The fuzzy critters that keep me warm at night...

Glutton for the needy, I saw the picture and the words "Bubba needs a home" pinned to the vet's wall. Bubba didn't need just a new home, he needed a new name. I picked him up from the vet and brought him home where he was immediately quarantined in the bedroom. Fleas, conjuctivitus and ear mites; he was loaded. He was also frightfully shy. It was almost two months before he didn't dive under the nearest piece of furniture when I walked into the room. Years later he still hides when someone walks in the door, but he's much more relaxed.

In addition, he's a drooler. His dental hygiene has never been that good and he doesn't have a lot of teeth left, which means that when he gets excited he drools. Being "mom" I find it cute. Of course he usually is only this happy when its dark out and late and the house is really quiet and he has me to himself. Then he hops up onto the bed, kneeds extensively and drools. He's really happy when I let him under the covers. Unlike Ellie, he likes to burrow way down deep and hide. That's when he seems the happiest.

Following the death of Sassy, I was periodically considering getting another kitty. But then I'd hold off, thinking that I should wait until the house isn't as crowded, or until the summer was over and my riding season had slowed down. But then my friend Tracy and I went to the shelter and look who followed me home!

She is a two-year old girl, with all of her claws and plenty of fur. There's not much history on her, so I hope that she fits in well with the other kids.

I was thinking that it would be nice to have four cats again. Minnie was due at the house on the 20th of October; why not plan on bringing in another cat at the same time? I stopped at two shelters Friday after work but didn't find anyone who really "spoke" to me, although there were definately some cute choices out there. I had found an adorable kitty on Craigslist but I really was looking for a male cat. I checked Craigslist "one more time" when I got home and there was Pookie, a 6 year old fluffy male. His mom was moving and wasn't able to take him with her. I made the arrangements to pick him up Saturday morning, just before Minnie was to move in.

So far, so good. He's a big cat with very soft fur. I can see that he'll be a little shy with the other cats around but I don't doubt that he'll soon find his place in our home.

I had just lost my third cat (Ellie) in a year and a half and was "down" to just two: Dante and Becca. I was happy with these two and wasn't planning on getting another cat for a while. I should know better. Less than three days after losing Ellie a friend mentioned a stray that he needed to find a home for. I agreed to take her in

Minnie never really settled into the household and after three months of trying to get her to relax, I finally gave up and gave her to a rescue shelter, where hopefully she will find a home without other kitties to stress her out.