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| It took about a week for these two to cuddle up. And another week or so to become fast friends. |
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We adopted these sweeties from the Petaluma Animal Shelter on Saturday, March 1, 2003. It had been four months since we lost Medea and we were ready to open our home to another cat. We decided to get two so they could keep each other company. Our ideal was two siblings or another pair that came in together, but that wasn't available so we adopted two from the same shelter, though they lived in different rooms.
Chaka is about 3.5 years old, female, and a black domestic long hair cat. She spent 7 months in that shelter! They treat the cats well and have 3 large rooms for them to live and play in. But the rooms are fairly new and only one of them had access to the outside (a sun porch). Chaka's room had no fresh air and no natural light. She was the staff's favorite and no one could understand why she wasn't adopted sooner. Our guess is the long black hair. Chaka was 7 lbs 12 oz when she entered the shelter. When we took her for her vet checkup she weighed exactly 11 lbs. She also has asthma. We hope that now that she has a real life with a real family she will slim down and become more active.
Chaka is a sweetie who loves to curl up at the foot of the bed or sit on the arm of the couch when we're on it. She's very well behaved but with a definite personality. She loved her 3 days alone with us and started to blossom. Now that she has a brother she's finally starting to open up again, after about a week. She will seek out affection but likes you to come to her. She is one of those cats who is beautiful but doesn't preen and act superior because of it. She's confident but not vain.
It's been nearly 6 weeks now and Chaka is warm, affectionate, and plays with her brother (when she isn't laughing at him). She's just started to enjoy the outdoors but she still comes when we call her. This is no fat cat! she's a slim energetic cat who was locked up for 7 months. She will jump nearly her body length for the right toy and she gives Wilson a run for his money.
Wilson is 1.5 years old, male, and a gray and white domestic short hair cat. He was one of the newer members of the shelter, having only been there for 3 weeks. He was so new they weren't done with his mandatory treatments and we weren't allowed to take him home until Tuesday.
He lived in the room with the sun porch and was the kitty who sat near the door ready to greet everyone who walked through. We've since learned that his affection for strangers was more of an insecurity. He's independent and not clingy but he does follow us around the house just making sure we're okay. He likes to snuggle up with us at night. He also likes to annoy his sister. We think he has a bit of a crush as he looks at her with adoring eyes and doesn't understand why she growls when he comes near. They get along more or less okay though and can be within a couple feet of each and sleep on same bed with us at night. We need a bigger bed!
After 6 weeks they are a loving pair of siblings. We've just started letting them outside and they kiss and go off exploring together. On Wilson's first day out he stayed outside for 5 hours! nearly giving his mom a heart attack. But he realized quickly that parents need reassurance too. About once an hour he came inside for a few minutes and made sure we saw he was there and okay, then zipped out again.
Wilson is a bit of a maniac, though a very sweet and surprisingly well behaved one. He seems to have panic attacks and needs to run around and clear his head. The vet said it was testosterone that hadn't quite left his system (he was fixed only 2 weeks before we adopted him) but we think there's more to it. His energy (chi) isn't settled and pulled together. He's getting better but it will take time. We have to keep him moving during the day so he'll sleep at night. He and his sister both sleep on our bed all night, every night.
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