Well, after my precious Babe died on 9/29/07, I swore I would NEVER EVER get another cat again. Then I started missing a furry little friend and had always said that IF I ever got another cat, I would get two so they could keep each other company. Babe was a "one cat" cat and I always honored that. For the past 2 months I had been on a search - just looking at all of the poor kitties that needed a good home. I was on Craig's List and answered an ad for 2 free 9 month old cats. The owner is a breast cancer survivor X2 and is about to go take care of her 90 year old father - who is petrified of cats from a childhood trauma. These two cats were dumped on her door step at the age of approx. 5 weeks old. She did not know if they would make it, but they did. I went and met them the week before Christmas and really liked them. I picked them up two days ago and so far so good. They are playful and past the kitten stage - but still young and full of energy. I had forgotten how playful cats could be since Babe was an old woman and sick the last 8 months of her life.
They are laid back and love to eat and follow us around like a puppy dog. They are not scared of my 9 month old baby. They are used to being around children. So far no allergy flare ups. Ironically, I'm allergic to cats but I don't care. I'm hoping that since I was pregnant with Jacob and that he was around Babe for 6 months of his life, that he won't be allergic to these cats. We will see.......
I've caught them scratching the couch a couple of times - something that Babe did not do. I've already sprayed one of them with the water bottle. I hope and pray they do not tear up my couch. I'm going to Petco today to get some spray stuff as an adversion. Any luck with anyone else using this?

I feel sad and depressed about Babe still. I was crying for her yesterday again. Am I disloyal to her for getting other cats in her house? Sometimes I feel like I will not bond with these cats because of Babe. Am I crazy?

Anyway, the calico is Buttercup - I think her name will stay. The other one is named Orca - but I'm thinking about either Lilly or Tuxy. What do ya'll think?

Sheri

BUMP!

Sheri,

They are just beautiful! It does my heart good to know that there are people like you out there, sorry, I've had a difficult "people" day. I don't think there should ever be more people than animals on this planet! I also think that if everyone had at least one rescue animal in their life this planet would be a much better place. Bless your heart for not separating them.

It's been over a year since Nickels left. I still can only think about him a little at a time. I felt guilty for the first week we had Frankee but, we rescued him from a horrible existence that he would not have survived. He was abandoned outside at less than 3 weeks old with only a bowl of water he couldn't reach. That helped me work through my guilt. I will always be careful to never say, Frankee, your the best kitty ever! Instead I tell him, Frankee, your the best kitty in the whole wide world. Silly things like that I have to work around or the guilt would raise it's ugly head again. Don't know if that makes sense but grief surely doesn't follow any set rules.

Your girls are beautiful and given time, you will wonder how you could ever cope without them . I know I feel like that about Frankee and we've only had him 4 months. He will never be Nickels but he's developing his own endearing qualities that Nickels didn't have. He is getting tired of being cradled like a baby and kissed but that's just too bad !

I think Buttercup suits your calico and I'd have to vote for the name Lily for your tuxedo. One of our customers has a tuxedo cat that they named Miss Oreo (It fits her since she has a little "weight problem"). They were thinking of naming her something to do with penquins but decided to go with Miss Oreo. Whatever you choose, I wish you years of love and joy. I know these beautiful little girls WILL help you through your grief for Babe. I am so very happy that you found them. It is the season for miracles and you are theirs.

God Bless you and your beautiful babies!
Michelle

What wonderful Christmas presents! They are both adorable and I'm sure you will have many happy times there together. Keep us posted on how your new furkids are getting along.

Take care,
Ken Albin

Boogi3: Those 2 new girls are adorable. I love that Christmas picture!

Your thoughts remind me of myself somewhat. I lost my boy on 9/10/07 and also missed a furry friend. I started looking for twins, male or female, like my twin boys.
I found Lucky at the local SPCA instead. I think you've done just perfect.

I also like Buttercup for the Calico. Maybe Lilly for the other? I think SeaWorld has an Orca who is not a kittycat. Maybe Miss Tux...identifies as female for sure.

Anyway, You are not being disloyal in any way to Babe for doing this and yes, you will and probably sounds like you already have formed a bond with these 2. I thought and have found that having Lucky stops my constant grieving for Little Guy and instead I can more easily look at his pictures and think of him with the good healthy memories we had instead of focusing on the worst sad ones at the end.

It had been over 16 years since I had young ones around and I agree there is now more work involved that we have forgotten about. My new boy Lucky has no interest in a scratching post and has been by my couches a couple of times but I stopped him right away. I found out things are much better since the vet trimmed his nails..no more needle nails and he seems to have lost interest right now in scratching.

When my 3 were kittens I got something at the pet store that had an odor that kept them away BUT if I remember right...it was like rotten eggs and we couldn't stand the smell either. The water squirt guns were always the best tool. After a while all we had to do was shake one and they heard the water and stopped so didn't have to squirt all the time. Have had suggestions about putting catnip on a scratching post and may try that since only have 1 cat right now. But when I had all the kittens the catnip, which they did love, made them attack each other and not a a playing nice way so I never allowed it again. It apparently affects different cats differently and for mine...it made them want to fight each other. Back to the couches...can try anything noisy..balloons, aluminum foil paper, bubble-wrap, ..but the best is catch in the act and a firm NO and a squirt in their direction and sometimes I followed them to really squirt them ..all the while saying NO!..to really make an impression. Sometimes I think they grew out of it but they did use the scratching posts instead... Or, if you have a scratch post..keep it near the couch and when they go to the couch and look interested or start to scratch...go pick them up saying No and place them on the scratch post and tell them to scratch there instead (cause we all know our babies understand exactly what we say, right?) (smile) At least, that's what we tell ourselves.

So really you and I are learning all over together and this forum is the best place to find suggestions and help.

Oh what beautiful girls!

All of you are lucky to have found one another. I always think of the new ones as gifts from my lost baby. There is no disloyality, only love. What a great Christmas present!

I wish all of you years of love and joy.

Love

PS I like Lilly for the name.

Oh Sheri, I am so happy that you found a place for these two cats in your home.
Of course you will always love and miss Babe, this isn't being disloyal to them, to offer care comfort and whatever love that may grow between you, your family and those two new souls that have been added to it.

We never forget our love, it is a part of us forever, but it's also soothing to your soul to be able to stop to comfort/take comfort, these little souls need you and you are able to let them in your life, though you hardly know them today, with time they will not only have helped you through what has been a very hard time but they will have shown that love is all around us, we need to reach out for it, our furry friends honour those that have been, it is our love past that is so ardent that can have them still to keep the fires burning. Take care, I know Babe is grateful for the warmth you are showing.

Hi all -
I've decided to rename the Calico to Cali and the black and white one to Lily - CaliLily - get it? the flower(calilily)....................
Sheri

Congratulations on your new little ones! They are absolutey beautiful!