But before that, the background: Andrew and I have had two cats since shortly after we were married. The older cat, Puma, was around 14.5 years old this year and the younger cat Bob, was about 13.5. Both cats lived nice long lives and lived luxuriously on soft couches and warm soft beds, but this year was a tough one for both of them. Bob, who had had health problems all throughout her life got worse around Christmas and in January it became evident that none of us could continue living like that (trust me, you don't want all the details!). And so in late January, I took her to the vet and had her put to sleep. I nearly killed me. I sobbed like a baby and was somewhat weepy for several days later. I knew it was the right decision, but it was still incredibly hard as she was absolutely the sweetest cat I'd ever had.
Fast forward to a couple of week ago...and the time had very obviously come for Puma to be put to sleep. She had been struggling with thyroid disease for a couple of years and had lost at least half her body weight. She was horribly anxious and literally starving all the time despite feeding her extra. We couldn't keep watching her waste away and she wouldn't take the medicine and we weren't going to do surgery at her age, so I took her to the vet and had her put to sleep. I was a mess yet again as we'd been together for a long time.
Last summer, we decided to get Emily a kitten since we knew both of our cats wouldn't last forever. He is a black and white tuxedo cat that we named Zippy. He's been through a lot with Emily. I'm not sure he'd agree that he has been better off....but she's finally starting to learn that maybe you can give a little too much love and smother a cat!!
Zippy is not a cuddler. He is very independent and prefers not to be held or touched at all most of the time. I miss Bob, who was on your lap if you were sitting or was happy just to lay upside down next to a warm body (usually mine). So after we put Puma to sleep, I went on the hunt for a cuddly kitten. It couldn't be just any cat because I wanted a baby and I wanted to make sure that it loved to be a lap cat. And I found a prospective kitten about an hour away at a shelter in Michigan. Actually, I found several there and I went to look at a completely different one initially, but then I saw him....my kitten. I had seen his profile online and he looked beautiful, but it said that he had a broken leg and would always have a limp....and well, I just wasn't sure about that.
But then I met "Robin". He was so very sweet and affectionate and his leg didn't seem to bother him at all. He has the softest orange fur I have ever felt and he loves to be petted. And he had to be mine.
So I put in my application and discovered that he would need to either be crated for four more days (to allow his broken leg to completely heal) or that I could come back in four days and get him then. As luck would have it, this turned out to be the same day that I realized that I had definitely reherniated my disc for the third time, and so I opted to come back and get him, since I was in pain and I didn't want to take him home in a crate.
Long story short, we ended up getting him the following Saturday, and ever since, "Robin" has been the newest member of our family. However, we still cannot agree on a name....we have tossed around hundreds, so maybe if I add some pictures, someone will have a great idea. Here's our newest family member:
Here's the little guy, all curled up next to me on the couch. This makes him look kind of a buff color, but he is much more vibrant orange...and long-haired, in case you can't tell.
This is closer to the right color. And here is his favorite perch. Apparently I need to pay more attention to him and less to the computer!
All sacked out next to me. Wish I could get that comfy!!
This was after an epic cat fight between Zippy and "he who has no name". They both were fighting over the coveted rocker in the sun. After a good 10 minute battle, they agreed to share...grudgingly.
As you might be able to tell, Zippy is much larger than the new kitten and outweighs him by at least 8 lbs. or so. But the little guy is plucky, despite his gimpy leg.
And while I am aware that this picture is not very good of me, I wanted to show you how he and I can usually be found. I haven't been sleeping well and I was back on the couch early this morning. The little fellow likes to lay on the pillow next to me. Actually, he'd prefer to be my scarf or lay on my face, but I've been encouraging him to let me breathe!
So, I know that there is a good name for him just on the tip of my tongue, but I can't decide. Any ideas?
