I miss Mei-mei but I am rediscovering my other three cats.
A friend of ours in NC just rescued a momma cat (all black) and five young babies (three black, two grey). The babies are three weeks old. Of course he's posting all the adorable pics on FB, and asking for adopters, once the babies are old enough.
Randy and I pretty much immediately said, "We're not ready for another gray cat." And it goes without saying that we're not getting a black cat while we have Trixie.
Truth is, I think we're both in agreement that when we do get another cat, it'll be an adult FIV cat, one whose personality we already know well.
But not for a good long while. We're enjoying spoiling our three with different wet foods and treats that they couldn't have because Mei-mei couldn't have them. :)
It still hits me from time to time that Mei-mei's gone. I'm pretty much used to her absence now, but every once in a while, I look at my other cats and miss the things that were unique to her. She was the only one who loved belly rubs and rolling onto her back in my lap. Only she licked my face as we fell asleep. She slept on my neck, right over my sternum, or anywhere around my head. She didn't mind being picked up or having her paws or tail touched. She mothered me -- "come to bed!" "take a break right now!" None of the other cats do these things. (Well, Corky does yell at me to go to bed.)
But it's not fair to Frank, Corky and Trixie to compare them to Mei-mei and define them by what they are not. They're all beautiful, unique, fascinating cats with their own habits and quirks that Mei-mei didn't do. For instance, Mei-mei never demanded attention during laundry time. (That's Trixie). Mei-mei never turned to mush when she got picked up (that's Corky). Mei-mei never had a hair tie obsession (Frank). And so many other things that define each cat on his or her own merits.
Still, I miss my little neck-cuddling, face-licking, belly-rubbing, mothering cat. So much. I want that level of snuggly closeness again, but I don't want to disrupt the balance we have right now. We've got three wonderful kitties and I love and respect them too much to alter their home life any time soon.
Randy and I pretty much immediately said, "We're not ready for another gray cat." And it goes without saying that we're not getting a black cat while we have Trixie.
Truth is, I think we're both in agreement that when we do get another cat, it'll be an adult FIV cat, one whose personality we already know well.
But not for a good long while. We're enjoying spoiling our three with different wet foods and treats that they couldn't have because Mei-mei couldn't have them. :)
It still hits me from time to time that Mei-mei's gone. I'm pretty much used to her absence now, but every once in a while, I look at my other cats and miss the things that were unique to her. She was the only one who loved belly rubs and rolling onto her back in my lap. Only she licked my face as we fell asleep. She slept on my neck, right over my sternum, or anywhere around my head. She didn't mind being picked up or having her paws or tail touched. She mothered me -- "come to bed!" "take a break right now!" None of the other cats do these things. (Well, Corky does yell at me to go to bed.)
But it's not fair to Frank, Corky and Trixie to compare them to Mei-mei and define them by what they are not. They're all beautiful, unique, fascinating cats with their own habits and quirks that Mei-mei didn't do. For instance, Mei-mei never demanded attention during laundry time. (That's Trixie). Mei-mei never turned to mush when she got picked up (that's Corky). Mei-mei never had a hair tie obsession (Frank). And so many other things that define each cat on his or her own merits.
Still, I miss my little neck-cuddling, face-licking, belly-rubbing, mothering cat. So much. I want that level of snuggly closeness again, but I don't want to disrupt the balance we have right now. We've got three wonderful kitties and I love and respect them too much to alter their home life any time soon.