An Afternoon With My Boy

I've been back in school since the beginning of September, back to the grind. Classes and work and reading and essays...I get overwhelmed, easily. Today I got out of school earlier than usual (well, actually I decided not to attend my last class because I did well on the first test and figured I could use a little extra time to relax). My nose has been stuffed up for two days, and I was just feeling a little down. I came home to a quiet house that was empty, except for my black kitty slinking around. He met me at the door and seemed so happy that I had come home just to keep him company.

He rubbed up against my calves and dipped his nose up towards mine as I bent over. It is so nice to have a kitty to come home to. I seriously think if he hadn't of been there, my afternoon would have been completely different--not as good. I dragged his felt ribbon toy around the house as he chased after me, and tousled it around in his belly as he batted it with all fours in the air.

I had wanted to do some writing before I went to my toil job. I'm taking a fiction writing class this semester, and we're just working on one piece all semester long. We workshop one student's piece each week, and other than that, all my professor asks of us is to sit down and write five times a week. It's easier said than done. It's hard to just sit down and write--it takes leaving that world around you and pushing it off to the side. It is usually easiest for me to do this late at night. A lot of writers say the early morning is good, too, but I wouldn't know. I freaking despise most people's idea of morning. My idea of morning is noon.

But today, the afternoon was a perfect time to sit down at the kitchen table with my pink laptop and write. Duncan sat right next to me the whole time, and that just made the afternoon better somehow. I miss him when I go off to work or school; being at home most of the day writing would be perfect. He could be there helping me.


This cat's name is Adrian; she is about two years old and gets along with other kitties. I've visited her on a few occasions, and she is extremely sweet and affectionate. As of about a month ago she was being kept at the Petco in Norwood, MA, which is right off of I-95, in a room off to the side where Friends of the Plymouth Pound keep some of the cats their shelter has taken in. She has been in a shelter for many months and deserves a loving, forever home!

Click here to learn more about Adrian.

Converting Outdoor Cats to Indoor Cats

Today I was driving through the city I go to school in, and all of a sudden the car in front of me stopped short. What is this person doing, I thought to myself. And then I saw a light orange kitty running in the middle of traffic to the other side of the road. It was probably still under a year old judging by his or her size. My heart stopped for a second. I have never hit an animal while driving, or even seen an animal get hit. I wouldn't be able to stand it. My immediate reaction is always to slam on the brakes if an animal darts into the road.

This made me think how happy I am that my cat, Duncan, is an indoor cat. I especially hate seeing outdoor cats in a city, but there are dangerous things out there even for kitties in suburbia. One of our neighbors spotted a coyote walking down our quiet, suburban street recently. More and more people have spotted coyotes in residential areas, and many cats go missing all the time. My neighbors have had two of their cats never come home, so now their third cat is an indoor cat.

I think it's more difficult to convert an already outdoor cat into an indoor cat than it is to just keep your cat inside in the first place. Their cat, Flik, got used to going outside and knows all he is missing. He spent nine years running around outside and enjoying the fresh air. He's been an indoor cat for a few months now and seems depressed. But then again, there could be other factors contributing to why Flik doesn't seem as happy. My neighbor's brought home a one year old Siamese cat named Judah a few months ago, and Flik is not eager to share the attention with him. Also, Flik is getting older, so he's going to slow down whether or not he's an outdoor cat. In the long run, he's healthier staying inside.

On the other hand, my boyfriend's brother took in his neighbor's cat who was being neglected. Munkey was just under two years old when he started living with Ricky's family and up until that point had been an outdoor cat. Unlike Flik, Munkey has adjusted well. He seems to have no problem staying indoors. Maybe since he is younger and hadn't spent as much time outdoors as Flik, the change wasn't as traumatic for him.

Although I feel bad for Flik that he can't go outside carousing, it is ultimately better for them. We form such strong attachments to our animals, how could we stand to lose them in such a way? I don't know what I would do if Duncan was an outdoor cat and just never came home one day. They are safer indoors, but we need to make sure we play with them often so they work off their energy.


On another note, this cat's name is Cheezits. How cute! What are some of your favorite kitty names?

He is one and a half years old and currently available for adoption at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. For more information on Cheezits, you can click here.

The Best and Worst of Friends

I've been thinking lately about having more than one cat versus only having one. I understand people's rationale for not wanting to adopt multiple cats--they do require a lot of work and demand your time. As much as we love our cats, we are not always going to be there to spend every second of every day with them. It seems to me that cats get lonely easily though, begging for our attention when we come home from a long day of work. Duncan goes nuts when we get home, even if we were only gone for a few hours.

I'm taking care of my neighbors' cats for the next few days. They've had one of their cats, Flik, for about nine years and recently brought home a young cat named Judah. At first the two of them didn't get along that well, but now they tolerate each other. It seems like most cats eventually can learn to get along, and ultimately, at least they will never have to be alone. My neighbors are gone but they won't feel so lonely with each other around.


Here are some of my thoughts on why it might be good for your kitty to have a friend:

1. Compatibility--You already have one cat and want to bring another one into the family, but what if they don't get along? Chances are, they will learn to get along, especially if they've been around other cats in the past or spent time with their siblings. At the very least, they will probably learn to tolerate one another. This is not the case 100% of the time, I realize, but cats adjust fairly quickly. They might even become close kitty friends.

2. Nobody Wants to be Lonely...--I'm a sucker for my kitty and let him make me feel bad every time I walk out the door. No two cats are exactly the same; maybe there are some cats that don't seem to mind being alone. But my cat loves to be around people. He's sitting on the rocking chair next to me as I write, just watching. He likes company, so I feel bad every time I leave because my baby will be all by himself.

3. Leaving Siblings--I think it's a shame that kitty siblings cannot find a forever home together more often. It's so sad that we separate them. With siblings, you already know they get along and often times they are sharing a cage together in the shelter, especially if they are kittens. Duncan was born in a home and him and his sister were the only kittens in the litter that didn't get adopted. The family they were with dropped them off at the Northeast Animal Shelter. Duncan had been there for a month when we adopted him, and his sister, Gina, had already been adopted.

I keep thinking about her though. I wonder how much time Duncan and her spent together at the shelter and if they got along. I wish I could have given her a forever home too so they'd have each other. Duncan was in isolation due to a kitty cold for a week, so maybe Gina got adopted when he was gone. The family that adopted her might not have even realized her brother was there too. Also, my rationale is that if he got used to being with his sister and they got along well, maybe he'd like to have a new brother or sister.

4. What's an Indoor Cat to do?--I want Duncan to be safe, and there's too much outside nowadays that I'd be worried sick if he ever got out for a second. But I can understand his constant build up of energy; he's cooped up in the house all day long, every day. He jumped on my legs all night tonight because he wanted to play. Having someone to play with would spice up their indoor life. Two cats would be able to entertain each other, even after you are completely worn out from running laps around the house and wiggling the feather toy in front of them.


Here's a super cute girl kitty named Trixie currently available for adoption at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA where we adopted Duncan. Click here to read information about her on their website.




Do you have any stories about kitties that became great friends or maybe never learned to get along?

The Pet Fountain--Oh, How They Are Spoiled

Since we've brought Duncan home from the shelter, he's been eating only dry food. When cats are on a dry food only diet, they (need to) drink more water because they are not getting as much moisture from their food. He didn't seem to be drinking enough the first few days though. I had seen those pet fountains while I was shopping for toys at the pet specialty store near us and decided to return to buy one. While there, I signed up for the store's member card and received $10 off the fountain, which happened to be on sale that week. The pet fountain cost only $39.99 (+ sales tax, of course).

When Ricky and I got home with Duncan's new gift and assembled it, Ricky picked him up and plopped him in front of it. "You better like this little man," he told him. "We just spent 40 bucks on this thing." Luckily, Duncan loves it. And he's pretty finicky about toys and accessories, mostly ignoring what we buy for him.

The fountain gives him two drinking options--the reservoir is shaped like a regular water bowl where he can drink, or he can drink from the running stream of water. He loves drinking from the stream, but I see him drinking from both areas.

Okay, so he is just a tad spoiled.

But it's not that expensive and now Duncan is drinking plenty of water, so I have one less thing to worry about when it comes to my baby kitty. Also, Duncan loves running water. Before we got him the fountain, he jumped on the kitchen counter every time the faucet was running. Now, he is still interested in the water coming from the faucets--but instead of having to leave the water running for minutes at a time so he can flick his tongue out and catch it, he can drink from his fountain instead.

The fountain does need to be assembled, but it comes with directions. It didn't seem too difficult to put together, judging from watching my boyfriend do so. It should be completely taken apart about once a week and cleaned because grime does build up. But the good news is that it's dishwasher safe. Otherwise, all you have to do is change the water at least once a day.

Sentimentality and Grieving the Loss of Your Pet

Last semester I took a poetry class in which we discussed the meaning of sentimentality--not seeing something for what it really is, or not acknowledging all aspects of something (like the positive AND the negative). Not one thing in this world is only one thing--it is never only this or only that. All things are multi-faceted, and we would be sentimentalizing something if we failed to recognize this. The example my poetry professor gave my class was that she loves children, but she would be sentimentalizing children if she were to say that they are always wonderful and do no wrong.

I remember my professor saying it is incredibly challenging to write a poem about children or animals without being sentimental. In the case of animals, we might place too much value on them or speak of them as though they are humans. Maybe it has become cliché to write about our pets (even if we do acknowledge the negative), but either way, I don't think we are placing too much value on them.

The issue of sentimentality and animals makes me think of my childhood cat, Woody. When my family decided to put him to sleep so he would no longer be in pain, some might say I acted sentimentally. (I cried the entire day). But when we lose our pet, it is like losing a family member or close friend because that is what they become to us. And I don't think there is anything sentimental or un-acknowledging about that.

I grew up with Woody; he was with my family since I was six--so when he was gone, it was strange and sad. It just seemed wrong for him not to be laying in his favorite rocking chair in the family room watching TV with us. I felt like I had lost my best friend. Throughout my teenage years, no matter what dramatic thing was going on in my life, I always had him to come home to.


Since I remember what it's like to lose a cat, I wanted to share these ideas for dealing with the loss of your pet:

1. Write a Letter--When I lost Woody, I remember feeling like he somehow knew how much my family loved him. But it can help to get all your thoughts onto paper, to tell your animal how much they mean to you. Don't feel silly; it's a great way to get it all out and feel closure.

2. Let Yourself Feel--Everyone deals with a loss in a different way. Don't stop yourself from feeling whatever you feel. It's not stupid to cry or feel sad.

3. Remind Yourself of the Good Things--As time goes on, every time you begin to feel upset about your loss, remind yourself that you gave your kitty a good home. If you had never adopted your cat and brought him or her into your home, there's a possibility they never would have found a forever home. Appreciate the time you got to share with them.

4. Remember Your Kitty--Don't be afraid to talk about your kitty once in a while, or remember those funny things they used to do (like drooling in the midst of a patting session). Almost three years later, my mom and I still mention Woody every now and then. But the thing is, we don't only remember the good things about him but also his quirky traits. We remember the things about him that maybe weren't perfect but that we loved nonetheless.

It's been almost three years since Woody left us, and I still think about him. I was ready to adopt another cat sooner than I did, but take your time. Everyone is different. Give yourself some time to grieve your loss and know that you can always give another kitty a loving home in the future.

Cat Adoption

Since the process of cat adoption is still fresh on my mind, I want to share my experiences and a resource I took advantage of.

When I became serious about adopting a cat, I discovered the website Petfinder. You can perform detailed searches based on age (Baby, Young, Adult, Senior), breed, gender, and even size. This website is an absolutely great resource if you'd like to know what cats are available for adoption ahead of time. When you perform a search, all the cats in shelters in your area that are connected to Petfinder will show up.

I mostly used Petfinder as a way of finding shelters in my area. My problem is that I fall in love with most of the kitties I meet and feel bad for every single kitty that is in a shelter right now. I'm glad they are not out on the streets, but at the same time, no kitty should be confined to a little cage. I know most shelters take wonderful care of the animals, but still. I wish every kitty had the home they deserve.

When I first discovered Petfinder, I made the mistake of doing search after search and reading about as many cats as I possibly could. I ended up falling in love with many of them just from their picture and description. I e-mailed a shelter to see if one cat in particular was still there, and I got a reply that he had already been adopted.

Finally, I decided to pick a shelter and go there. The truth is that you just don't know what cat is perfect for you until you meet them in person. Also, there are some cats that aren't listed on shelter's websites and therefore, are not connected to Petfinder.

This was the case with the cat I eventually adopted, who was an older kitten at sixteen weeks. He wasn't on the shelter's website because he was still a kitten, but I think he had a difficult time getting adopted because he's a black cat and was in isolation for a week due to a kitty cold. I noticed every single older kitten that hadn't been adopted at that shelter was black; they seem to be less likely to get adopted. Also, the fact that he could have upper respiratory problems may have turned others off. I scooped him up, and he is doing just fine a month later.

My advice is to pick a shelter in your area and go. If you fall in love with one of the kitties, think on it for a day or two. Visit them again to make sure you are certain and then do it. I fell in love with Duncan as soon as I held him. I knew if I had continued looking at other shelters, I would end up falling in love with even more cats. And then, no matter who I chose, I would feel guilty or regret the cat I didn't adopt. If you don't fall in love with any of the kitties, then you can always go to another shelter.

But when it comes to cat adoption, I'm just not the kind of that has it in me to shop around. Once I fall in love with a cat, that's it; I gotta have them.

Cats For Your Health

I read an article a few months ago (where--I don't remember) about a research study done over a period of time with some participants who had cats, dogs, or even fish in their household and others that did not. I don't remember the specifics, but the results suggested that pets are good for our health. This is no surprise to me—we don't need researchers to tell us how happy our animals make us. And isn't happiness one of the best things for our health?

I've been thinking over the past few days--what is it about our animals that make us so happy? Here's my list so far. Please add to it!

1. Waiting at the Door—No matter how long of a day I’ve had, there is nothing better than coming home to a kitty. Recently, Duncan had a kitty play date with my neighbor’s cats. She said, “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have cats to come home to.” It’s so true. Duncan gives me something to look forward to all day.

2. They Remind Us to “Slow Down!”—Sometimes I feel like I’m always on the go, and there is always something I need to accomplish. It’s not always easy to slow down and enjoy a minute here and there. But my cat helps me do this. When he’s sitting on his favorite cushion, simply enjoying the peace and quiet, this reminds me I can do that, too! I can have fun doing nothing, sometimes.

3. Your Unique Kitty—No two kitties are exactly the same. There is always at least one thing about a cat that stands out and is different from other cats. My childhood cat’s famous trait was that he drooled in the midst of a patting session. Duncan plays fetch…like a dog, but only with his special mice (and not the twenty other mice we have purchased for him). What is your kitty’s unique trait or talent?

4. They Make Us Laugh—Whether they are jumping ten feet in the air to catch the dangling toy or rolling on their backs with their bent paws in the air, you can’t help but crack a smile. My cat sometimes leaves his tongue hanging out his mouth just a tiny bit; this gets me every time.

5. Kitty Love—Cats are not just our pets, they become part of the family. We spend so much time with our cats that they become our friend and companion. You feel like you know them,and they know you.

Tips for your Cat Budget

Ricky and I had wanted to adopt a cat for a long time, so we were prepared for the ultimate dent in our bank accounts--adoption fees, food, litter, accessories, toys, vet visits. All these things add up fast. Though you wouldn't trade your cat for anything, it can be frustrating when you're on a budget.

Since I love saving pennies anywhere I can, here's some ideas for spending less and still treating your kitty to all he or she deserves.

1. Shop Around for Vets

When you're looking for a vet, it's easy enough to go on-line or flip open a telephone book and call the first one you find. Instead, write down the names and numbers of a few. Call all the vets on your list and ask how much they charge for a check-up. If you want to make sure the vet has a good reputation, type their name into Google and you'll probably find customer reviews.

Recently, I did this myself. I knew the vet my mom used for my childhood cat would be more expensive because of the affluent town it's in. Instead of touching my savings account, I shopped around. One place I called charges $78 for a check-up, not including shots or any extras. It's located in the same affluent town as the vet my mom used to go to, so I wasn't surprised. Another place in the next town over charges $42. I researched the second vet on the Internet, discovered they have a good reputation, and called them back to schedule a check-up.

2. Shelter Helpers

This relates to the first tip--pay attention to all the paperwork you receive from the shelter you adopt your cat from. If you're adopting a kitten, they might help you with or cover the spaying/neutering fee completely. If your cat has already been spayed/neutered, the shelter might cover your cat's first check-up. Usually you just have to go to one of the vets they are connected with, in which case they'll let you know. At our first vet visit, I made an appointment for Duncan to get neutered. The woman who scheduled the appointment at the vet told me so long as I bring the slip of paper I received from the shelter, there will be no charge for the visit. So make sure you hang on to all that paperwork!

3. Smart Shopping

Practically every supermarket I've been to has a section devoted to pets. They usually stock food, toys, and litter. Although it's sometimes more convenient to pick up kitty stuff while you're food shopping, it's not always the most budget friendly. I've noticed pet stuff tends to be much more pricey at supermarkets than at places like Walmart or even Target. It can really pay off to shop around. Also, buying food and litter in bulk is often cheaper.

If you can avoid pet specialty stores--do it. Pet specialty stores are great for very specialized pet accessories or that very pricey pet food that you can't find at the supermarket. These stores are fun to visit once in awhile because you get to browse through an entire store full of pet stuff. The only problem with speciality stores is they are expensive. Don't get me wrong, I visit stores like Petco and Petsmart for certain things; it's fun to kitty splurge once in a while. But if I know exactly what I need, and I know I can get it at Walmart, I go to Walmart. It can be worthwhile to sign up for specialty stores' member cards because sometimes you'll find a good sale.

Also, don't rule out the dollar store near you. The one near me has an aisle devoted to pets, which is where I purchased food and water dishes with cute designs for $1 a piece. You can't go wrong there.

4. Indoor Cats

Indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats and are not exposed to many of the diseases and health problems that outdoor cats are exposed to. Although indoor cats are not immune to health problems, it's likely they will have fewer health problems than if they were an outdoor cat. Although this is a long term tip for your cat budget, it could save you thousands of dollars in vet bills and medications to keep your cat indoors.

It can be tempting to let your cat out, but beware--once they get a taste of the outdoors, they could be running for the door every time you open it. Make it easier on yourself and don't let them out. Most indoor cats don't know what they're missing and are contented just watching the birds and squirrels from a window.



I hope these tips help you with your cat shopping on a budget. Let me know if you have any ideas for stretching that dollar a little further. I'll post more ideas soon!

The Return of the Foot Monster & Our First Vet Visit

Apparently, playing with Duncan late at night to wear him out before bed does not always do the trick. I ran around the house, dangling the felt ribbon wand as he chased after me until we were both out of breath. I thought, this is gonna be great--he'll sleep the night away and wake up when we do.

So when I felt paws poking my back in bed, I figured he was settling in for the night, finding the perfect place to snuggle with us. Instead, he was saying, "Mama, I wanna play!" Shortly after I felt the poking sensation, I felt a pinch on my leg. He decided it would be a good idea to bite me in order to let me know he was not ready to go to sleep. "No biting!" I told him. He jumped off our bed and sat looking up towards me. As I peaked my head over the side of the bed, he flew into the air.

"Ahhh! He's right there!" I yelled to my boyfriend, Ricky. For some reason, he likes to pounce on me and not Ricky. He thinks I am his play buddy, and that if he wants to play he better let me know.

"I can't believe you're scared of such a little cat," Ricky said laughing at me.

Normally when he gets into his super-active play mode, I toss one of his favorite mice to him, which distracts him from pouncing on me. The two mice he loves had been sitting in a drawer in my parents' house for years and are already ratty. For the first week or so we had Duncan, he lost at least one of them every day, which I would find rolled under a doorway or cabinet. Lately, he has been hiding/losing them in more challenging places. So last night, we were without his favorite mice. None of the other twenty mice we've bought for him will suffice. (Luckily, I found some obscure website that sells these special mice and ordered six packs).

But last night we were without these mice, so I had to wake up at 3 AM to play with him so he would settle down. Kittens will be kittens, I guess. Fortunately, Ricky and I both had the day off today so we could sleep in. Then it was time to take Duncan for his first vet visit. He was due for his rabies vaccination.

After the vet gave it to him, she said, "He'll probably lose his appetite and be a bit sleepy tonight; that's normal. Just give us a call if he's not back to normal within 24 hours."

"Okay," I said, nodding. "Actually, that might be good because he kept us up late last night."

She laughed. "Well, we don't guarantee it."

The Foot Monster

When my boyfriend and I first brought Duncan home, he liked to attack our feet at various intervals throughout the night and early morning. We are both feet-movers in our sleep, so that only eggs him on. He's about five months old, so it's understandable that he just wants to play. Also, he was with his sister in the shelter we adopted him from for a while, so he was probably used to playing with her. If you ever watch two kittens play together, you'll see them tackling and biting each other. It's just normal kitten behavior. We realized he was treating us like fellow kittens--his feet attacks were not malicious but simply innocent playing to him.

We wanted to break his habit of biting though, so we would loudly say "no!" if he jumped on our feet and began biting. Now weeks later, he has a whole house to roam about at all hours of the day instead of being confined to our bedroom, so the feet attacks have stopped. Occasionally he'll pounce on my legs if he wants a play buddy, but he won't bite. Having a mouse or something they can play with solo comes in handy if you're trying to do something like sleep or cook and they're in a play mode.
I've observed many people that play with their cats with their bare hands and let their cat bite and scratch them. I think this too is normal cat behavior, but it should be a toy the cat is playing with, not a human hand. When you play with your cat in this way, it seems like you're sending them the message that it's okay to be aggressive with humans. Then they might play too rough with guests or little kids in your house. Also, we should be sources of comfort to our animals. But if they're used to us playing aggressively with our hands, then they might assume they need to protect themselves every time they see our hands reaching towards them. Many cats end up being returned to shelters because of behavior problems, and this seems like one problem that can easily be avoided. We're trying to teach Duncan that it's okay to be playful, bite, and scratch his toys, but not okay to do so to us. So far, he's learned quickly.

Another thing that has helped Duncan settle down at night is wearing him out before bed. I have a pole with a felt ribbon attached to it. I dangle it in front of his head and then begin to run, and he practically always comes running after me. I run all over the house with him chasing behind and let him get it once in awhile. This wears him out fast. It's also a good idea to have a variety of mice and other small toys around that he can play with while you're not around. For some reason, my kitty is very picky about his toys though. He'll only play with these two mice that my mom found in a drawer from years ago, and mostly neglects all the other toys I've bought for him.

His favorite game? Fetch.










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Cats, especially kittens, need to play, and if they don't, they'll probably end up attacking your feet.

Treat Your Kitty to Cat Grass

As I sit writing, I have the perfect view of the kitchen counter where the cat grass resides, and he is up there chomping away. His mouth opens wide before he chews down vigorously on the grass strand, tearing off as much as he can for a little snack.

The one and only cat I had before Duncan was an outdoor cat, so growing cat grass never crossed my mind. But these days, it seems even more dangerous for a cat to be roaming the streets. My neighbors had three cats--the only one left has been converted to an indoor cat since the other two went outside and never came home. There are too many bad things out there--other animals can hurt them, and they also pick up diseases and health problems that they'd never otherwise encounter. That said, we're keeping Duncan inside. Although it is tempting to see how he does on a lease, so he could accompany me on a walk on a beautiful summer day. For now he's staying indoors.

So, I purchased a little container of grow your own kitty grass that comes with dirt and seeds that you plant yourself. It only cost about $3.50, so I figured what the hey. I was kitty shopping with my boyfriend's brother who told me he had success growing it before. The package boasted that the seeds will sprout within days, though I was still skeptical. But they do not lie--the seeds sprouted in days and merely a week later there is a container of flourishing kitty grass residing on the counter that my cat cannot get enough of.

The package says to place the container in a place accessible to your cat as soon as the grass is 4 inches tall. I decided to put it on the counter--not that I want him up there, but he is constantly venturing up there anyways. I'll be cooking, and he conveniently decides to walk all over the kitchen counter, distracting me and trying to get a lick of whatever food happens to be lying around. I thought maybe if I put his grass on the counter, he will be distracted by it and leave my food alone.

This actually works. He knew immediately that the grass was meant for him, and now when he jumps on the counter he goes straight for the grass and then jumps down when he's done snacking. He loves his grass--it seems like a treat to him, too.

You can get cat grass at any specialty pet store, or even stores like Walmart or Target. It's a worthwhile investment and though it might not last for more than a few weeks, it's cheap enough to replace it when need be. The only maintenance the grass involves is watering it every day just enough so the soil is moist. Plus, it contains nutrients, adds variety into your cat's life, and brings a little of the outdoors inside.

Forever Home

Woody was my childhood cat that lived with my family for thirteen years. We adopted him when he was three, although we think he may have been a little older and his previous owner took a few years off his real age to better his chances of finding a new forever home. His previous owner developed allergies to him and had to give him to a shelter, although he had not wanted to part with him. It turned out to be a huge gift to my family that he did, though.

My older cousin was working at a shelter when I began asking my mom if we could get a cat. I was six. Surprisingly, it was not difficult to convince her. My cousin had mentioned how much she liked Woody to my mom, but she already had two cats of her own. The first shelter we visited was the one she worked at, and there was no question that it was Woody we'd be taking home.

Three years ago, I noticed Woody was breathing heavily; he seemed to be in pain. I mentioned it to my mom, and she called his vet. At the appointment, they said there was nothing more they could do for him--he had simply gotten old. He was sixteen, or possibly even older. That day we left the vet without Woody, and I felt like I had lost my best friend. I cried all day and all night. I never thought I'd find a cat I could love as much ever again.

As time went on, I realized how much I missed having a kitty greet me at the door and rubbing a kitty's cheek. Though Woody was gone, I could still give another one a forever home in the future. Three weeks ago, I finally adopted another cat. His name is Duncan and he's four and a half months old. He's all black with the exception of two small white patches. His legs are too long for his slender body, and he's still growing.

I created this blog as a way to connect people that love cats. I plan on blogging on everything cat related, from food recalls and cool products to kitty stories and behavior...all from my own experiences. Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me of your own. I would love to hear from you.