Kitten Detente May Be Near...

Alright...alright...I'm probably going to end up being one of those older women with a bunch of cats.  It's about time that I accept it.  In my defense....actually I don't really have one.

 

I had a very bad cat for 18 years named Spike.  I never thought he would die but last fall he did.  He sent me to the emergency room many times and he urinated in most of my expensive handbags.  Despite many recommendations to take him to a shelter, I never did.  I couldn't bring myself to do it because I knew that no one would ever want him (for long) and that he would end up being "put down."  If you looked at him directly or petted him for longer than he liked, he bit you.  I grew to find his lack of affection for me humorous and was actually very very sad when he passed.  Oh yeah, Spike also had a sensitive stomach and he vomited a lot.  (There is nothing like stepping in warm cat vomit.)  Spike was a special little guy.

 

During the last few years of Spike's life, Posey was with us.  She was about 4 months old and she showed up on my back deck in my Los Angeles house.  She pretty much demanded that I let her in and, despite Spike's protests, happily moved in and made herself at home.  Spike would hiss whenever Posey came near him for a few months and I guess he finally gave up and realized that she wasn't going to leave.  Posey would lay dead mice and dead birds on my pillow as a thank you.  So when I wasn't inadvertently stepping in warm cat vomit, I was remaking my bed and removing rodent bodies.  How did this happen?  Anyway, I pretty much didn't have a choice and Posey, Spike and I lived together pretty harmoniously although I could feel Spike's laser eyes burning into my skull.

 

After Spike died, I thought that I should get Posey a companion because I'm at work all day and I don't come back until after Mack.  Posey seemed a little lonely and out of sorts at first but she managed.

 

Last weekend, I brought Mies (rhymes with Bees) home.  I don't really know how old he is (maybe 6 months) but he looks a lot like Spike (stripey tabby-colors).  Posey was not happy...she still isn't too happy.  I've never heard those scary low growls before...very disturbing.  Mies would try to be friends with her and he would lay on his back but she was having not of it.  Every time he would get close, she would hiss and growl.  Little Mies spent the first night on my bed because Posey was sulking in the loft.  The next night, she stayed on my bed and guarded her territory.  Everytime Mies would come near she would growl.  At times he would just sit there and stare at her and Posey growls for hours.  I know this because she was on my bed doing the growling....  Anyway, Posey now only growls when Mies gets close but they can be in the same room together.  A step forward!&nb sp; I'm probably going to have to stay in Phoenix this weekend because I'm afraid of what'll happen if I leave those two along for 2 1/2 days. 

 

Of course the fact that I'm in this situation at all poses a lot of questions about my sanity.  What the heck is my problem?  Is it that I don't have enough drama in my life?  Definitely not.  (I'm a master at creating something out of nothing!)  I KNOW that I'm a bleeding heart when it comes to animals so I just can't stand to see a little thing get put in a shelter.  Maybe this is self-sabotage.  I'm ruining my chance of finding a guy by doing this because no one wants to go out with someone who has (now) two cats.  I am vowing not to get any more.  I promise.   

Comments

[G R]

I have two dogs, and I know what you mean about fearing to leave them alone for the weekend. They don't fight and I don't mind them having a few friends over for a party, but I suspect they are also making long distance phone calls and visiting inappropriate websites when I'm not around. I'm thinking of rigging up a hidden surveillance camera.

Anyway, have you ever read the essay "Mars Probe Finds Kittens"?

http://www.compleatsteve.com/essays/kitten_nyt.htm

One of my favorite pieces of cat literature.

[Destructo]

I love Steve Martin's writing. He is so brilliant. I hadn't read that one before though. I remember when he used to talk about how his cat would order cat toys over the phone with his credit card when he went out and that he couldn't return them because he had slobber all over them.

I had a lot to worry about when my old mean cat was home alone because he would take out his acetelene torch and build things (like robots). I know...I have no idea why I gave in and got him that torch for Christmas.... He used to lie around waiting for me to leave for work so that he could continue his project in the basement (which he never let me see).

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if you find out that your dogs were looking at inappropriate websites. They're probably trying on your clothes too.