Mrs. L.A. had a cat named ‘Vel’ (short for ‘Velcro’). Vel didn’t like anyone except for CatMom. I visited when CatMom lived in Washington. Vel climbed onto my lap. The future Mrs. L.A. was astonished and impressed. She moved to Tennessee, where Vel eventually died. Mrs. L.A. wanted another cat, and went to a shelter. There was a male tuxedo ‘stray’ there. Mrs. L.A. had to think about it. She decided that if this well taken care of, neutered, ‘stray’ had been declawed, she’d adopt him. She went back the next day, and the cat had been declawed. She adopted him and named him Harvey. Harvey had seizures, which were scary; but were kept fairly well under control with Phenobarbital. She moved in with me in 2010, and brought Harvey with her. Sadly, Harvey died at eight years old from a sudden respiratory ailment.
We were pretty broken up by the loss of Harvey, but CatMom decided it was time to get a new cat a few months later (2013). We went to The NOAH Center in Stanwood, WA and she asked for the cat that had been there the longest. Tonka was eight years old. He’d been at NOAH for six months, and had been in a shelter in Spokane for a long time before that. He’d lost at least half of his tail sometime in his life. Tonka died a few days short of turning 17½ years old, in June 2021.
Creamsickle adopted us. We’d see her in the yard and say, ‘There’s that creamsicle kitty.’ We didn’t know if Creamsicle was make or female. We gave her some food, and she decided she’d stay. We think she belonged to a woman on the next street over who died. Creamsicle was a mighty huntress, in spite of her short legs and little mouth. She once caught a squirrel and brought it inside. We think her hunting was her undoing. She died at only six years old from kidney failure. We suspect she’d eaten a poisoned mouse.
Tonka and Creamsicle were friends. When Creamsicle died, we adopted Goo from NOAH in 2019. Goo’s official birthday was June 22, 2013. That makes her 12 years old now. She struts around with her tail straight up, curled at the top like a cartoon cat. She’s very food-oriented. She didn’t get along with Tonka at first, and she would bat at him (even after he went blind). But they’d sleep together.
CatMom decided Goo needed a friend, so we went back to NOAH and adopted Abbey. Her official birthday was June 3rd, 2020. So she’s five and a half now.
And that brings us to Findus. I named him after the cat in the Pettson and Findus books. We got him as a four-month-old kitten in November from a foster mom in Bellingham. He was quite fearless until Goo became territorial. Goo still gets all puffy with him and tries to attack him, but we’re showing her that she’s still allowed to sleep on CatMom’s bed. We’re bringing Findus out into the living room so that he can be with me and CatMom and Goo and Abbey, and he’s safe. He’s venturing out more now (again). Abbey used to growl at him, but now it’s mainly just hissing when Findus chases her or tries to play with her. I feed all of the cats together in the kitchen, and everyone gets along. Abbey seldom finishes her ration of gooshy food, and food-motivated Goo will actually sit quietly while Findus goes over to finish Abbey’s dish. (I have to restrain Findus to keep him from disturbing Abbey while she’s still eating.) CatMom says that the seemingly-successful integration is my doing, as she would sequester him to keep him safe.