On Thursday a friend posted photos of a cat that had been abandoned near her home for about a month. As always NT wistfully wished we could adopt him. We've always said that we can't get a cat in America because he might be too old when it's time to move back. (The quarantine can be several months.) Usually cats that friends try to find homes for are already mature, so it's not an option. But I could see that this cat was very young, nowhere near full-grown.
So at lunch NT and I went over the concerns we usually have. The first is the immigration problem, which this cat would be plenty healthy for. Another is that NT feels cats should be indoor/outdoor, not strictly indoor like American city and suburb cats are. But I pointed out that this cat would be 99% likely to be an indoor cat whoever took it in. Another issue was the cost, but I feel we're in a better place to afford unexpected expenses than we've ever been. And then there's our condo rules, which prohibit cats, but pffft. Our real estate agent, who lives in the other building, told us that many people have "secret cats." It's one of those stupid rules that they re-evaluate every couple years and just haven't gotten enough votes to overturn yet. The only person who comes in ever is the handyman, who is super mellow and has seen that we clearly break the flooring rules and doesn't care.
So NT called our friend (4 times in quick succession, as I learned later) and that night, she dropped off this little beauty, whom we named Noodles.
He's gotten over his jumpiness and hiding, and now his main problem, besides a case of worms that we're getting him treated for on Monday, is being a kitten. He needs to learn some boundaries, like AS's dreadlocks are not toys, but he's really really affectionate and cuddly and playful, so we're glad we got him.
Oh, and the people who found him kicked in $150 for vet bills. We got a quote of $260 from the local animal hospital for everything including neutering, so we'll only have to pay about $100! I've decided to take his food and litter costs out of groceries and his vet costs out of our medical-expenses fund, so hopefully it won't cost more, but if we start to struggle I'll put another $50 per month in each line item.
We're not usually this impulsive these days, but I think this was a good impulse. NT especially is sooo happy; we hardly see any cats and he really really loves cats.
Meet Noodles!
October 3rd, 2009 at 03:35 pm
October 3rd, 2009 at 03:39 pm 1254580792
October 3rd, 2009 at 04:31 pm 1254583860
We love our two cats and they really aren't that expensive. I buy litter once a month and spend about $30 for Science Diet cat food every third month. We only pay a $3/cat license fee each year. Vet...$40/cat per year maybe?One cat did get pretty ill once and we spent nearly $450 to mend her. It was worth it. She has many years ahead of her!!
October 3rd, 2009 at 06:07 pm 1254589653
Have fun! I just had a little discussion with my striped pain in the butt over why she was ransacking and chewing on my purse. She's 10 and refuses to grow up.
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October 4th, 2009 at 06:07 am 1254632874
Just make sure NO changing the cat box for you. They say you should not handle cat feces when you are pregnant, something in it?
October 4th, 2009 at 02:01 pm 1254661280
October 4th, 2009 at 03:07 pm 1254665270
Analise: NT is a huge fan, but AS is the tolerator right now--especially after last night when Noodles climbed up her jeans onto the counter and knocked a plate off and broke it. I hope she forgives him soon! I told her that he will mature quickly, and I've been trying to discourage play-clawing and -biting (even though it's super cute) to make him grow up faster.
baselle: I was addicted to that site for months! I call Noodles "basement cat" when he's being evil.
boo, don't worry: That's a rule we set up right away. I'm loving the temporary litterbox reprieve!
October 4th, 2009 at 04:02 pm 1254668552
Love the cat! I have a black one too. She's a beauty!
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