During our first year of marriage I got a kitten. Perhaps I was feeling like I needed to dip my toe into my yet untried maternal instinct. Perhaps I just wanted a toy. Either way, the experiment was a complete failure.
A few weeks after "Marvin" arrived, my husband countered with an incredibly ugly black lab mix he dubbed "Maggie." At least I had the good taste to pick up a beautiful Siamese Flamepoint specimen. However, until he hit kitten puberty, I was unaware that certain cats should be on Prozac.
A few years later, Marvin was put into an Adopt-a-Pet project and exhibited hostile and anti-social behavior (like setting other cats on fire, etc.). He was accidentally put down.
Meanwhile, the ugly puppy grew up. Beneath that awkward puppy was a stunning creature completely dedicated to her people.
In spite of the cat fiasco, we decided to have children. Maggie accepted her lot in life with grace and adapted to being the guard dog and playmate.
The children wanted a kitten. I refused. I did not want the responsibility of being strapped to a cat demonstrating a plethora of personality disorders for years to come. During one discussion, I mentioned that I might - in some distant year - consider a calico cat with a pleasant temperament IF (and I can not stress this enough)IF one dropped into my lap.
Discussion closed.
Enter Kathleen, a peripheral player in the Cat Family Drama. She went for a walk one morning in a park while eating a McMuffin.
Enter cute, hungry, and needy calico kitten.
The kitten ate the McMuffin.
She settled on Kathleen's shoulder.
She purred and went to sleep.
Kathleen took the kitten to work with her that day. She didn't want a kitten. Maybe her supervisor would take the kitten home to his children, though.
She plopped the kitten onto her supervisor's lap. The supervisor came home and plopped it onto my lap. I was left sputtering while my girls yelled, "It's a miracle!" It was an answer to their prayers.
While they sweetly prayed for a calico kitten, I rolled my eyes. But I forgot to counter their prayers with prayers of my own. "Please don't drop a calico kitten in my lap." I thought it was an unnecessary prayer.
A few weeks after "Marvin" arrived, my husband countered with an incredibly ugly black lab mix he dubbed "Maggie." At least I had the good taste to pick up a beautiful Siamese Flamepoint specimen. However, until he hit kitten puberty, I was unaware that certain cats should be on Prozac.
A few years later, Marvin was put into an Adopt-a-Pet project and exhibited hostile and anti-social behavior (like setting other cats on fire, etc.). He was accidentally put down.
Meanwhile, the ugly puppy grew up. Beneath that awkward puppy was a stunning creature completely dedicated to her people.
In spite of the cat fiasco, we decided to have children. Maggie accepted her lot in life with grace and adapted to being the guard dog and playmate.
The children wanted a kitten. I refused. I did not want the responsibility of being strapped to a cat demonstrating a plethora of personality disorders for years to come. During one discussion, I mentioned that I might - in some distant year - consider a calico cat with a pleasant temperament IF (and I can not stress this enough)IF one dropped into my lap.
Discussion closed.
Enter Kathleen, a peripheral player in the Cat Family Drama. She went for a walk one morning in a park while eating a McMuffin.
Enter cute, hungry, and needy calico kitten.
The kitten ate the McMuffin.
She settled on Kathleen's shoulder.
She purred and went to sleep.
Kathleen took the kitten to work with her that day. She didn't want a kitten. Maybe her supervisor would take the kitten home to his children, though.
She plopped the kitten onto her supervisor's lap. The supervisor came home and plopped it onto my lap. I was left sputtering while my girls yelled, "It's a miracle!" It was an answer to their prayers.
While they sweetly prayed for a calico kitten, I rolled my eyes. But I forgot to counter their prayers with prayers of my own. "Please don't drop a calico kitten in my lap." I thought it was an unnecessary prayer.
Let this story serve as a cautionary tale.
What a sweet pic. Sounds to me like you need to develop allergies. Then all your pet problems would be solved.
ReplyDeleteOur cat didn't exactly fall into our laps...she arrived with an ex-babysitter when she drove 600 miles to visit us.
ReplyDeleteNot that I wanted a cat...but The Boy sure did.
It was his best late birthday gift, perhaps ever.
Now if I could get the kid to do litterbox duty, it would be all good.
What a great photo!! I had a calico cat for about 15 years. I loved her and she loved me, but no one else could touch her or come near her. She was quite moody.
ReplyDeleteThis still doesn't make me like cats, but that is a sweet picture.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that is hilarious! Beautiful cat though.
ReplyDeleteIf the kitty is that sweet, it has obviously heard the word on the street about the untimely demise of Marvin. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteAnd said calico kitten grew up with one eye open - just in case you changed your mind :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd whatever happened to the supervisor?
I have to admit, the picture is sweet.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of cats. Had one once. It began leaving little "mints" for my hubby on his pillow.
The end.
Cute pic but cats are still evil...
ReplyDeleteOh that is cute! I can't stand cats- they drive me crazy with their attitudes and pompous ways. When I married Caleb I inherited a pac-man frog. Nasty as well.
ReplyDeleteBased on that photo, I think you got a wonderful answer to the prayers of your children. But yes ... you need to counteract kid prayers with the more powerful mom prayer.
ReplyDeleteSounds like how we got our cat. Only it was a sister-in-law in that case.
ReplyDeleteAww - love this story and the happy ending for the calico kitty with a divine appointment.
ReplyDeleteWe'll never have a cat (that personality disorder thing and my husband DO NOT mix), but I couldn't help melting a bit as I read your post!
Can your kids pray me a new Mercedes?
ReplyDelete