I have two cats. They like to tussle - the kind that looks like they’re going to kill each other, but there is no hissing or yowling. Ok, that’s fine.

One day I was meditating on the floor and they started to be playful with each other. I thought to myself, “now’s my chance to join in!” I leaned forward and rubbed both their bellies. I guess they got startled. One of them pushed the other underneath my forearm belly side up, causing that cat to propel itself off my forearm with its claws. I have three long scratches now that look alarmingly deep, but I think it looks scarier than it actually is. it really stings though, and it’s ugly as hell. It looks like cuts from self harm. I’ve had to tell a couple of alarmed people that I don’t harm myself - I just tried to play with my cats. I don’t think that made them feel any better.