They are animal lovers with several dogs, so they provided a place for the cat to sleep in their shed and began feeding her. She thanked them by having a litter of kittens!
Here she is prowling around in the summer. After kittens. Looking pretty strong and healthy.
On Christmas Eve 2007, late, a black cat jumped onto our kitchen window sill. It was our neighborhood friend.
We put out a little dog food, which she ate, and dared a quick pet through the open window.
Over the course of 2008, she warmed up to us bit by bit. She approached me in the yard and let me pet her. She was a little more apprehensive around the kids.
Then, this winter, she visited our window more and more (including on Christmas Day!). One faction in our house (Aine and our younger daughter) started calling her Holly. Another faction (me and our older daughter) named her Meow Meow. One fateful day, we actually brought her into the house. Pretty soon, we were feeding her every day and letting her nap in the warmth for the evening. Then, heartbreakingly, we would put her out into the cold.
You know where this is leading, right??
Anyway, Aine talked to our neighbor and learned that she wasn't bringing any of the cats in the house because of the dogs. In fact, she was taking them to the Cat Angel Network and was trying to get them adopted. However, as of yet, no luck.
Well, that did it.
Meow Meow (aka Holly) is the newest member of our household. Neither of us ever owned a cat, so it was new territory. Happily, she was already litter trained and has really been a treat. I think it's in no small part that she chose us rather than the other way around.
Welcome, Meow Meow. Enjoy your stay. :)
27 comments:
Now you're talkin' my language. A house with no cat is like dinner without ice cream. Hey Meow Meow, Marlow says hello!
Word to the wise. Get her fixed immediately.
So you've been adopted by a starving black kitten/mom too? Sheesh! Simplicity had had her kittens, was terrified but desperate, and now acts like she was supposed to be with us all along.
Maybe it's some kind of alien plot. I wonder how many other people have similar black-cat stories?
A message to Jason's readers:
About the Meow-Meow vs. Holly thing...
Imagine sitting in the waiting room at the vet's and the tech comes out and loudly calls "Meow-Meow". Would you stand up?
Just sayin'...
:D
Meow Meow chose...wisely. :p
As far as the names go, Holly Meow Meow Evans seems about right. As anyone can tell from those photos, she is just too much cat for one name!! :D
May your sunshine be plentiful, and your laps be warm, dear kitty.
Some cats have to be wooed.
Jason, I hate to do this to you, but I have to side with Aine and vote to call her Holly.
Spay her right away, unless you want Aine to become the crazy cat lady.
Cats are wonderful to have around. I am sure you all will enjoy her as much as she enjoys you. Congratulations on being chosen as her family!
Once you go cat, you never go back...
:)
Angelique
bekbek ~ I was adopted by a gorgeous pitch black starving mom-to-be cat with beautiful green eyes too. Cleopatra, we named her. It does seem to be a bit of a phenomenon.
Aine & Jason ~ I vote "Meow Meow" because it is, well ... different ... groovy.
Catvibe, hey Marlow!! I have to say that she is fun to have around. And litterboxes are genius. (She was spayed by the Cat Angel Network, BTW.)
Bekbek, if you see Beth's comment, you'll understand that something diabolical is afoot. Are we to become vessels for the alien invasion???
Aine, I'll periodically relent on "Holly" for public perception purposes. :p
Sarah, a warm wish. :) And I do think the "full" name has a nice ring to it.
Charles, I'm seeing that. Wow, they really are in charge.
Kaycie, luckily the Cat Angel Network treated her and had her spayed. No kittens in our future!
Angelique, I'm thinking you're right. :)
Beth, oooh, it does seem to be connected! Has your cat shown any uncanny interest in electronic equipment?? ;)
That's a great story Jason and Aine. Holly-Meow Meow is so pretty. Congratulations on the new addition to the family. :)
Aine, I know you have qualms about the name, but... - I was sitting in the Vet's waiting room with my cat, Puppy, (which is silly enough) when the girl opened the door and said with out cracking a smile -
"Sir Poopsalot?"
A tiny-little chihuahua proudly clickety clicked to the door.
Got 6 right now. Most we ever had was 18. Hissing Sid is my mate. He hates everyone and everything - 'cept me
For one of my parents dogs we actually combined the two most popular names together. My mom wanted Tara and my dad wanted Bell, both from Gone with the Wind. Her name is now Terra Bell. So, you could call your kitty Holly Meow or Meolly.
This looks like a cat with attitude.
Glad I'm not a rodent.
Jason and Aine, for your interest, let me tell you the other names of Marlow, and usually the ones I use:
Little kitty (He's 20 pounds but I've called him that since he could fit in the palm of my hand)
Puppy kitty (pretty funny K!)
Squishy
My little beastie
Once in a while the name Marlow comes out, but usually only when I'm writing about him. The name given to him by my son, who was reading "Heart of Darkness" at the time.
I can only imagine this little beast prefers the warmth and comfort of the inside your house versus the harch doggy environment of the neighbourhood.
Cats go for what's good for them :))
Good luck with Meow-meow :)
I have to vote for Holly on the Vet's certificate but Meow-Meow at home. Here's why:
Our little kitty, Sophia, was a girl -- or so we thought. Even the vet was fooled during the first visit. Imagine my surprise an month or so later, when Sophia became Mr. Kitty. He's been just Mister ever since, but the vet still calls him Sophia. I think he resents it.
Kaye, Sir Poopsalot, OMG! Now THAT'S name! Meow Meow is downright regal in comparison. :)
Preacherman, 18?? I have to sit down. Take a breather. I'm having some sort of panic attack. ;)
Meghan, Terra Bell is a really cute name. :) I like that! Maybe we can write the cat's name as a formula. Like Mw^2 (Meow to the second power.)
Whirlochre, I hope this cat lives up to the cat reputation! We had a disturbing number of mice coming into the house this fall.
Catvibe, Squishy...that's my favorite! Something very squeezable about that name. :)
Szelsofa, I'd like to think that the warm and soft pillows feels like heaven compared to what she had. Of course, I don't have fur. Maybe winter's no biggie to them.
Karen, whoa. You raise a good point. I'm a total newbie when it comes to cat anatomy. I'm afraid to look anyway. This whole retractable claw thing still freaks me out!
Oh, and yes we do have a cat we inherited with the house we bought 9 years ago.
A girl living somewhere next door said the animal was called 'Berci' (a short version for Bartholomew, a male's name)
Guess what Berci suprised us a few month later with...a litter of six kittens.
Regardless of belonging to the opposite sex, the name remained and so did the cat. But we had her neutered quite soon after the babies.
Beautiful cat! :-)
My black cat Sophie left her home next door and adopted me. She is Queen here and she was only a Princess (2nd cat in line) over there. They do choose you - so get used to it. Holly-Meow fits her somehow.
Um, yeah. You don't adopt cats, they always adopt you.
We've got 2 dogs and a cat indoors and it looks like 3 cats and a possum outside. Luckily it doesn't get very cold here. And I think they have a second place where they stay at night (and also get more food).
I love black cats.
Congratulations, Jason. Now you know you and your family are VERY SPECIAL HUMAN BEINGS. :)
Szelsofa, wow! Are the kittens still around? These cats really have a way of carving a place for themselves. :)
Vesper, she's pretty cool. :)
Aggie, I'm learning. Yes, they do rule, don't they.
Sarah, black cats are the best! And wow, I'm really learning this cat-chooses-you thing. It's been a cool process.
Angela, you know, I do sort of feel that way. :)
No, the babies have all gone. Two were adopted by cat-loving persons, four was put to sleep at the early stage of their lives.
This is just how it goes, one can lament about their death... But I'd say this is what neutering a cat/dog is about.
To prevent the need to kill unwanted litter. Tough, I know.
Cats always chose us (and they are a discerning group!!!) Meow Meow is gorgeous. What a beauty. Do keep the healthy food coming (check the ingredient lists,so important) ask for advice at reputable pet stores and from vets and keep that litter box tidy. All will be well. Mr. Cheddar and Ms. Mitz send their best headbonks. LOVE THAT POSE.
Szelsofa, I understand. Sometimes maintaining balance requires tough actions.
Geraldine, thanks!! We're doing our homework (I think) and have had her to the vet already. We'll be relying on you for advice. (Hi Mr. Cheddar and Ms. Mitz!)
Ms. Mitz is in her 21st year and is still running for her food bowl twice a day (I do mean RUNNING) and having a good time otherwise, happy and healthy. I think we made some good choices along the way in terms of her care. All the cats Ive been blessed with actually.
Hope Meow Meow is settling in. The kids here send there best headbonks. Just write and ask their advice (or mine) whenever you'd like. Glad to help.
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