Introducing the newest family member . . .

In continuing the birthday celebration, we picked up the 'birthday cat' last night.  The kids had waited patiently eleven days after announcing that a cat was their gift to me.  A big cat lover, I wasn't sure that I was ready to have one just now.  But . . .

I nixed the idea of getting one from the beautiful Winnipeg Humane Society, as after numerous purchases I've made in celebration of my birthday, I didn't want to spend the $250 for adoption fees!  I instead went on Kijiji and tracked down a free one.   Spayed with all vaccinations up-to-date, a three year old feline with all accessories included seemed to fit the budget much better!  Her owner, a young man who spends too much time away from his apartment felt she was being neglected, especially now that he's with a girlfriend allergic to cats.   He was motivated to pass her on. :) His description of her personality seemed right for us and she looked pretty cute in the photo, too:

What the photo didn't show, however, was that apartment living has not been kind to her young figure. As A said once we got her out of the kennel at home, "Aw.  She's like a baby.  She has a cute little face and a big chubby body!"

I didn't know how getting "Lily" would go.  The kids had swim lessons which ended at 6:30.  It was already a lot of work for me to get them all showered and dressed - fortunately into PJs to save me time at home.  We then met Rhys and Lily at their apartment round 7:30.    Ai was sweet, asking Rhys, "Do you feel sad to say goodbye?"  And when he answered, "Yes.  A little sad."  Ai asked, "Will you be okay?"  My pre-lecture on making sure to be nice to the cat and the man - or he might not want to give us Lily - must have impacted him! :)

Lily did remarkably well coming home, looking around with big eyes and mewing only a few times.  It was interesting to hear A observe that if she was a cat, she would behave that way, too.  That she "wouldn't cry and try to get out of the cage.  I'd be watching everything around me trying to figure out what was happening to me."  Her comment struck me.  It brought back memories of bringing infant A home for the first time and of how, big-eyed, she observed everything, yet settled in so easily.  She's always been one to watch and not freak out.  Fortunately, Lily seems to be similar.  Considering she's never been around kids and only in a small apartment, she's done well.  Last night, I'd had the kids not interact with Lily and just head to bed post-story.  I'd wanted her to get a feel for the house without excited children around.  Besides, it was late!

Today was an attempt to keep overtired, excited kids from overwhelming her.  There were a few tail-pulling incidents, which resulted in time-outs from kitty.   There were a few tears over Lily running from some kids and not from others.  Okay, running from two kids, not from one.   I found about fifteen photos like this on the camera, taken by A:

Lily's still skittish with loud noises and quick movements, but was starting to play by the afternoon and is purring like a queen this evening.  I have no worries that she'll love me.  :)   I think she'll settle in well  over time and soon we'll have her on an exercise plan which hopefully doesn't involve running in terror from the younger two!  The bonus for her of being more solid is that she's not quite so fragile.

So when the additional hair and work seem like too much, I'll have to remember A's comment as we drove home with Lily: 

"Mom, I wish I could have another cookie. "

Sorry, honey.  Wishes don't always come true.

"This one did.  <insert happy pause>  I've always wanted a cat." 

Which is true.  Even before A uttered the words "Da-da" and "Ma-ma", she said "meow." Very clearly, in fact, while pointing to cats in books.  Her second word sound was "roar" when she'd see lions.  S didn't get referred to for a couple of weeks after that, then came her word for me.  She really has loved cats for as long as I can remember.  So we have about ten kitty stuffed animals as a result and still she requests a new feline stuffy from Santa every year.  They've been well loved, but have never really served as replacements.  

I think the cat will feel good for all of us in various ways.  With the recent living room changes, art finally up on our walls and a cat curled up on the couch, it feels like we've somehow stated that we're going to settle in to our home.  That thought feels good to me.  I can handle no more change for a good while and want to continue the settling-in process.  S, however, will have a bit to adjust to when he gets home from Montreal on Thursday!  Let's hope it's not too much change all at once . . .