Cats

I always thought of myself as a dog person.  Dogs are wonderful, sweet, loyal, loving.  But they are a lot of work.  When we lost our sweet dog Rex, I knew it would be awhile before we got another dog.  My life had changed so much, from stay at home mom to full time teacher.  No one was ever home to be there for a dog. 

So last November, right before Thanksgiving, I left to go grocery shopping, and without even thinking about it, decided to go look at cats at Petsmart.  I got there and saw Charlotte.  She was so small and sweet in cage there.  I hadn't planned on getting a cat that night, in fact, I thought I was allergic to them, which I am.  But I didnt care.  I wanted her.  I left with her. 

She turned out to be a real brat.  She hates to be held, rarely likes to be petted, but she has caught 3 mice since she has been here.  I hate mice.  Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with her because she is such a brat.  She likes to be in the room with us.  But always on her own terms.  Clint had an allergic reaction to her when we first go her and broke out in hives.  He has gotten better.  He is allergic to lots of things.  But we are keeping the cats and just dealing with the symptoms.

IN the summer, Derek decided he wanted his own cat.  I decided I wanted a sweet one.  I had a sweet one growing up, and a bratty one.  Pretzel was the sweet one.  He was my sisters black and white tuxedo cat.  We thing Pretzel just went somewhere to die when he was old and toothless.  He was such a sweet and patient cat.  And a good mouser, protector, and friend.  Then we got Tiffanee.   She was awful.  Long haired, snotty, useless. 

I was hoping to find one like Pretzel.  Derek and I answered an ad on KSL for kittens at a farm in Riverton.  We drove out to the farm and found 7 kittens that were all so different.  All of them darling.  We saw Wilson asleep under the stairs and Derek picked him up.  It was instant love.  Wilson was so tired from playing all night.  I tried to talk Derek into getting the sweet little striped kitty, that I ended up bringing home too and talking my friend Clare into adopting, because people with small houses really should not have more than 2 cats.

Charlotte did not eat or drink for 3 days after we brought her home.  She just hid under things and ran from everyone.  Wilson was just the opposite.  He ate right away, and even rubbed up against Charlotte right away and won her over quickly.  They were almost immediate friends.

Derek named him Wilson right away after a character in a darkish video game because he was black.  We loved the name and new it was just right for him right away.  And I was impressed with Derek for naming him such a cool name instead of "Midnight" or "Blackie".  T.S. Eliot, the famous poet who wrote all about cats says that the cats choose their own names and then let you know.  That was most likely the case for Wilson.

He sleeps with Derek, and usually cries a little when Derek leaves.  Both the cats meet us at the door when we come home.  The like to kiss the first person who comes in the door.  If I hold Wilson when I come home, he literally takes all my stress and worry away.  I dont' know how he does it, but he does.  He loves to be held like a baby.  That could be becasue when he was a baby, people held him constantly.  He is used to being loved.  And he really does love us.  Sometimes he just cant get enough love.  Sometimes he likes to just be left alone.  But he never minds if we pick him up.  He never gets upset, or impatient.  I just love him so much and he makes me so happy because he is just so sweet.  He is playful, and has a cheerful little "meow".  Poor Charlotte just has trauma.  I know she wants us to love her, but at the same time she doesn't.  All shelter kitties probably have trauma.  Poor things.  But Wilson loves her and has helped her.  Clint really loves Charlotte and the 2 of them kind of understand each other.   Pets are just so good for kids.  And they are good for adults too.  I just love my kitty so much.  Wilson does so much for all of us.  So does Charlotte in her own way.  Animals are such amazing things.  And I am so glad they are part of our lives.