Bringing Home a New (Fur) Baby

After years of half-jokingly pleading with my husband for another kitten, I was shocked and amazed last summer when he agreed to let me bring home a new furry family member. Having decided against any more children, part of me had been longing for another creature to mother and another baby (albeit not human) to care for. Another part of me wanted to make sure that when our geriatric kitty Arabella is no longer with us, our house isn’t lacking a pet completely. I think that would make us sad on another level. 

There were a couple of conditions: I would have to pay off my new smartphone first and use some of my biweekly allotted spending money to offset the new costs of another hungry mouth, another warm body to keep healthy, and another being to clean up after. I quickly cut myself off from coffee-shop drinks and anything but basic expenditures. It was pretty amazing how quickly I managed to save up money when the realistic goal was a kitten, which is and always has been one of my very favorite things in the world.

While I knew our kids were old enough to treat a pet respectfully (for the most part) and enjoy the novelty of having another cat, I didn’t anticipate how sweet and caring they could be with her. They’re very concerned about where she is and if she is okay. Not so concerned that they remember to clean up all their TEENY-TINY Lego pieces, but concerned a decent amount.

I am loving that they get to watch as she grows, learns, and develops into an adult animal.

They’ve never known life without a cat or two in the background, but JoJo is definitely in the forefront of their lives, and she only knows our home with them in it. As a result, she is much more tolerant of their enthusiasm and noise than Arabella is. She has a strong bond with them, and they are very affectionate toward her. I imagine it is a tiny glimpse of how their relationship would be with a younger sibling.

Although I have had many cats throughout my life, nothing could have fully prepared me for this one.

She is high-spirited, to put it lightly. Never say never, but this is likely the last kitten I will ever adopt. JoJo is more than I bargained for, in so many ways. More joy and snuggling than expected, but also more broken and busted things. We have had to replace several cords and lose some irreplaceable items, such as the jumping-spider toys that my MIL bought for the kids from a street vendor in Prague and that JoJo quickly destroyed.

I prefer to think of the accidents and unpleasant surprises as lessons she is teaching us. 

Such as, “Let go of physical possessions.” Such as, “Electronic entertainment is not necessary all of the time.” Such as, “Aren’t you glad you usually cover the butter dish?” Such as, “Being almost tripped on the stairs every day is a reminder to appreciate life, for it is fleeting.” 

Of course, I could give in to anger and rail and yell, and sometimes I do, but what good does that do? We have had to adjust our life and our surroundings to her, and that’s probably the way it should be when you welcome a new family member into your home. As an adoptee, I am very sensitive to the commitment of adoption, even if it is “just a cat.” Since we’re not in any danger and neither is she, she is here to stay.

If you were to ask my husband what our life was like just before JoJo came home, he would probably tell you it was peaceful (-ish, because we do have children, after all). My kids would probably tell you it was boring. I would tell you it was quiet, predictable, and mostly uneventful. JoJo has shaken up our lives, in mostly good ways. Now someone greets me at the door when I come home. While we all agree she can be very naughty, we also all agree she is darn cute. She makes all of us laugh with her energetic antics and kitten clumsiness.

As for Arabella?

Let’s just say her heart hasn’t completely opened up to her little sister yet. She tolerates her existence, but she is not happy about it. Her usual day is spent sleeping 99% of the time, which TBH is how I would spend my day if I could.

I’ve heard people say they could never adopt another pet or have a(nother) child because they wouldn’t want their existing pet or child to feel less loved or important. I don’t believe love is quantifiable or has a limit. I believe there is enough room in my heart for everyone I let in, and then some.