Average Jane's Cat, Velvet

Today is the one-year anniversary of the day we brought Velvet home from the shelter. She's the cat in the foreground, with tiny-headed Xena behind her.

Over the past year Velvet has morphed from a scruffy-looking cat who had obviously had a rough life, to a sleek, shiny, well-fed girl. She's a beautiful cat with long legs, big eyes and a sweet face, who loves to be petted and cuddled.

We liked her from the first moment we met her, even though she was wearing a red collar that indicated that she'd been known to bite (as if any of our cats don't nip now and then!).

The shelter staff told us that she loved to chase and be chased by the younger cats, which was exactly what we were looking for in a playmate for Xena. What they didn't mention is that she likes to start those games around bedtime. Fortunately, they don't last long.

She has one other habit I'd wish she'd break. If I still believed in monsters under the bed, I'd never sleep again thanks to her evening ritual of scratching the slats that hold up our mattress.

Sometimes I catch her eyeing our aged cat, Velcro, as if she can't wait for her to die so she can take her place on my lap. Velcro may be old and deaf, but she's always quick to smack that idea out of Velvet's head - literally. On the other hand, Velvet has taken to giving Xena long baths, which is so cute I almost can't stand it.

I don't know how to wrap this up except to say that shelters are definitely the way to go when you want a new pet (unless, like Schmutzie, you end up rescuing one directly). You want a cat now, don't you? Admit it!

Comments

[Keith]

I'd have another cat tomorrow if I didn't live on a main road.

[Sharon]

I love cats. My husband and I have had cats since the very beginning of our marriage. Of course, our first 2 (siblings) are no longer with us. They lived good, long lives, though. Nearly 16 and nearly 18. The current crop are rescue cats. They're a little put out recently because we had the NERVE to add DOGS to the mix.

[schmutzie]

I am a true believer in getting animals from the local shelter. You quite literally save that animal's life, and more often than not, they are so happy to have someone to love them.

Our first two cats are from the shelter, and this new third one was "lifted" from a man messed up on drugs who was trying to sell her for beer money.

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to open my own shelter.

[Shannon]

Great pic.
I think sibling rivalry applies to cats, too. My older cat will definitely take down the kitten if she gets too pushy!! The slat scratching sounds a little spooky!

[Stacey]

I already have two and my mom is trying to convince me I want the little one that recently turned up in her backyard looking for a home. I think I'm good on cats for now.

[Joolie]

Well, yeah, I guess we did! Now to convince the older cat this was a good idea...