Saturday, April 25, 2015

Showdown at the Beet Corral

Before we even put Lewis and Clark in their carriers to bring them home, I was in love with them.

Nub, sweet nub!
I knew I couldn't give them back. But obviously, I love Bishrito, too. So I was extremely worried whether or not he would accept them.

Damn right I'm wearin' your underpants. Got a problem with that?
Bishrito was 6 years old, a big tough fellow, and cat in charge. Lewis and Clark were 6 months old. If Bish decided he didn't want them around, I knew we'd be in trouble.

I read up on cat introductions and decided to follow The Humane Society's recommendations to the letter. Click here for The Humane Society's great advice.

We made the kittens a comfy starter home in the sun room, and left Bishrito in charge of the rest of the house, separated from the kittens by two big glass doors.

At first, things looked pretty grim.

WHAT the *&%! is THAT!?
Bishrito did a lot of hissing and growling and crab dancing. He broke out all his scary black cat moves.

I cried about it a little, and prayed a lot.

A whole week passed.

And then, just when I thought the kittens would have to live in the sun room forever, Bish began to get curious.

What are they doing in there?
Grady opened up the big doors, and let them make their introductions.

Bishrito made a token show of force, which wholly impressed the kittens.

And that established, everyone got along better than fine.

Yes, they are all boys.
Thank God!

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

About That Tuxedo...

After Clyde died, months passed and Bishrito remained an only cat.

The house got cleaner. We tried to heal our hearts. I started to wonder if we even wanted a new cat. No one could ever replace Clyde, after all. Never ever.

Cats are such thoroughgoing mysteries.We imagined Bishrito needed a friend, but maybe he really didn't. He seemed happy enough to be master of his domain. We worried he might reject a new cat.

One fateful evening, after a long day at work, I wandered into the PetSmart rescue center, and who should be there, peering out?

This dapper fellow, right here.
Clark
It was love at first sight. 

I would have adopted him on the spot, except...

The rescue center was closed for the night, and...

His card said he had a brother, arriving the next day, who would love to be placed with him.

When I adopted Clyde, she was in the pound with her sister. At the time, I had another cat and shared an apartment with two girls. We didn't have room for three cats, so we took only Clyde. Ever since, I have worried about her sweet little tabby sister. Did she also find a loving home? Was she heartbroken to be left at the pound without her sister? Did Clyde quietly long for her, all her life? I look back at my 22 year old self, and I can't imagine how I turned my back and left her there.

After all those years of regret, I knew I could never again break up a sibling pair. Clark was patting my paws through the glass. I stood up, blew him a kiss, and tried to harden my heart against him.

We were only planning to adopt one cat.

I called Grady from the parking lot, and asked him how he'd feel about adopting two cats. To my surprise, he said... "Of course!" (I love him. Have I mentioned that?)

We were there the next day, the minute the rescue center opened.

Lewis
And, of course, we had to have them both.

Meet Lewis and Clark.


Our best decision ever.