How Bobka came to me…

I had just moved to a small 8-unit courtyard apartment complex, with my two cats in tow. My upstairs neighbor, Brian, (who saw “Cat Sucker” written all over my face… luckily for me!) came down and told me his friend needed a favor. She’d just rescued a kitten but was leaving town for two weeks. She didn’t want to leave the kitten at her house with her other 2 cats and a dog, not knowing how they’ll all react to each other. Since I obviously liked cats, he wondered if I would be willing to keep him, “just for the 2 weeks” while she’s out of town, he assured me. I was a little skeptical, both about the prospect of introducing a kitten to two other cats, and about the likelihood of this not becoming a permanent situation. But, as he was only a tiny 8-week old or so, I thought worst case scenario I could keep him sequestered behind a closed door should things get ugly.

So, in he came, all scruffy and scraggly looking! Rhae Ann brought him in, and assured me that he looked worlds better than when he came to her, all filthy and covered in fleas. She left him there most reluctantly, and I could tell she already was very attached to this little spitfire, a teeny tiny little kitten with a bob-tail and the personality of a full grown lion! I assured her I’d guard him with my life. He quickly made himself right at home, much to the chagrin of Moksha (my cow-cat, who avoided him), and to the oblivion of Jinx (the prissy black Persian, who simply pretended he didn’t exist). He snuggled right into my lap, and my heart. I was very quickly a goner, just like Rhae.

One week into the “foster” period, I called Rhae and reported in as I’d promised on how he was doing: great! So great, in fact, I informed her that she’d have to fight me for him to get him back! As I recall, there was a pause on the other end of the phone, and I rushed to assure her I was kidding! And I knew it was “safe” to fall in love with him because I knew the deal when I took him on, no worries, back he goes with her. But that wasn’t the reason for the pause. “Well, as a matter of fact… my husband says two cats and a dog is enough, already, so when we get back, we’ll be looking for a permanent home for him.” Wow, first I saw that one coming, then I didn’t. “So you can have right of first refusal if you’re serious.” I had some thinking to do.

Ok, I thought, what to do? On the one hand, he was so, so, so adorably cute and playful and snuggly – personality plus. On the other hand, probably not going to be the big fluffy gorgeous cats I usually like. And then there’s the commitment. At this moment, I was sitting at my computer desk, and he was having a rare still moment, sitting on the computer desk at eye level, staring me right in the eyes – not a typical cat trait. I’ll never forget this as long as I live. It was the first time I realized he could read my mind, but definitely not the last.

As I sat there looking at him, thinking this is at least an 18-20 year commitment, that I’m not sure I’m ready for, he reached out a paw, placed it one side of my neck, reached out the other paw and put it on the other side of my neck, and nuzzled his nose to one side, purring loudly. That was it. It was all over, no resistance left. And from that day on, I dreaded the day he would leave me and treasured each moment I had with him, in equal measure.