I love my cats, even when they drive me bonkers. That, for the record, is 99% of the time.
As I noted just over a week ago, we lost one of our Maine Coons prematurely. She was only seven years old, diagnosed with kidney concerns about a year ago, but nothing more than “warning signs”. About two months or so ago, she went in for her routine bloodwork and had screaming high numbers. We jumped on it right away, fed her an appropriate diet heavy in wet food and low in phosphorous, with extra binder power added on top of it to pull any additional phosphorous out. We, unfortunately, were too late to save her and had to euthanize her last weekend to ease her suffering (she had gone toxic because of stones blocking her from being able to eliminate due to her kidney disease).
I was just looking at cats. earlier in the week. “Just looking”.
The family caught wind of this little mental masturbation and started asking me if we were getting a new cat, which I was decidedly not planning on doing.
At least forward facing while being dishonest with myself. Family kept poking me wanting to know what I was thinking and I finally admitted that I way perhaps-maybe-sort-of toying with the idea.
I’ve missed having Fenn around. You don’t realize how much you miss a giant cat until they are gone.
When I finally admitted I had a problem, it was already too late. I had started eyeballing Siberian Forest Cats. Then Norwegian Forest Cats (NFC/“wegies”). Both were available within a 2.5-hr drive of where I live.
The main reason I was looking is that I’ve wanted an “adventure cat” and was toying with the idea that it might be nice, but it was mostly daydreaming about leash training a cat to walk in the neighborhood or bring along on the short local hikes I take in on occasion.
The NFC breeder got back to me. I still haven’t heard back from the Siberian breeder, possibly because I asked some unusual questions in my introduction about health and proof of genetic disease status. I got smart after losing two Maine Coons to preventable diseases from the same breeder who focused more on looks than on health.
NFCs were always at the top of my list for consideration over the years. They are particularly good candidates for “adventure cats”. So are Maine Coons in general, but mine may not have been socialized and desensitized to noises and people, as they were both really nervous from the get go. Again, another weird thing about that breeder is that her cats all didn’t like socialization until several years with us. Wraith, in particular, is very jumpy — even when the noise or motion is common. But he’s come a long way since we picked him up seven years ago. And he hates people in reflective vests (growls when he sees them from the window).
Turns out that the economy uncertainty has had a trickle-down effect on the breeders as well. Instead of an expected wait list that would take me into next year where I could decide to bail, the breeder has six male kittens (3 now, 3 later) up for adoption. I had been counting on a long wait to keep me from getting too excited and to temper my enthusiasm for the idea.
Yes, I’m partial to male cats. I currently have three females and, over the years I have come to the conclusion that altered boys are more goofy and cuddly than the females cats. And cuddly is important.
I dodged the bullet about adopting one in the next week and that was a good call. I need time to kitty-proof parts of the home that adults don’t need protection from anymore. So, not immediately, but it looks like I might get one in late July. One of the marks of a good breeder is that she keeps them until they are 14 weeks old. As much as I would like to bring a little guy home sooner, it gives us both time to do things right.
As if this sordid tale was not shameful enough, I received pictures of the boy I had my eye on and the alternate from the same litter. I showed the pictures to everyone and got the “AWWWW! Can’t we have both?”
I resisted, I really did. But the doe eyes finally got to me and so I floated the idea to the breeder that “it is so hard to decide” to see if the economy is such that she might give us a BOGO at a discount.
After all, we have the makings of a perfect name combo, according to my eldest twin: Grendel and Grímnir (Grimm).
I can’t say that she’s wrong.
Oh… what have I done?
44 responses to “Confessions of a feline addict”
way too cute!
Both of them are devastatingly handsome lads. I’m sure their even cuter in person.
The worse thing after the loss of a child (and i am only hypothesizing) is the loss of a pet.
I’ve seen more than my fair share of the pets. Hopefully, I won’t experience the child part.
My cats. Besides my wife. Help me find reason for the world.
I hear you.
Look at these babies. 😍
Chaotic balls of fur.
Cute
Sorry for your loss and congrats for the new kittens. Good luck with them. They look mischievous
Thank you, Veselin. When we get one or both, I think they’ll keep me busy for certain.
Beautiful creature. And good mates too. I kept reading NFC’s as NFT’s and confused myself. 🤣 puss cats are a waaay better investment.
1000% times better.
I still don’t see how people are falling for NFT and crypto. I’ve yet to have someone explain either in a way that doesn’t make either seem like a scam perpetuated on suckers.
It is a scam, that’s why people like it – scams are how you get rich as long as you’re smart, and clearly all the people dumping money into FARTCOINDOTPENIS are super smart and will be millionaires any day now. Because if that doesn’t happen that would mean they’re not smart. And they are. Ergo it will. Any day now.
That’s always been my impression of it. Great as long as you know when to bail and cash out. Otherwise it’s just another way for someone else to make money off of the suckers.
Huzzah! Huzzah for cats!
Huzzah!
Beautiful.
We had a rescue cat once (all the others we’ve had had been purchased, gifted or adopted). Anyway, the upshot is we went to the rescue centre and fell in love with a tabby. Usual checks etc and we picked him up. Something seemed a little off – for one thing he ignored us when we called his name – but he was a character who quickly became a part of the household. About a week later we got a phonecall. Apparently they’d given us the wrong Cat (yes, they did look remarkably similar)! We now had one that they’d been unable to re-home, but, by this point, love had set in and we couldn’t part with him!
When I picked up Rogue, it was similar. I got to the shelter too late to pick up the Maine Coon mix kittens (by 5 minutes!) that I had seen online. Someone else had too, apparently, and adopted both. Sadfaced, I checked out the other kittens and one was in a kennel by himself because he was an escape artist (a kitten!). He reached out between the bars and meowed at me as I passed by. Just a average ticked tabby.
He’s a jerk, but we love him anyway. Mostly.
Little buggers get underneath your skin…and then don’t seem to give a toss when you’re feeling a bit low and could do with some fuss! 🤣
Too good for such silly things such as affection. 🤣
🤣
Congrats! A very handsome cat.
Thank you, I think so. We’ll see what he’s like over the next few weeks.
Oh Michael, what a beauty!!! I was thinking only today that I might get a cat, still thinking!! 😺😊
They are both cute as hell.
You should! Cats are the bomb. And jerks. 😂
Still thinking. If I do get one it may well be two together.
Two is better than one for the sole reason that even if they hate each other, they will still have a companion. To hate. With venom. And hisses.
But they usually get along. Mostly.
I was thinking the same thing! They will keep each other’s company even if they end up fighting each other!! 😄
I have had exactly one cat of all of the cats I’ve ever owned that probably would have been suited better for a single-cat home. Goblin LOVES people. Hates other cats with a passion. Preemptively, hisses, growls, spits and bats them away. They take it as invitation to bully her.
To be fair, she kind of deserves it with the way she attacks everyone all the time.
Poor Goblin! She wants to be the centre of attention! Other felines would cramp her style!!! 😅
Exactly. She just wants to give you love.
That’s nice!
Hold on, does this mean you now have five kitties at home?
Currently we have 5, yes. We’ve had as many as 7 in the past, but lost Smudge (cancer), then Fenn recently about a year later.
Wow! Seven cats at one point!! So sorry for the loss of two of them. My neighbour lost her cat a couple of years ago, Oscar, and we were both crying in the street when she was telling me. They have their own personalities for sure!
Have a happy kitty week! 😺😸
More pictures incoming today. Now we will own both.
Madness.
I’m looking forward to them! 😸
OMG Michael. So in love with these. The appropriate amount of cats is always too many cats. So excited for you all!!!
Thank you, Stacey. 💙
Most people don’t understand how they are like potato chips. You can never have just one and it is always most enjoyable when you overindulge.
Amen to that Michael!
So gorgeous! Go with your gut feeling and give them a good home! 😊
We bred beagles for a while. Breeder keeping to fourteen weeks is great. Straight-line family trees are dangerous. In beagles it’s the teeth-always bad, no matter what anyone says. I still won’t have any other breed. Get ready. The terrible twos are a thing. Congrats on the new family member. You know it’s happening.
Oh, they are into terrible tweens when we get them. Oof.
Lots of refocusing and treats.