We’re trying it again. Last week we added two new family members, kittens Moe and Carl.
My girls love cats. They pretend to be cats, we have more plush cats than I know what to do with, and they talk often about when we can finally get cats again.
Our first try didn’t go quite like I planned. We got two cats, probably about 6 months old, that had previously lived with a hoarder. The cats never warmed up to us and, in fact, pretty much hated everything about living at our house. I even spent about an hour trying to get one out of hiding in my garage before I decided it just wasn’t meant to be.
The cats now live outside, roaming around our property, hunting the abundance of small animals and they are, I am assuming, much happier. Since our first go round didn’t work out, I didn’t know when we would again try out cats in our house. Our dog, Homer, didn’t seem too fond of the first cats, but after reflecting on the experience, I think it might have more to do with those particular cats than him.
An opportunity came up during the summer to get two male kittens for our house. I went back and forth on whether I wanted to try again but, after a little wearing down and knowing the joy it would bring the girls, I decided to give it a go.
At about 10 weeks old the kittens joined our family. Moe is the gray and white leader while Carl is black and white and a little more reserved.
Their first night in our house went pretty well. They both learned how to hide quite effectively and there were a couple of moments of panic when Moe wasn’t anywhere to be found.
The girls did their best with the kittens, having to be reminded often they are babies in a new home away from their mama and they just need to get comfortable with us. As the days have gone on, they are beginning to come out of their shells, playing more, purring and just being really cute.
We did learn the kittens are not a fan of Homer. To his credit, Homer just seems curious and hasn’t done anything other than sniff at the kittens. They, on the other hand, immediately tensed up, dug their claws into me and even relieved themselves on me a bit when they saw him. Lesson learned. I would like them to eventually get along and have been thinking over ways to introduce them again with myself having to sustain any injuries.
The kittens have learned a few tricks in their short time at our house. I completely underestimated their abilities and within second of putting them in their area, they jumped over my barrier. Getting creative, I used an old screen from my craft shows to hold them in. About a day later, though, the kittens figured out they could climb up the screen and I found them perched at the top unsure of their next move. A couple of plastic barriers later and I think I am safe from them escaping, for now anyway.
I have to say I am a little more excited about the kittens then I thought I would be. I visit them often, love to watch them play together and am very much open to them roaming around the whole house, instead of living primarily in the basement.
This weekend I plan to take the girls to a pet store to pick out a “house” for the kittens and a cat tree, as I hear they are called, for them to climb around on and play with. I can only imagine what we will come back with for the kittens once the girls start shopping, but I am excited to make this one wish come true for them.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
or jpierson@newtondailynews.com