My Cats - The Kitten Edition
Dash-
He's cranky. He's stubborn. He is playful and very affectionate, too. As David Letterman has often said, "It's like I have a twin!" Dash is the talkative one of my group (herd? pod? drove?) of cats. He will carry on a conversation from across a room, at my feet, and from high up a top a book case. Our most lively conversations occur, though, when he is draped across my left shoulder. I get an earful then. To get to my left shoulder he usually climbs up the front of my body. Every once in a while my reaction to his climb goes like this: "AHHHH! My god, that hurt!" I don't exactly discourage his use of my body as a climbing post. Okay, I encourage it. It's fun except when a claw punctures my sternum. Lordy-Lou, that really hurts! If the cats are hungry at four o'clock in the morning, and the food bowl is empty, Dash is the one who smacks me around until I wake up and feed them. He is also known as The Handsome One. When Dash and I are alone, I tell him that he is my favorite.
Milo-
Milo is the sweetest cat I have ever known. Sometimes he casts me an expression so innocent my heart will melt all over the place. Milo used to hardly ever meow. When he would meow it often came out in rough little squeaks. Sometimes he'd try to meow, and nothing but bad breath would come out. There he'd be sitting with his mouth open, the meow left sitting on the tip of his tongue. He is a meower now. Milo doesn't carry on conversations like Dash does. He'll jump in the bathtub and meow, and scratch at the corners of the tub. He sometimes meows when he is dropping a load in the litter-box. I just don't understand that. He meows with a great deal of excitement when I show him the blue, rubber cat brush. Milo is the cat most likely to be found sitting on my lap. Actually, Milo is the cat most likely to be found anywhere I am in the apartment. He is discretely known as Daddy's Boy, and publicly known as The Good Looking One. When Milo and I are alone, I tell him that he is my favorite.
Mr. Blue-
When Mr. Blue first set paw in our apartment he immediately ran under the bed. He came out, but I could hardly get within five feet of him before he would run back under my bed. He was a tense kitten. If I back up a little he would run out from under the bed, jump on Dash or Milo, shoot across my bedroom, climb a low hanging tapestry, chew on a cord and try to climb into a shoe. If I took a step toward him, though, back under the bed he'd go. Mr. Blue has calmed down a bit, but he is still a tense guy. He will lie on my lap, and sleep with the rest of us on my bed. If I make an unexpected move, though, he will cautiously trot away and check out the situation. I tell him that he has nothing to fear, but that has never seemed to help much. I don't want to give the impression that he is a nervous wreck. He is relaxed much of the time. He's just cautious. Mr. Blue is a great looking cat His feet are big, and he has a long, full tail. From his nose to his lower back he is about the same size as Dash and Milo, but he doesn't need to lose a couple of pound like they do. Maybe that nervous energy keeps him slim. He is also known as Mr. Intensity. When Mr. Blue and I are alone, I tell him that he is my favorite.
Simon-
When Simon was a kitten he was all forehead. I feared that he would never grow into it, and he'd end up homely and pathetic looking. Well, Simon has grown into one handsome adult cat. He has a long, thick tail, a strong body and the Romanesque profile of a, uh - well, of a Roman. Simon is fearless. I can jump at him, try to startle him from behind, and badmouth his momma, and he'll bravely stand his ground. Okay, he is not completely fearless. When I have some company over he, along with Mr. Blue, tear out for the cover of my bed. You'd think a pack of frothing raccoons had entered my apartment. Simon is my only cat who will chase down a ball and bring it back to me. One odd thing about Simon is that he has never lain on my lap. He refuses to do so. What's up with that? He is also known as Fearless, Mostly. When Simon and I are alone, I tell him that he is my favorite.
Sadie-
Sadie is a very sweet, playful, lip lickin', chin chewin', shoulder hoppin' delight. I found her one night living with some homeless youths. I feared that her life on the street might be a short lived one. So, I offered the youths forty dollars for the kitten. They said yes and Sadie suddenly had a warm, comfy new home. (Well, a neighbor took her in overnight. I didn't want her to mix in with my other cats until she got a complete physical. She got that complete physical the next day, and was determined to be a healthy seven week old kitten.) Dash found her curious. Milo seemed not to see her. Simon hissed at her here and there for about a day. Mr. Blue was pretty upset by her presence for awhile. It took a few days of hissing, and growling at her, before he finally accepted Sadie. Then she was just another part of the gang, sleeping and playing with everyone. I am so happy for having found her. Also known as Baby Doll and My Beautiful Little Girl. When Sadie and I are alone, I tell her that she is my favorite.
Annabelle-
Annabelle is sweet, funny as all get out, and has the worst breath I have ever had the misfortune to smell. Her breath was an 'odiferous nightmare' (thanks Bloom County) when I first met her. It was unavoidable since, when I picked her up, she rubbed her nose against my nose, and licked my face. It was very cute, but revolting at the same time. I've learned to hold my breath when she assaults my face with her nose and tongue. Annabelle now gets along well with the other cats. Simon and Sadie have become special play buddies. For a few weeks she was really cranky with any cat that got near to her. I feared that she'd never lighten up. I even considered finding her another home it was so bad. I stuck with her, though, and I am very happy I did. Annabelle is great. She loves to meow. She meows a throaty meow when she runs, meows like a crazy-cat when I am fixing her food, and meows when she plays. Also, known as My Sweet Little Girl. When she and I are alone I tell her she is my favorite.