Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thanks to Ren, there's a new baby in our house. Ok, technically he lives with Andrew, but since Andrew spends lots of time here I can pretend the baby's mine.

We stopped at Ren's house in Tennessee on our way to the conference and we were immediately led downstairs to meet the kittens. Anyone who's ever met a kitten knows they're pretty damn hard to resist. I mean seriously - look at this kitten!




We were convinced our dogs would not allow a kitten in the house. Andrew, on the other hand, has cats and a dog and just had to bring home a kitten. One question, though: Could I babysit him for a week while Dagny and Andrew went to NBTSC? And would I make it really clear to Rowan that the kitten is Andrew's?

Well, sure, I figured we could handle the dog/kitten situation for a week. And Rowan felt pretty sure she could handle the fact that the kitten was going to live with Andrew.

We forgot one little thing. No one made it clear to ME that he was Andrew's kitten, and I have fallen completely in love. Again, seriously - would you look at this kitten?!



This cat has ruined some pillows. He has scratched Rowan's eyeball, causing inflammation of her cornea, a need for Dr. visits and lots of eyedrops. (The Dr. wrote a prescription saying Rowan needed the kitty, but Andrew didn't go for it.) His favorite thing to scratch is my very favorite, very old, and very fragile crazy quilt. When I lay down to sleep he uses my hair as some sort of burrowing, batting, climbing toy. Andrew calls him Evelyn. I call him Pestykitty.

But...he likes to snuggle with me. When I pick him up he purrs in a low, constant grumbly sort of way. He plays catch - I slide a block across the floor and he bats it back to me and waits for me to hit it back to him. He goes through the front door of Rowan's doll house and kidnaps the mom and baby. He collects doll house flower pots under a chair in our living room. He rubs his face on my face and puts his nose on mine and stares straight into my eyes.

The dogs are interested in the kitty, but don't seem to want to eat him, and other than a few one-sided boxing matches, where the kitty hits the air in front of their noses while they stand there wagging their tails they've gotten along just fine. One night Godiva and Evelyn slept on a chair together.

So...I want the kitty. And I can't have him. And I'm much sadder about that than I ever would have expected.

6 comments:

Mama said...

OK, you're making me want a kitty...really badly. You have been put under the spell...

kelli said...

I loved him too! And I'm not really a cat person. I held him at Ren's house and he just melted in my hands, and laid there and laid there...awwww

I'm glad Andrew picked him, then I know for sure I get to see him again! ;)

Schuyler said...

Ooh, our kitty Shadow is going to have kitties in the next couple of weeks. If there are more than 2 you are welcome to come visit and bring one back with you. You are welcome to come visit and not take a kitten, but if you want someone other than Evelyn...

Madeline Rains said...

yes, that is a crazily cute kitten. Andrew is a lucky guy. We have a new cat as well, that just showed up, all cute and purring and sweet as can be. But she won't come in the house with the dog here. Your story is giving me hope they'll get along.

Danielle said...

Ahhhh, yes, kitty love. I know it well, and it's dangerous. I now have five barn kitties that I still call my babies more than a year later because I couldn't bear to part with a single one. Dangerous, I tell you.

Ren Allen said...

But you DID read my other comment, that I can easily send Tristran home to you right?:) PLEEZ?

All the babies have turned out to be very, very sweet and loving. I wish I could keep them all. Best batch of kitties ever. Oh, and be glad you have a boy because Saphy just went into heat tonight.

sigh. Another visit to the vet's office soon.