ESC: don't let your cat gouge you again *points to very deep scratch on her wrist*
N: ooooooh...he won't do that again. He just didn't want me to go to work.
ESC: you know, you always sound like a victim of domestic abuse when you defend your cats like that. Like "ohhh, I know my husband hit me, but it was my fault for forgetting his coffee"
N: it's not like that! it's a cat!
ESC: if my dog bit me for trying to leave for work, I'd kick her across the room! dogs don't get away with that shit.
N: dog bites are worse than cat scratches. this isn't so bad.