Entry
Cats and Luck.
Mr. Amber Cat, my first cat ever, was getting a bit tubby. My vet suggested getting a playmate for him. So one Saturday in October, I went to the local shelter, and explained why I was there. The woman said usually the second cat in a home is opposite sex, and she had just the one for me. She showed me a little mackerel tabby kitten. She explained this one had been there for some time (she was about 5 months old) and was showing signs of kennel depression. She suspected the vet would be putting her down, next time he saw her. I immediately signed the adoption papers.
On the drive home, I explained that she was going to have a job, that she would have to keep the other cat active. I think she took me seriously! I don't name my pets right away, I like to see the personality. Over the next day and half, it was clear that this little one was going to bring some sparkle into my life! So Sparkle became her name.
Sparkle instantly took to teasing Amber, batting him on the rump and dashing off, through my apartment. She was small enough that she could scramble under a dresser and some other furniture; Amber was too big being adult sized. She was never frightened, she clearly enjoyed outsmarting him. Amber did lose weight.
My apartment was a 3rd floor walk up, with a balcony. I bought a panel to put in the slider so the 2 cats could get out on the balcony. My vet said it was unlikely they would jump off that high. Amber loved being out on the balcony; other residents would say they knew they had arrived home when they would walk up the path and see Amber gazing down at them from my balcony. Sparkle would make me crazy, balancing on the top railing, walking all around. I bought one of those posts and hung a bird feeder, and that kept the 2 cats entertained all winter. Once the good weather arrived, the panel went back in the slider so the cats would be able to enjoy their balcony again. That year, Sparkle caught a bird and brought it in through the pet door THREE different times! It was crazy, as she would release the bird in my apartment. The bird would take off, with 2 cats in pursuit, and me rushing behind grabbing lamps, picture frames, vases and such, before they landed on the floor and smashed. Eventually I would catch the rear most cat, put it in a bedroom, close the door and resume the chase. Second cat would go in the bedroom and I could take a breather while I figured out what to do about the bird. I am happy to say that all 3 survived, although 2 had to go to the wildlife vet for help before being released. I removed the bird feeder, and only put it out in winter. Sparkle lived with me for 17 years. In the photo, she is in Santa's lap, far left. Oh and those 4 plush toys are ours, I took those in for the photo shoot.
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Cats and Luck.
Mr. Amber Cat, my first cat ever, was getting a bit tubby. My vet suggested getting a playmate for him. So one Saturday in October, I went to the local shelter, and explained why I was there. The woman said usually the second cat in a home is opposite sex, and she had just the one for me. She showed me a little mackerel tabby kitten. She explained this one had been there for some time (she was about 5 months old) and was showing signs of kennel depression. She suspected the vet would be putting her down, next time he saw her. I immediately signed the adoption papers.
On the drive home, I explained that she was going to have a job, that she would have to keep the other cat active. I think she took me seriously! I don't name my pets right away, I like to see the personality. Over the next day and half, it was clear that this little one was going to bring some sparkle into my life! So Sparkle became her name.
Sparkle instantly took to teasing Amber, batting him on the rump and dashing off, through my apartment. She was small enough that she could scramble under a dresser and some other furniture; Amber was too big being adult sized. She was never frightened, she clearly enjoyed outsmarting him. Amber did lose weight.
My apartment was a 3rd floor walk up, with a balcony. I bought a panel to put in the slider so the 2 cats could get out on the balcony. My vet said it was unlikely they would jump off that high. Amber loved being out on the balcony; other residents would say they knew they had arrived home when they would walk up the path and see Amber gazing down at them from my balcony. Sparkle would make me crazy, balancing on the top railing, walking all around. I bought one of those posts and hung a bird feeder, and that kept the 2 cats entertained all winter. Once the good weather arrived, the panel went back in the slider so the cats would be able to enjoy their balcony again. That year, Sparkle caught a bird and brought it in through the pet door THREE different times! It was crazy, as she would release the bird in my apartment. The bird would take off, with 2 cats in pursuit, and me rushing behind grabbing lamps, picture frames, vases and such, before they landed on the floor and smashed. Eventually I would catch the rear most cat, put it in a bedroom, close the door and resume the chase. Second cat would go in the bedroom and I could take a breather while I figured out what to do about the bird. I am happy to say that all 3 survived, although 2 had to go to the wildlife vet for help before being released. I removed the bird feeder, and only put it out in winter. Sparkle lived with me for 17 years. In the photo, she is in Santa's lap, far left. Oh and those 4 plush toys are ours, I took those in for the photo shoot.
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