So They've Got PETA But What About Me
Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
by Roschelle Nelson
I've always loved dogs and have owned a couple of really great ones in my life. However, living in a two bedroom apartment and working crazy hours has made owning a dog impossible.
To satisfy my pet lover's addiction, I was convinced by a couple of coworkers (we'll call them the cat ladies) to consider getting a cat.
I'd never owned a cat before but certainly wasn't opposed to the idea. So, I made ready. I bought litter boxes, pet taxis, kitty litter, cat toys, cat furnishings and cat food.
When the big day came I went to pick up my kitty. He was almost 6 months old and the sweetest tom cat you ever want to meet.
Seymour and I were getting along just fine. Aside from me following him around like his human minion making sure he didn't start that "spraying" stuff before I could get him to the vet, everything was lovely.
He was more than capable of taking care of himself when I had to be away for work. I just felt like such a bad mama when I would return home and have to listen to him maw...maw....maw...maw for 20 minutes straight. So, I decided to get him a company keeper, another cat.
Why didn't the cat ladies tell me!!!!
Introducing another cat into a cat's home can be almost impossible. The hissing, flattening of the ears, spitting, stalking and cat slapping can drive you crazy.
I've nursed more wounds in the last 6 months than I even want to think about and I'm not talking about the cats!! They finally seem to be co-existing quite nicely. I'm the current item on the what-can-we-turn-into-a-scratching-post list!
They scratch when they want to get down. They scratch when they're trying to climb up. They scratch when you're not paying enough attention to them. They scratch when you're paying too much attention to them.
One of the little tigers scratched me so hard a few days ago I thought he'd drawn camel piss instead of blood!
Woe would be the cats if I didn't love them dearly. In spite of the scratching and the play fighting they occasionally engage in, I wouldn't trade them for anything. They've been great companions during a really stressful time in my life.
Besides, just when you're at your wit's end and covered in bandaids they gently hop in your lap and purr like a new motor; rubbing softly against you to make sure the world knows you belong to them.
So sweet.......oops!
What in the heck was that I just stepped in?!?
The dreaded hairball!!!!!
Now that's a whole 'nother story.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)"So, I decided to get him a company keeper, another cat."Uh-oh, and so it starts....hehe, now we know the answer to the question, "Were cat ladies once normal people?"Great story :)Please log in to respond to this comment.I know....They truly are amazing creatures. I can certainly see how easy it would be to wind up with a house full!!Please log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Roschelle.Great story! I love it!I know you work, but when you are home and the cats scratch something you don't want them to, rattle some coins or rocks in a can. The noise will startle them and cats don't really like to be startled. Ours were so skittish that a stern "no" was all that was necessary.Have fun,DiannePlease log in to respond to this comment.No and a hand clap works pretty good. I can't rattle anything in a can....my mom sent them some snacks a few weeks back. I would rattle the can every time I wanted to give them one. So, now...whether I'm rattling a bottle of Motrin, a candy jar, or probably rocks...they think it's treat time!!!Please log in to respond to this comment.
Roschelle,This was wonderful! At first I was concerned that you would get rid of the Tom -- then I thought you would get rid of both of them. I'm glad you didn't. Pets are worth it (in most cases).Please log in to respond to this comment.Oh...no, in spite of and ....because of...they are both KEEPERS!!!Please log in to respond to this comment.
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