Finally... My people! My tribe! My fellow cat-lovers! It's so good to be here.
I've actually been sneaking around on the forum for about a week or so without properly introducing myself. My husband and I waited a good long time before we got cats. Why? Not because we wanted to but because, well, life had other plans. We both actually grew up in cat households, our first words were likely "mama, dada..kitty!", and I partially fell in love with my husband because he had one of those suction-cup stick-on Garfields in his car when I met him. Sexy, right? He's a keeper.
So why didn't we have a cat? or 12 yet? Turns out I was majorly allergic. I had already had 2 major sinus surgeries before the age of 30 and still hadn't put two and two together. I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box but I AM the most colorful one!
Fast forward many years of immunotherapy injections (a.k.a. allergy shots) and many weekend visits to the shelters just to get in some "kitty therapy time" and here we are today, with 2 awesome cats that we love more than...well...anything really.
First we adopted Sophie from PetSmart. She was only 8 wks old, had a shaved little belly and blue tattoo 'cuz she had been spayed only days before (way too young!)and was all alone shaking in a steel cage without mother or siblings. We have no idea what her back story is but my husband scooped her up and never put her down again. Her middle name is 'Merica because she was adopted on the 4th of July-- her independence day!
She is the softest prettiest little girl in the world (not biased at all..nope). She is an excellent climber, stealthy as an assassin, and smart as a whip. She loves burrowing under the covers and does well with new people and car rides. She had a rough start with lots of GI issues and one very scary close call (the phrase "Fever of Unknown Origin" still gives me chills) but is a happy, playful almost 9 month old kitten now.
Throwback baby pic: Just look at that pink shaved belly! And yes, that's a crinkled paper Chipotle bag because we are extremely classy and only give our babies the best toys.
We knew Sophie needed a "sibling" to grow up with, but it took us about a month to find another "singleton" for adopting! Many places were reluctant to give us just one kitten, and we definitely weren't interested in breaking up bonded pairs.
But we didn't give up, and one weekend we were visiting our lucky shelter
(Shout out to Small Miracles Animal Rescue in Ellicott City, MD) where our parents and siblings had successfully found their best friends when someone said.... "Hey, you're looking for a single kitten? Well, there's 3 that we've quarantined in the back room with eye infections...and the little boy is better now...and he's not bonded like the other two are... and... blah blah blah"
DONE. And DONE. No clue what the rest of that conversation was but we walked out with Baby #2.....
Presenting: Gnocchi! He was 12 weeks old, long lean and laidback. Chiller than chill. He was such a little dumpling that we had to give him that name. Playful, silly, and a little derpy he earned his cheesy middle name: "Parmesan". He's an excellent jumper, a below average lander, a lap cat and my glued to my husband.
Throwback baby pic: He looks terrified of my sister's iPhone
Interestingly, "Gnocchi" is also the name of Chef Pisghetti's cat in Curious George. There's your fact of the day. You're welcome.
They hit it off right away and are as thick as thieves. Though not truly littermates, Sophie & Gnocchi have grown up together and are only 2 weeks apart.
They're 9 months old now and are looking forward to their EPIC 1st birthday party coming up this April. Just kidding, they don't have a clue. Not kidding about the party. That's happening.
If you're in the Maryland area mid-April and want to attend a double-cat birthday party, come on over, internet strangers!* (*What could possibly go wrong?) The more, the merrier
. Thanks for reading our LONG post!
Love, Sophie & Gnocchi 
Sophie & Gnocchi are paws-itvely precious. 
I love a good pun!
. Again, Welcome.
I like your taste in names as well, i.e. Sophie Merica and Gnocchi. Just so you know when April arrives please feel free to celebrate their birthdays on our special Birthday thread here:
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