Thursday, August 20, 2009

Just Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect!

Soooo ... Jed and the kids went to the shelter ...

filled out some forms ...

listed everyone we've ever known as character references ...

and released the veterinary records for our dear-departed Maggie as well as our still drinking from the toilet, sweet-old-incontient Maddy.

And today we got the call that we've been approved ...

to adopt a cat.

Well ... a kitten actually.

This black furry blur is Ariel



and she will be coming to live with us on Monday.

That is the name she was given at the shelter (probably why our cat person and appointed caretaker of said feline fell instantly in love) and Ittybit has no intention of changing it. I, of course, will be calling her 'Tempest,' as I'm sure she will be a tiny, whirling dervish only William Shakespeare could have conjured.

She's a playful one.

Now, friends, I am not a cat person. I like them well enough, but they seem to only tolerate my presence. (This could be a cat feature, I don't know.) I have owned ONE cat in my adult life and I believe it ran away to join the circus (or was shoplifted during a town-wide yard sale, whichever is a more plausable explanation for his wandering ways) about six weeks after I had him neutered and immunized). In fact my experience with cats is that they all seem to find a place that suits their needs -- say fish served nighthly at the neighbors' house.

So, aside from the fact that we've decided this shall be a house-bound cat with all her natural nails (because the proceedure to remove said implements of slicing torture seems cruel and with our luck she'll be wily enough to get out into the world whenever she wants to anyway) what else should we know that will make everyone's life easier? Especially the newest member.

Think: Geriatric, incontinent dog who's sweet but never lived with a cat before.

Think: Litterbox placement/maintenance.

Think: Training her to flush the toilet (I've seen Meet the Fockers) or make toast (after she washes her paws, of course).

We'll take any advice if it will make the house purr.

Think: Purrrrrrr.

3 Comments:

Blogger Alone said...

http://www.softpaws.com/

A kind alternative to declawing. These not only will save your furniture but also the scratches to young skin from those sharp kitten claws. Enjoy the new furry addition to your family.

August 21, 2009 at 3:40 AM 
Blogger Unknown said...

Congrats on the new addition to the family. A few suggestions from my experience:

Petsmart rewards card helps save on the food at times (mine has been handy).

Also Petsmart, Petco, Target all sell a small cardboard tray that can be used for scratching box. I know it seems silly to pay for cardboard but our cats would rather scratch on that than the furniture so it's worth the $10 to me.

If you ever have to put drops in the cats ears DOUBLE wrap the cat in towels before you do it. It will cut down on the bleeding....yours, not the cat's

August 21, 2009 at 7:23 AM 
Blogger toyfoto said...

Thanks for the advice! These tips are great!

I think we'll try the cardboard scratchers before we resort to nail caps, although it's good (as well as hilarious) to know they exist.

Our furniture isn't that precious, even though we'd like it to be unscarred by knife-like mitts.

The most pressing concern is going to be introducing Ariel to Madeline, and making sure everyone is happy. Hoping Maddy will see the kitten as a good thing if we give her extra love and treats.

August 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM 

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