How a Self-Proclaimed Cat Hater Ends up Living with Three Rotten Cats (A Re-Post)
When Mama Kat called for the story of how your pet came to be a member of the family, I knew I had to re-run this one.
This was originally posted on the blog back in July 2012. Read on for the story of how Cats One, Two, and Three came to live with us…complete with a few updates!
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As I write this, my Fabulous Husband is finishing up some vacuuming…to rid our home of this week’s allotment of cat hair! This is part of why he is fabulous. A) I haven’t touched a vacuum cleaner since we got married (HATE vacuuming more than cleaning toilets) and B) he is in charge of all things related to the cleaning of cats. That was the deal we struck when the Three Rotten Cats came to live with us.
Actually, we only started out with two. Only I say because when you have three, well, it’s a lot and two seems like…a lot less. I did not grow up with cats. I never liked cats. In fact, I hated them. My only experiences of other people’s cats involved dead mice on the front porch and cat scratches on the owner’s hands. No thanks. No cats.
But when the Fab Hub and I bought our first home, we decided we should have pets. After some discussion, we agreed that we did not live a lifestyle that would really be fair to a dog. OK, settled – no pet.
Then he says, “what about a cat?”
Me: “No. No cats.”
He: “Why?”
Me: “I hate cats.”
He: “You do not hate cats. And I like cats.”
Me: “I hate cats.”
He: “How do you hate cats?”
Me: “I hate cats. They claw things with their…claws. And they hang out with witches. And I heard they sit on babies’ chests and suck their breath out.”
He: “We don’t have a baby.”
Me: “They hang out with witches.”
Silence.
He did not take the opportunity presented to him at that moment. I would have. Another reason why he is Fabulous.
Fast forward several months: A woman at work sent around an e-mail that she was caring for an abandoned kitten that she could not keep because she already had too many cats. We inquired, but found that the kitty had already been promised. So we were lucky too late. However, she had a friend who just happened to foster for an organization called Peaceable Kingdom and would we like her phone number? She was certain that her friend was currently caring for a litter that needed homes.
Sure. Number. Can’t wait.
Next thing I knew, we had an appointment to take a long drive and go meet the cats. When we arrived, we found that she had three cats remaining from the litter of beasts that needed homes. I knew where this was going… He Who Likes Cats wanted to take all three home with us. NO WAY! We agreed that we would get two – one, two – so that they could keep each other company when we weren’t home or whatever. NOT THREE. So we made our selection and went home the resigned proud owners of two cats.
Fast forward to early December. We got a Christmas card from the Cat Boys’ foster mom. Aside from the holiday wishes and inquiries about the two Boys, she explained that the remaining brother was still not adopted and had completely withdrawn from playing with the other foster cats, didn’t engage at adoption days, and seemed to actually miss the other two. Would we consider adopting the remaining one?
Uuuuhhh…why do I suddenly feel like I have the word “sucker” stamped on my head?
If I’m being totally honest, I have to admit that the idea of that last leftover brother haunted me for weeks before that card came. He Who Likes Cats, however, had come to the conclusion that three cats is simply too many cats and advised AGAINST getting the last brother.
Now what?
We took a poll and the odds were stacking up against this little bugger. The vote came down to our two moms. Mom of He Who Likes Cats said three cats is too many cats and she would not advise having three cats. I knew what Mom of Me would vote – she liked cats even less than I did. (Probably where I heard the thing about witches and babies.)
So we asked her.
In an unprecedented show of kitty sympathy, Mom of Me said, “She has one poor little lonely brother left? And he misses them? And he’s sad?”
“Yup.”
“You HAVE to go get him.”
Unbelievable.
So we went and got him.
We now had THREE Rotten Cats. ALL black (see? witches). ALL IN OUR HOUSE.
Oh, and the leftover one? I think he knows Mom of Me rescued him…he loves her. She’s horrified thrilled.
As it turns out, three cats, five eight years and a Kidzilla later, I don’t think we’d have it any other way. They are all sweet, affectionate, and highly entertaining. They don’t claw the furniture, they don’t puke on the carpet (much), and they do their business in a box (most of the time). Very often, to my amusement irritation resigned amusement, all three can be found hovering in my general vicinity.
UPDATE: Cat One pukes more often than I think is reasonable. I would really prefer never. And they do continue to do their business in a box with the exception of Cat One and his stealth pooping. Please don’t tell me he has a littler box problem. He doesn’t. We’ve seen him use it with gusto. Please don’t tell me cats don’t intentionally or vindictively do things like poop on the floor. This one does. The distinct upside to all of this is that we no longer have wall-to-wall carpet in the house. Cleaning up hardwood floors is much easier.
Cat One helping me and Zilla make Halloween ghosties. He will find any excuse to get on the kitchen table.
![20141026_190727[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141026_1907271.jpg)
Cat Two playing with some yarn. How stereotypically kitten of him.
![20141026_191516[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141026_1915161-e1416508654594.jpg)
Cat Three stealing my seat. It’s a game we play. He enjoys it; I don’t.
![20141106_103337[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20141106_1033371-e1416508586589.jpg)
Do you have pets? How did they join your family? What are some of their fun tricks and antics?
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Your cats take such great photos, it’s hard to believe that they’re rotten. I, too, have a cat. Only one though. One is enough if you ask me. I didn’t think I was a cat person until I moved in with her. She was my wife’s cat before I got to know her so I kind of just inherited her. Although she can be rambunctous at times, she’s quite affectionate and cuddly. I like that. My wife insisted that she was untrainable, but I’ve actually trained her to do several things. With only a quick call, I can get her to obey a few commands. One is either to leave the bedroom area and the other is to get off the couch. I didn’t think cats were trainable, but I guess they can be. Either that or I’m a great trainer.
They really are a handsome bunch, aren’t they? I’ve always said that.
I would agree that one is more than enough and yet somehow, I can’t imagine only having one…far less entertainment possibility! Honestly, they aren’t really so “rotten,” but as a lifelong anti-cat person, I can’t give in too easily. All three can be very affectionate and cuddly.
As for the trainability of cats, two of the three come when I call them by name (one consistently, the other when he feels like it), they absolutely do follow commands like “get out of my seat” and “off the table”! You probably are a great trainer – somehow I suspect you are incredibly patient and consistent – but I think in the end much depends on the disposition of the cat.
You are a SUCKER! Glad to know the story since I definitely did not know you in 2012. Can’t say I get your conversion, though.
Yeah, maybe. But to see this cat go from unhappy and nervous and sad to as affectionate and loving and happy as he is now…worth it. I’m a sucker, yeah.
I loved hearing the story of your cats. I too would have been for getting the sibling, especially since he wasn’t thriving. You made the right choice – especially since he isn’t the puker/stealth pooper!
My man’s cat also plays the steal the seat game. I have been known to sit on her (lightly) to reclaim my spot. Sometimes she moves, sometimes not.
I couldn’t bear the thought of him missing his brothers! And he has absolutely flourished here with them and with us – hard to believe it’s the same cat! I often “sit” on him to get him to move and I have to laugh because he does exactly the same thing! Sometimes he moves…sometimes he holds on to that seat with all his little cat might and won’t budge. They are so funny.
hahahaha this cracked me up!! Love how you wrote this. I could really imagine and hear you telling me this story. Sorry for taking amusement in your misery 😉 Good luck winning that seat back!
Hi, Dana. No, it’s a pretty funny story – go right ahead and laugh! Glad you enjoyed it!
Monsters! We have two cats and while I like them more than i like most people, there are times when I wonder why we have any cats never mind two.
They are soul-stealers for sure and I wouldn’t ever want to be without (at least) one
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That’s a pretty accurate description!
Love your little cat graphic, too!
You know, like humans who as they age fart more because their digestive system is aging, so a cat as they age lose some ability to digest hair they lick as easily as they did when young. I have a 13 year old cat. And had 4 others in pass years that lived into old age. So lots of experience. You can tell Him Who Loves Cats that he can solve the vomiting by buying a tube of Hartz Hairball Remedy or any brand,, mix a inch squish of it into a little portion of wet canned food in the morning and you’ll see the vomiting pretty much disappear. I’d treat all 3. That would make that at least better.
That’s a great suggestion – worth trying! Now if we can just find a solution to the poop…
No cats, no pets. We had fish and hermit crabs back in the day. But there’s a Grand-dog I adore. But that’s one way to get hardwood floors. Hmmmmm.
I had fish years ago. It did not go well. Zilla would love a dog but this house and our current schedule would not be good for a dog.
I just love how you thought cats were evil and then ended up with three BLACK ones. They’re so cute. 🙂
Yeah, that’s hysterical. Oh, the irony!
In the process, we learned that black cats are harder to adopt out because so many people are afraid of the superstition about black cats. At the other end of the spectrum, they told us there are people eager to adopt and end up using them in let’s say less than pleasant rituals. Knowing that, I’m glad we took these three guys and I think if we acquired future cats, we’d go for black again. Besides, I don’t have to decorate for Halloween at all! 😀
You know this was the first page I came looking for on your blog since you commented on my sweet Gus. Black cats are awesome and having 3 is beyond awesome. In case you start to feel too catlady-ish, we used to have 5! Now we are down to two. nice to meet you and your rotten cats.
Oh, I’m so glad you found this post, Claudia! It’s a good story with a great happy ending. The Rotten Cats show up on the blog fairly often.
We love our black cats. We had no particular preferences when we went – these three guys just happened to be there waiting to be loved. But now that we have them and have learned that black cats often don’t get adopted easily, I think we’d do it all over again.
I can’t imagine five cats! Our house is pretty full with these three guys. But my Daughter and I may or may not have made lovey eyes at some kittens at the vet’s office not too long ago…it would have been an easy sell!
And yes, I do often feel a little catladyish – especially when all three are hovering around me looking for love.
I absolutely love how you wrote this, so funny! And after seeing the photo of Cat one with the ghosts, I think you are right he does hang with witches!!
Happy Cat Day!!
Ha, thanks, Christina. The Rottens provide some pretty great blog fodder. Happy Cat Day, too!
I loved this! I never hated cats but we always had dogs growing up (my sister was allergic) so I had no idea I was a cat person until I moved out and someone at work told me I NEEDED a cat. Who knew? I actually did need a cat.
I never knew I could
loveliketolerate cats. When we moved from renting an apartment to owning our home, we wanted a pet and we just aren’t home enough for the life a dog needs. Cats were the way to go. Or a ferret, I guess, if you ask my Husband, but that’s not happening. 😀 They were pretty easy to love.