MEDINA, Ohio -- We weren’t planning to adopt a kitten that day. My daughters and I had just popped into PetSmart to pick up some bedding for our hamster. But of course we had to take a stroll back to the kitty cages to ooh and ahh over the adorable felines.
We hadn’t had a cat in the house for several years, after our beloved Spike passed away at the ripe old age of 18. We were a busy family, as young families are these days, always running to and fro for school events, sports and other activities. The hamster was about our speed.
But there we were, in front of the display of kitties looking for a home. And there he was, a little, longhaired, black ball of fur – and he had his eye on my teenager. She walked down one side of the kennel. He hopped after her, dodging other kittens, food bowls and litter boxes. She walked back the other way. He followed her.
This went on for a while, until my daughter and her sister begged me to ask to meet him. I am a softie, so into the visiting room we went. And when we came out, Elmo came with us – a surprise birthday “present” for my unsuspecting husband.
That was in 2008. Elmo quickly settled into our household. He was cute and cuddly, loved to play with toys and had more than enough energy to keep up with our younger daughter, who even “taught” him to play fetch and soccer goalie.
Yes, our “furry fuzzy” enjoyed a good life. Until the interlopers arrived. First, it was my older daughter’s kitten, Ula, adopted to keep our recent college graduate company as she moved on to grad school.
Elmo tolerated Ula, but was happy to see her move off to her own apartment. He didn’t even particularly mind when she came home for the occasional visit.
Then, four and a half years ago, Stoop Cat arrived on our front porch and eventually moved inside and made himself at home. Stoop Cat loves to play, and doesn’t really understand why the senior feline gets so grumpy about it.
Still, Elmo is aware that he has a good life anyway. He gets all the food he wants, treats and licks of yogurt, the occasional cuddle when he initiates it and quiet time on the couch next to Mom in the evenings.
Not bad for a cat we didn’t see coming all those years ago.
Ann Norman,
Medina
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