Anti-ode to my tabby

When Gracie first came to me,
I thought her previous family's decision
to de-claw her was a cruel travesty.

Years later,
I find myself pondering the ethics
of having her vocal chords surgically removed.

***
When I left for vacation,
the house was spotless.
It's now quite the mess,
and I've hardly been here.

How can one small fur-ball
be the root
of such disorder?

***
Good thing she's cute.