I have a really bad habit of forgetting that I actually have four kids: two human and two feline. The feline ones are adopted, I did not give birth to them, but I love them just as much as my "birth children."
They have been generally understanding since I brought the twins home, but lately we have been having some issues. I don't know if it's just spring fever, or if they have a secret pact with the babies to drive me out of my mind.
Many people who are infertile or childless by choice have a special fondness for their pets. I have always had cats, ever since I can remember, and there was always a joke in my family that I'd end up an old lady in a huge house with a million cats. Even though this would probably be true if I had not had the twins, it still hurt when they teased like that. I have always loved my cats inordinately; any infertile will surely understand.
Bandit is a special girl, she was one of two dumpster kitties I adopted in 1995. She is just about the prettiest little calico I've ever seen and is very sweet, when you can get her in the house. When Mom lived up here, her cat Ringo disappeared, so I gave her Bandit since I already had Airbourne, the King of Kitties.
So after Mom passed in 1999 and I moved in here, Bandit was kind enough to allow me to room here. She is half wild, and often brings me presents, like a dead mouse or gopher, even though I have explained to her that I don't care for rodents. Occasionaly I will find a bird or other offering on the porch when I get home. She rarely comes in the house; just to eat once in awhile, and since she is so skittish and scared, she has hardly been in at all since the babies arrived. She is afraid of them.
Spooky is the princess of the house; she has been my constant companion since Airbourne died in 2004. Airbourne was my baby for 12 years and I cried for a month over that dumb cat; it was really devastating, since he was fine one day and gone the next. Kind of like Mom passed. So after I started feeling better, I adopted Spooky since I knew if anything ever happened to Bandit I would lose it. I needed a backup kitty. Spookster is very attentive; she slept on me every night since I brought her home; and she was so wonderful to have when I was pregnant.
Since the babies have been here Spooky has pretty much kept herself in the background, she has only recently come to me at night when the babes are finally asleep. She will sleep with me now. She is only mildly interested in them; she will sniff them intently then walk away. But lately she has this galloping through the house thing going on, jumping on everything in the living room; anything to get my attention. Of course she only does this when I'm preoccupied with a fussy baby, or playing and singing to one of them. Then of course in the midst of changing, feeding, burping, and trying to catch a wink of sleep here and there, I sometimes forget to feed her and change her water. The Cardinal Sin. I feel bad about this; but I am getting better.
Bandit on the other hand is actually coming in the house now, but if she sees a baby she freaks and cries at the door. I actually had all four crying at the same time today. Who would've thunk I would someday have four kids crying at the same time?? Thanks for reading.
Comments