The Story Of How We Got Six Cats (even when some passed!)

I love cats. My husband loves cats. Yup, you see where this is going. We love cats. When the hubby and I got married, we each brought a cat. I brought Lacey and he brought Tigger.

Tigger

Lacey

We were happy with our two cats. However, Lacey and Tigger did not like one another. Guess they weren't happy about the hubby and I joining up. Anyway, after we bought our first house, my husband was home watching our son while I worked as a Nanny one afternoon. He called to tell me kittens were on the back porch. From that litter, he found one he loved and wanted who we caught and named Callie. And from that litter, there was a talkative boy I wanted, who we named Patched and we now call Patty Cake. We found homes for the other kitten, however we were unable to catch the mom--yet!

Callie

Patty Cake

So, we settled into life with 4 cats. We knew it was crazy, but it worked. The Mom cat stuck around, though we couldn't get near her. She did have several more litters and we found homes for all those kittens. Finally, enough was enough. We borrowed a small animal trap and caught the Mom cat. Taking her and one of the kittens that was left from that litter to get spayed and the kitten neutered. Well, son fell in love with the boy kitten and we named him Bobby. Making him official cat number 5. After Mom was spayed, we fully expected her to go bat wild in our house until she was healed and could go back in the wild. WRONG. Mom cat was happy and never wanted to leave the house again. Earning the name Mama Kitty and becoming official cat 6. And becoming out BIGGEST lap cat and snuggler!

Mama Kitty

Bobby

So at this point, for a few years we had Tigger, Lacey, Callie, Patty Cake, Bobby, and Mama Kitty. Cats don't live forever. And Tigger became ill and went into kidney failure and passed away.  Leaving us with 5 cats...

However, shortly after her passing, we were on Craiglists when an ad came up with cats who were on the kill list at a shelter. Well, an 8 week old cat who kinda resembled Tigger was on the list. We drove 2 hours to save her and 2 hours home--and she pooped in the car.

Valerie became the new sixth cat! And she is now officially my baby (Lacey had been my baby, but I'm sure you know where this story might be going.)

Valerie

So for the next year and a half, we had our six cat status again. We now had Lacey, Callie, Patty Cake, Bobby, Mama Kitty, and Valerie.  Once afternoon, I found Lacey having a hard time breathing, rushed her to the vet to learn she had cancer and a tumor that had closed up her throat, which was ultimately suffocating her to death. :( I still feel bad I didn't know, but cats hide illness. :(

So, our status of 6 cats went down to 5. And we said: NO MORE CATS! After losing two and the heart ache it caused and the amount of cats we had, we did not need anymore.

A year later, we were visiting my mother in laws and a friend of hers had a cat who needed a home. Originally, my husbands sister was going to take the cat, but after rescuing the cat, it wasn't going to work out for her to have the cat in her home. So we brought her home. She wasn't a nice cat. One of those nightmare cats. Scratch, bite...Yikes!

We spent a little one on one with her to get her used to people, and yes, we fell in love with her, making Zoey cat number 6. And it's back....6 cats!

Zoey

We love each and every one of them. And we swear even now, we won't do this again. We won't get anymore cats until some of the ones we have, have passed on. 

Our cats ages are currently: Mama Kitty (10), Callie and Patty Cake (8), Bobby (6), Valerie (4), and Zoey (3).

Oh, did I mention we have a dog too? Just one!!! I couldn't handle more than one. Man...dogs are a lot of work!

Cocoa