For those who don’t already know, Sam and Shadow are our two cats.
- Shadow is about 5 years old. We rescued her as a four-week old kitten. She had kittens of her own about six months later, before we could get her fixed. She also took a rock to the mouth which broke out a tooth and required a $1,200 root canal. I’m telling you, I almost had her euthenized over that tooth - $1,200 for a free cat? Well, I’m glad I didn’t because she’s been a wonderful companion for the family. She’s all black, short haired, has all her claws and likes to hunt.
- Sam is new to us. He’s gray, a male, and 9 years old. His previous owners rescued him as a little kitten. He’s in great health, loves to rough-house with the kids. His front claws have been removed.
The two cats have been engaged in a bit of detente since Sam joined us about six weeks ago. Sam staked out the kids’ rooms as his space; Shadow kept to the main level and lower level. The two – to our knowledge at least – haven’t quarreled at all, just opted to NOT share much space with each other. The stairwell seems to be the demilitarized zone. The two cats each pass up/down the stairwell, but they each seem to make sure they have the stairs all to themselves before they pass.
M rather loves this carving up of the house into territories, because Sam has claimed her room as his territory and sleeps often on her bed. Sam, you see, likes to roughhouse it with M. They’re more compatible than M and Shadow. R gets quite a bit of time with Sam, too. So they’re happy.
Well, over the last week or so, the detente seems to be warming up a touch. Both cats are spending a bit more time in the other zones…peacefully.
Last night, the family –fighting colds, every one – snuggled up on the couch in the family room to watch Coraline on the newish plasma TV and the brand-new Blu-Ray player. ANNND, I’ve finally (Finally!!!) been able to put the surround sound receiver together with a kick-butt TV, surround sound speakers and great movie source for the first time since …. since…. well, since my apartment back in 1995. I mean, it has been a LOOONG time.
Anyway, we were all sitting there, on the couch, wearing our Coraline 3D glasses, wrappeded by the sound and the thrilling picture, when Shadow quietly hopped up into my lap, settled in and started purring.
About five minutes later, Sam suddenly appeared in C’s lap, on the opposite side of the couch. He staked out a warm spot between C and M, and hunkered down too.
This was a first. Both cats in the family room, on the couch, at the same time. The fact that they’re not competing for the same favored person(s) is definitely making all this easier. I anticipate that the co-habitation will slowly increase, as the cats realize that everything’s safe and that we all love them both.
For me, I just grooved on how low-maintenance the pet situation has been over the past couple months. Oh, I do so miss Aki and Neko both. But they were ready to go. And the family is comfortable with low-maintenance pets who hold their own in the family dynamic – one on each side of the couch.
Oh. Coraline was fun, too. First time we’d seen the movie. Loved the VERY subtle Oregon references.
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