I have a little story of joy for you today.
I’d been getting some visits from someone’s cat lately. I knew this cat wasn’t a stray, for it was very well fed, healthy, spotlessly clean and wore a cute pink collar. She even smelled pretty. She’d come visit me on our patio while I was banging away on the computer next to it.
Every day I’d get a visit from this cutie, to the point of, I was kinda expecting it at this point.
One day, my little friend wouldn’t leave. She had no intent on going home, even when I closed the patio doors on her. She found a way to peek in and give me those longing cat eyes. It was dark, and I didn’t know what to do. I had NO idea where she lived. So I let her in for the night.
But not before I attempted to walk her down the road. She appeared frightened and ran for my front door, not even giving me a hint of direction on where she may come from.
She spent the night in the house. But what really surprised me is when I woke up the next morning and she was LAYING on me. (cat HEAVEN)
Well, I was beside myself! But I knew it was wrong to get attached to another’s cat so I had to find her owners. So I threw this picture up on Facebook. Luckily, a name came forward. All was well! Except.. I lost my little friend.
Teddy’s only been gone for about 2 months but I won’t lie, I’ve been dragging my heels when I come home. She was my little therapy session and it felt like the home was an empty box without the softness. Pet lovers know what I mean.
Anyway, with my new little friend gone, I felt like I hit bottom again. So my son and I jumped in the truck just to ‘look’ at the shelter for a cat of our own. You know… to just look…. (insert I told you so here)
And then we found these two. TWO. Ohhh goodness.. tuxedo cats! As soon as I heard they were a brother and sister, I knew in an instant that if I were to bring one home, they would be together. So I said, “I’ll take them! BOTH!” BUT… we were too late to do the paperwork. So we went home with the cats on hold.
I posted this photo on Funky Junk’s Facebook and it went crazy. Over 1000 likes and 400 comments! Everyone was saying TAKE BOTH!
But the next day was a tough one. I had 2nd and 3rd and 4th and 5th thoughts. Lotsa what ifs, should we, what about… etc. But one thing kept sticking to me. We found a brother and sister and that would make travelling a little more pain free for all involved… if I went for it.
See, I had started to make plans when Teddy was sick. I knew her time was near. I had been busy nursing 3 sick pets over 2 years so I knew the drill well. We were going to travel care free with no pets to worry about ever again! Yup, we’d have it made. But… the stray changed everything.
We went in to visit them again the next day.. But it was the end of the day so again, no time to fill out paperwork. I promised to come the next day.
But it still felt strange, so I finally came to terms with no. I was unsure. A cat is a serious commitment. It wasn’t easy on my son, but I knew he’d eventually forgive me and carry on. So I waited for the call of them hunting me down (I didn’t have the guts to make the call) and said no.
But something changed. I mean, I told my son no, and I was ok with it. But then I started to get upset. What’s this?!? Why? What’s really going on here? I was feeling loss again. I guess I fell for these two after all and I refused to allow myself to have them.
We had looked at a few others, but I felt NOTHING. So there was something special about these two that I couldn’t put my finger on.
I later called and asked if the cats were still there, and if they’d just call me if someone was interested as to give me a last minute choice. I hung up and felt uneasy, like, I needed to do more. So I called abit later but the line was busy. I called again and they put me on hold… hold… hold… Panic panic panic started to set in. Was someone looking at MY cats?!
I finally got on. As it turns out, yes, but the lady was thinking about it. Well, that’s all it took. I told them we’d be right over because they were SOLD! 🙂
the sister… melt! She looks like she’ll be a medium / long haired, but it’s hard to tell.
the brother… what a handsome boy! I’ve nicknamed him Hollywood. 🙂 He has the softest fur you ever did feel. It’s un. REAL.
They are beautiful! I love that they are the same yet different. But more than that. They are quiet, so clean, and purr and love to be cuddled, even at 4 months old.
They are PERFECT.
The only two rooms I have kitten proofed are the bathroom and my bedroom at the moment so we did LOTS of visiting today. They are romping like mad but you barely know they’re there. Not even a peep and don’t appear to have a need in the world. But are happy to see you come in when you do.
But I have some homework to do with photography. These two are FAST! I’ll have to learn that shutter stuff stat if I ever want to land a good shot of these guys! 🙂
But no names yet. They came with Figaro (boy) and Orca (Orca?!). (girl) Figaro is cute, but Orca (whale) has to go. Any ideas for names?
The world feels right once again. And all it took was a stray that wasn’t even a stray after all.
Cora.
: )
Happy New Babies!!! Tuxedos are so wonderful!!!
I knew you were going to take them ! Once a pet lover …. 🙂 Names? We once had a brother and sister {labradors} and I called them “Bonnie” and “Clyde” !
Oh…congratulations! You needed them! And so does your son. They are sooooo pretty. I like Figaro….that is the name of the little tuxedo cat in Walt Disney’s version of Pinnochio….how about Cleo for the girl…that is the name of the goldfish in Pinnochio.
Here’s a photo of the two…
http://disney-cats.tumblr.com/post/6252340357/figaro-from-pinocchio
You could call them Fig and Clee for short.
I love tuxedo cats. Yes, it seems like a good idea to not have pets so you can travel…but life at home is just not complete without them. And you are home way more than on vacation. I’m thinking about going on a little trip for a week…and I just don’t want to leave my four weenies. Even though I’d leave with my Mom…I hate to be away from them that long.
You know…I found Franklin on Petfinder late one night and wrote the foster…immediately and then regretted it. Told myself that if he was not available that would be for the best. But the next morning there was an email in my in box. I told her I needed to think…because she was ready for me to take him. She wrote back and said I had a week to think and then he was going to Denver for a big adoption fair because there was a better chance for him to get adopted fast. Well…then I decided I better get him…I didn’t want him traveling after being lost and everything. Even then…I told myself that if I didn’t just love him when I saw him…I would not take him…but the moment I saw him and saw how sweet and gentle he was…I was a gonner.
I couldn’t snatch him from her arms fast enough. And I have NEVER regretted that decision…not a single second. As I’m sure you won’t either.
I saw the musical “Cats” too long ago to mention. Ever since, when I see a black and white cat I think I think of them as Jellicle Cats.
We have an adopted Tuxedo and 2 Golden-Doodles!! Yikes! The Tuxedo’s name is Lewis and he purrrrrrs like crazy but right now our adopted, supposed to be a foster Doodle, Piper, won’t leave him alone so after almost a year they are playing through the gate. We are SUCKERS! Have fun with the kittens.
Marie
Aww both are adorable I love their coloring! It’s amazing how much a pet fills the space in your heart!
Tuxedo cats are so cute. I used to have a Tuxedo cat, my son has her now as he all grown up. She was really his in the first place. Anyway, the story on how we got her was early one morning, we heard a scream. We were standing at the back porch and the scream came from the front of the house. Here someone had thrown a little baby kitten out of a car. It was her screaming as she hit the ground. We quickly scooped her up. She was all dirty full of grease. She couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old if that. We fed her baby formula and cleaned her up. I wasn’t really prepared for a cat, but my son fell in love with her. To make a long story short, she is now 12 years old. We named her Sweet Girl. Mainly because when we found her she was so sweet and loving and we just could not imagine anyone ever doing that to a sweet little kitten. She is on the smaller side and looked to be the runt of the litter….I think the runts are the best! Have fun with your two new members of your family.
Laurie, I wonder if your baby had been inside the car engine and was thrown out in front of your house? How lucky she was to not be hurt.
We adopted a tuxedo cat in a similar way, a young cat that appeared in our yard with a raw wound where his tail should have been, and injured hind legs. We couldn’t catch him to get him to the vet, he lived under a shed and we left food for him. He did recover, though he kind of hopped, so we named him Bunny. He was a sweet cat, but he always seemed self-conscious of his missing tail. We had quite a few cats, but his best friend was our naturally-tailless female. I’m sure he was thrown from a car engine as it drove past, and his tail got caught in the fan or fan belt.
They’re so cute! The other cat who’s been visiting you looks a lot like the pregnant stray someone dropped off by us ~ she’s getting bigger and bigger and bigger!
They are absolutely adorable! It looks like your little tortie friend visited you for a reason 😉
Hi, they are gorgeous, not surprised you fell in love. My suggested names are Hercule and Monique.
have fun with them while they are kittens.
I think you should name them Bogie and Bacall since they are my favorite couple in the old black and white movies!
So happy for you and your two babies. Currently we have three, the last two were sisters that we could not bear to separate. The two will keep each other company which is an added benefit. Enjoy your new babes!
Teresa
Hi Donna, I have to admit while I was reading your story I got caught up in the excitement of did she or didn’t she? I am soooo happy for you! Pets bring such peace in our hearts we need and only they can give us. I followed your story about Teddy and have followed your story about your visitor. I don’t believe in coincidences! I believe with all of my heart it happened for the reason, teddy wanted you to have that love again… Enjoy! They are beautiful!!!
“”Francesca” ?
Take care have fun!
A Hollywood couple of course Rhett and Scarlett.
I am SO happy for you. We always say we will not get another cat or dog when we lose our beloved fur baby – but we always do. I knew it was just a matter of time.
Some things are just meant to be.
I was getting panicky reading the article, afraid that you weren’t going to take them. I have two tuxedo cats, too. Just love them. I think animals have a way of finding us.
How about the name “Dazzle” for the young lady?
So happy for all of you.
Chipsy would be nice I guess.
Congratulations on your new family members!
Congratulations on your new babies! We had a tuxedo once and her name was Pearl (her birthday was Pearl Harbor Day). Also, had two kitties in the 70s….their names were Fleetwood and Mac (I did say this was the 70s). :). No doubt in my mind your two new family members are two very lucky kitties!
How about Funky and Junky? 🙂 Cats like names ending in the “e” sound and those are names easy to call. And dear to your heart! I saw a quote the other day “Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy JUNK and that makes me happy”!
I’m so happy for you. there’s just nothing like the love we get from our pets! Tank, our very large, part Maine Coon that we fell in love with at the local shelter (he’d been there for 2 years) agrees.
In the opera, The Marriage of Figaro, the love interest is Susanna…..