Our furry companions

If you follow my blog, you know I'm a cat lover, and you've read the stories about my entertaining cats. Life, as they say, moves on.

This month I had to say goodbye to my blonde assistant. For a dumpster rescue, I never expected she would live to ten years, much less to almost 20. She was 19 this past September, and full of life, if a step slower. She grew hard of hearing (there are very few cats you can actually sneak up on), and she had her off days as she became a "grandma cat." My heart is broken every time I look at the empty corner in my office, or touch her favorite blanket that became her "nest," her favorite place to sit in the whole house. She was a beautiful cat and very much a part of our family. She always welcomed the kids back home, and even the grandkids when most cats would hide from small children.

If you've ever wondered if you should adopt a pet, I'm here to tell you it is a rewarding experience, much like having children. There are the training issues, the messy times, but when you are still and they love you, there's no other feeling like it.

As she crosses the rainbow bridge to join the pets who have gone before her, I thank her for 19 years of love and companionship.

Animal Stories ... K.C. and Poo-Pooh

When Cat #1 crossed the rainbow bridge, we got Cat #2, K.C., to keep doggie darling company. It wasn't long before doggie darling joined Cat #1 over the rainbow bridge, and I was determined to slow down the flow of pets through my home after the divorce. Unfortunately, Ex had other ideas. He brought me Poo-Pooh, a six-week old kitten who'd been abandoned in a dumpster, to keep K.C. company.

K.C.

K.C. was not happy to have a little sister. He was four or five at the time, and she was a dirty, sick, kitten impinging on his turf. They were separated until Pooh was healthy, and he quickly established himself in the role of Alpha Cat. The good part of that was that he, being a very well-behaved cat, taught Pooh the ropes. While she was still very kittenish, she was better behaved than many kittens I've had the pleasure to know. He also taught her how to be afraid of strangers, even while he basked in the company of said strangers and invited them to pet him.

Pooh, semi-hiding, ready to run if she has to

K.C. had a habit of stalking her, hiding on the other side of a corner as she came around, and then stepping out in front of her and scaring the living daylights out of her. Sometimes they'd chase each other until she conceded and ran to hide. Like a big brother, he'd wait at the bottom of the stairs when she came down to eat, just out of sight, and as she hit the last step, he'd pounce out and give her the equivalent of a "boo!" which would send her vertical, and into hiding for hours or days at a time. Pooh quickly became "the invisible cat" when guests were in the house, or after K.C. had tormented her. Nevertheless, she loved him, and when cuddle time came around, she would sneak up beside him and lay her head on his side to sleep with him. The two of them were very entertaining to watch, their love-hate relationship like many siblings.

K.C. was more of a birder. He liked to chase things in the air - a dangling feather or a fly in the house. Pooh has always been more of a mouser, chasing things that moved across the floor. Once she'd gained her health, the kids often played fetch with her - yes, she'd chase her favorite toy and bring it back for them to throw for her again.

K.C. took his turn walking over the rainbow bridge several years ago, and Pooh is now a senior citizen. She doesn't play anymore, but she does keep me company acting as my writing assistant. For a cat I was sure I didn't want to take on, she wormed her way into all our hearts.

  A | BN | iB | K   

  A | BN | iB | K  

  A | BN | iB | K   

  A | BN | iB | K  

Animal Stories ... In the beginning

Yes, I know I promised the escapades of K.C. and Pooh, but I thought it might be more appropriate to show the progression of pets first.

Once upon a time, my (ex) husband and I went to a shelter to find a dog (for him). When we got there, this woman (me, who is a cat lover) went into the cat room and fell in love. I bonded with my new friend, and went looking for my (ex) husband. He "HAD TO HAVE" a dog. Except he couldn't decide which one.

Ex: This one. No, that one. No, wait.
Shelter worker: Do you want a big dog or a little dog?
Ex: Big one. No, maybe a medium sized. What about that one?
Shelter worker arches eyebrows: I think you should go home and think about it, and then you can come back tomorrow.
Me: I want this cat.
Shelter worker: Happy to help you, ma'am.

We go home. Sulking ensues.

Ex: We went to the shelter for a dog, and you came home with a cat.
Me: But you couldn't decide. They wouldn't give you one just to give you one.

After much discussion, and since it was just a whim for him, I made the decision. Told him which dogs I'd be willing to live with (since he didn't know, as long as it was a dog).

We found a beautiful dog from a litter in a private home who changed my mind about being a doggy mommy. Dog and cat "grew up" together and were great friends all their lives. And the dog? Guess who got her in the divorce? (hint: not the one who HAD TO HAVE a dog - he left her behind. Instead, she stayed with the one who loved her).

Pets and Friends with Pets

A little something different today.

As I'm writing the next Epitaph installment, both my main characters are on-the-go, travel a lot, busy kind of people. Workaholic, even, to a certain extent. That doesn't mean they both wouldn't LIKE a pet. One of the things I considered for them on a first date was a trip to a shelter to socialize some animals, play with them, scratch that itch. One of the characters (I won't tell you which one) opted out for the reason they weren't sure they could leave without one, and that wouldn't be fair to the animal.

As many of you may (or may not) know, I share living space with a cat. She's been with us a very long time now, which amazes me considering she was a couple weeks shy of being a feral cat. She was found in a dumpster and *someone* decided I needed to keep her. I had another cat at the time, and was trying to wean myself, but I am also a believer in having two pets when one works so they can entertain each other while you're not there to love and cuddle them. Her "older brother" died a few years back, and as a senior citizen, she's happy not to have to contend with anyone else right now.

Once upon a time, I also had a dog (one of the rule of "two"). A beautiful Sheltie. I'm not a dog person, per se, but I loved her for the time I had her, which was longer than her cat sibling lived.

Animals are funny. Some dogs are friendly, some - not so much. Some cats are social, others not so much. I have a bad habit of scooping up a cat when I'm visiting a friend's house, and the cat doesn't always appreciate that. But I love cats (I saw in a whiny voice). One of my friends' jaw dropped when I picked up "Mac the Cat" and he didn't put up a fuss. He was probably just as taken off guard as she was, and he let me cuddle and pet him before I realized I wasn't expected to do that and set him down gently with a sheepish smile. But me and cats? well, we understand each other. Dogs on the other hand? I always ask before I try to pet a dog. And asking "is he/she friendly?" isn't always the right question. Any animal on any given day might not be! So I ask, "Can I pet him/her?" and then I allow the dog to smell my hand first so it can "accept" me.

I could tell you dozens of stories about my two cats, about how the one would lay in the middle of the floor and wouldn't care if you petted him, and the other was "invisible." I could tell you stories about the games they played with each other, but then you'd be spending all day reading this post!

{clearing my voice, adopting announcer voice} Tune in next week for the escapades of K.C. and Poo-Pooh.

Do you have pets?