Aww the perfectly imperfect agility kitties…they are something to watch! Tabs had great curiosity ? My Kittyface is a husky guy and falls on his back too, never lands on his feet, I hold my breath every time! . I think it’s their size…I love the story of Tabs greeting you when he was a stray! I had a petite Russian Blue feral who would greet me daily. She would jump up on my narrow fence too and i was always so surprised she never fell.
Isn´t almost falling much better than keeping the perfect balance? I bet he knew that, so it was what he aimed for.
Ah ! Tabs I love you ❤️? that’s ok you were perfect in many other things!!!