Remember how the marauding neighborhood cats and their evil garden-shitting ways destroyed my spinach bed two seasons in a row? And how I swore it had put me off cats forever, that I would never again have a cat myself? Well…yeah.
It turns out that once I no longer needed to fear toxoplasmosis in my cat-contaminated garden soil blinding my fetus, my I Love Cats button got reactivated. I found myself really, really, really wishing we had a cat. It didn’t hurt that Thumper has been asking for a cat for months now. On Tuesday the kids and I headed over to the Oregon Humane Society and brought Benny home. (Thumper picked out the name. Good one, hunh? Billy and I have been calling the cat Benny Hill, but truth be told the kiddo named him after Benny the Bull in Dora.)
It’s so nice to have an animal in the family again. It’s been weird since Diego died in February. This was the longest I’d gone in my entire life without a pet of some kind. He’s nine days younger than Ladybug. Super sweet and affectionate, and very good (and tolerant!) with the kids. Yay Benny!
Also weird and kinda funny: As I walked out of the Humane Society, Ladybug strapped to my chest, holding Thumper’s hand, and the cat carrier in my other hand, I felt truly grown up for the first time. I was wondering what it would take, if I would ever feel that way. But don’t worry–the feeling passed.
PS: Thanks to Everette and David for helping me figure out how to get photos up here without the cushy convenience of iPhoto. You’re my very two favorite nerds (and that’s saying something!). AND you’re both now in Seattle. Remind me to introduce you to each other. You need to meet.
And deserves an equally adult, grown-up response. How about SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
He’s adorable. I hope he’s a snuggler. It’s so nice to sit down with a book and have the cat curl up next to you or no you. Especially when its cold out.
what a cutie pie!!!
Oh, the cuteness! Hi Benny!
Oh he’s lovely! Love the name, love his color.
Are his paws as soft as they look (when the pointy ends are retracted)?
Cute new addition! I have a boy grey kitty as well and he’s very cuddly. Hope Benny is too!
Huzzah! Congrats and enjoy! Everybody needs a little kitty in their life. 🙂
Oh he is just delicious! I love his yellow eyes and his big old paws.
What a cutie! I’m glad you have a pet again!
Very pretty kitty!
Is there a blogger in Portland who doesn’t have a kitten right now? Kittens are so sweet and cute and evil all the same time. You have to love them. I wish I still had a kitty….
Aww, those eyes!!!
Benny is adorable! I love cats.
From this angle, Benny looks like a tiny gray fox.