OUR KIDS HAVE FOUR LEGS & FUR

Yup, I’m one of those crazy cat women who take care of her cats as a mother would take care of her children, except for dressing them and sending them off to college.  From the first day I brought them home, I made sure that they were eating the right cat food, had the best cat toys, and kept them comfortable with cat beds and furniture.  I’m like one of those women who go into a baby store and ogle over the cute little baby clothes and stuffed animals, except I’m ogling over the cute cat beds and furniture covered in fuzzy leopard print fabric.  And the cat toys……..I go crazy picking out the perfect fuzzy, feathered, or jingling mice for them to bat around at home.  When my significant other moved in, he became a cat lover too and spoiled them more than I did. Their names are Caesar, Scarlet and Cleopatra (Cleo for short).  They each have their own unique personalities.  They were so tiny when we brought them home; we thought we had three females.  When we took them to the vet for their first visit, Ginger became Caesar. (Sorry Caesar).  They came into our lives about a month after I had to put my two long-time companions to sleep due to illness.  I’d had them for almost 19 years.  Two black cats named Shadow and Baby – they were sisters.  We were totally devastated to have to make that decision.  It hurt so bad I swore I wouldn’t get another pet.  Within two weeks I was aching to hear the pitter-patter of little feet in my home again.  A friend of a friend had a new litter of kittens and were looking to find homes for them.  We were told they had four to choose from.  We’d decided before we went that we’d take two of them but when we got there, there were only three left.  We didn’t have the heart to leave one behind so……….  Of course we couldn’t just pick out just any cat food; it had to be cat food specifically for kittens – under 1 year old.  After a year, we went to adult cat food but my Cleo gained some weight.  So then we had to change to weight control cat food.  They also get treats twice a day – three times if Caesar rubs up against daddy enough.  But like with children, we can’t say “treats” unless they’re about to get some.  Obviously, we don’t spell it out, we say “you know whats” instead.  Just like kids, when they get sick we take them to the vet.  When they get tarter build-up on their teeth, they go to the vet for a cleaning.  Yup, the cost is probably as much as a pediatrician and dentist, but they’re our babies so we pay for what’s needed. If you are a cat lover, then you understand how attached we get to them.  They give us unconditional love and devotion - qualities hard to find in humans.  In addition to spoiling them with such luxuries as unique cat toys and fancy cat beds and furniture, we make them part of the family and care for them as we would our own children.  Whether it’s a dog, cat, or some other furry four legged friend, we let them sleep with us at night, play with them when they’re frisky, care for them when they get sick, and grieve them when they die.  I’ve had cats since I was a child and learned to appreciate them more and more as I grew older.  Each one with it’s own personality left it’s mark on my heart.  Although it was hard to give them up when their time came, the years of love and laughter that they gave me was worth the sorrow after they were gone.