Casey [redux]

He was so tiny! I had four adult cats, would he get hurt? I was confident I could get everyone to accept him; I just didn’t know how long it would take. Our German shepherd, Zeke, was very curious and wanted to sniff Casey from head to toe. Our cats, Jake, LeAnne, Sambuca, and Onyx made their displeasure known by hissing and running every time Casey walked in their direction. I was relieved they didn’t seem inclined to swat. In hindsight, they probably should have swatted. I kept Casey and his litter box in our bedroom at first. I didn’t want him roaming the house until I was sure everyone was getting along. In the middle of the night I would wake up because Casey would be tapping me on the face. I’d open my eyes and see this wide-awake kitten who now wanted to play. Of course, we played.

About a week into Casey’s joining our family, I noticed Casey walking up to Sambuca and touching him. Sambuca did not hiss this time which surprised me. Casey touched Sambuca again. This time the touch lasted longer. Again, there was no hissing. The third time there was no tentative touch; Casey jumped onto Sambuca’s back and began biting! I froze. To my relief and delight, Sambuca began playing with Casey! The next challenge on Casey’s list was Onyx. He tried the same technique that worked with Sambuca but with less success, until one day I placed a brand-new cat bed on the floor and both Casey and Onyx wanted it. Onyx is 16 pounds and took up the entire bed. After hopping around the cat bed for a few minutes, Casey took the leap and attacked Onyx! While Onyx has yet to play back, he is adjusting to the periodic kitten attacks that come his way. But it was Casey's attack on our shepherd Zeke that was the cutest! Here was our 95-pound dog being attacked by a two-pound kitten with the kitten winning!

It’s been three weeks since Casey came to live with us. Our house is livelier! I laugh constantly at his antics and I am so very glad I got a kitten! It turns out I needed a kitten after all!