When people ask me if I have children, I smile and say, "Yes. I have cats."
I have three children, ranging from ages 15 to 2. They depend on me for everything... and they are my everything.
At almost 16 years old, Pimp is my old man. He was once a thick, stocky 23-pound cat, and now I affectionately call him my little bag of bones. He's had several big health issues in the last few years, but I'd move heaven and earth (and go beyond broke in the process) to do whatever it takes to keep him with me as long as I can. He's doing great now, snoozing away in his self-heating cat bed.
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| Pimp beard! |
My second child, Moo, is 7 years old. He is my velcro kitty. He loves me with every black and white fur on his chunky body, and spends his days following me around begging to be picked up. I have no idea what his background is. He showed up at my back porch when he was about a year and a half old and made a strong case for why I should be his mom until I eventually caved and brought him in. He definitely has trust issues, so I hope he didn't have a rough life before working his way into mine, but I do know that he'll never have to worry about being out on the streets again.
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| Moo makes a great scarf. |
And then there's Phantom. Phantom was an accident. He's that little baby in a family of already-grown kids with the frazzled mom who just isn't sure how she got herself into this situation of having another little rugrat around again. (If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know exactly what I mean!) Phantom was dumped at the county shelter by his previous owners and I helped rescue him, intending to get him to someone who lived several states away. I agreed to foster him while we set up his ride there, but long story short, that didn't work out... and neither did the idea of "temporary" fostering that I had. This fool melted my heart almost immediately, and I love him so much that he can do all the havoc-wreaking he does around the house, and I can't help but smile.
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| Phantom wondering who that handsome dude in the camera is. |
Being a cat mom means that I am fully responsible for three precious lives.
I know exactly what they like and don't like to eat. (Phantom hates anything chicken, Moo doesn't like anything even remotely chunky, and Pimp prefers his covered in gravy.)
I know exactly what toys they prefer to play with. (Phantom only likes wand toys, Moo likes bigger stuffed animal toys, and Pimp only likes those little multi-pack mice.)
I know what they are saying when they talk to me. (Phantom has a special chirp when he wants to play, Moo yells at me when he wants to get picked up, and Pimp has a special "turn on the bathroom faucet" meow.)
I know their sleeping routines and patterns. (Phantom sleeps on the floor near the foot of the bed or curled up along the bedroom wall, Moo sleeps at the foot of the bed on my side against my feet, and Pimp sleeps right up next to me on my side snuggled up right to my chest.)
I also know they each have their little "things" that make them special.
Moo, for instance, loves boxes. If I put a box on the floor -- any box, any time of the day -- he'll be in it within 10 seconds, guaranteed. It's adorable and comical. He also brings me toys when I'm gone for the day... when I get home there are always two or three of his favorites (always the stuffed gator and the rat, sometimes the end of a feather wand toy that broke off years ago). We call this his job, and he does a great job of it. He doesn't even take weekends off!
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| Even this happened one moving day... The box determination is admirable. |
Pimp gets very touchy-feely around catnip. He doesn't get crazy like some cats, he just loves it. When he's on the nip, he loves to rub his face all over whatever toy it is and drool all over it. He also loves to be petted on the bathroom counter. Often he'll jump up and yell at me for what I think means to turn the faucet on, but all he really wanted to do is be petted. So we do that and he turns on the purr motor, makes this blissfully happy face and looks up with his eyes closed as I pet him just the right way on his forehead between his eyes.
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| Black and white lovey face. |
Phantom has so many "things" that I have no idea where to start. Let's just leave it at the fact that I have five empty shelves on the bookcase because he won't allow things to be on them, all of our art on the walls is crooked because he finds a way to redecorate, and no one has a minute of peace until he's been sufficiently worn out with his Da Bird wand toy. This house is very different than before he came along, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
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| Phantom hates straight pictures. |
Being a cat mom is awesome. My three boys give me so much joy and are each so unique and loving and silly. They have such different personalities! There is never a dull moment around here, and I am always surrounded by unconditional love.
Some people think cats are boring or that owning a cat is not cool. Only "crazy" people have cats and dog owners are so much more normal, they think. They think cats do nothing but sleep all day and that they are all the same.
They all think wrong, though. We know that, and I hope one day everyone else does too. Being a cat mom is a wonderful thing to be!
What does being a cat mom mean to you? Let's all share in the comments!
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NOTE FROM CUTE: I am not sure if you all saw, but I just started a new business --
CatLadyBox. It's the first-ever monthly subscription box for people who love cats! I just launched it a few weeks ago, and I can't wait to start sending all this fabulous cat-themed stuff to everyone! I'm so excited!
Each month, you'll receive a box with cattastic hand-picked finds for cat ladies like cat lady jewelry, shirts, accessories, home decor, books, cat art and more! It's going to be pawesome!
If you're interested and would like to
subscribe to CatLadyBox, you can cancel anytime, of course.
I want to get rid of the cat lady stereotype and help make cat ladies the things to be! The first box ships in June, so now is a good time to sign up! If you have questions, feel free to email me. :)
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