[Stardate 2023]

Ode To A Gilean: The death of Massie was quite devastating for us. And as our mourning over his loss lessened, I began to notice that my wife would hint of her desire to adopt again – by sending me links or photos of cats that she came across online. Admittedly, I consciously chose not to engage most times. But as time went on I found that the absence of Massie’s comforting presence kept gnawing away at the back of my mind. It was a hole in our lives.

Eventually, having warmed up enough to bring up the subject, I suggested that, perhaps, we should look into getting another cat. So overjoyed was she that I had come around to the idea, it was difficult to argue when she suggested not just one, but a pair. Male and female. Not only, but a pair, newly born with very little other human imprinting on their personalities. It was then that I came up with the idea of me choosing the female for my wife. While she would choose the male kitten for me. The idea being, see if we know each other well enough (cat-person-wise) to select one that the other thought would reflect the other spouse’s personality. That old notion of pets being a reflection of their owners.

And so, having agreed on those conditions, she set about searching online for cats to adopt.

At first, we had agreed and were keen on two particular kittens from separate litters. But they were unavailable by the time we enquired. The only available new-born, pairs came from the same litter. After watching a video of the remaining members of the litter, Chestnut and Cashew were selected. My wife will say that ‘he chose them both’. Perhaps. Maybe I nudged her in a certain direction in the selection. In the end, we are both happy with the two kittens that we have adopted.

Observation: While Gilean and Rosie can be found playing together or chasing things around, it is interesting to observe their behaviour patterns when it ‘me time’ for them. They each have their favourite spots – Gilean’s is the centre of the dining table. Rosie who can’t be kept down, seems to favour the kitchen counter (Gilean at this point needs to be assisted up to join her). They sometimes hide on the dining chairs, out of sight by the overhanging table cloth. Under the bed or sofa and so on.

What is interesting is that Gilean now likes hanging out on my desk, bushy tail held high and obstructing my view of the screen, or, fascinated by the mouse pointer would attempt to ‘catch it’. Or he tries to play with my hands as I type. Cat-interruptus!

Rosie is not that disruptive with me, except when it is just the three of us at home. I guess she shares her affection when we are all together. But with my wife both Gilean and Rosie are similarly disruptive that demands that you engage with them. Who can resist at those times?

In the end, they both choose when they care to hang around one or both of us. And they usually do so when we are talking together. They hear our voices together and they come trotting in to see what is going on. At least, we do not have to switch to ‘adult-speak’ so that the ‘kids’ do not catch on to what their humans are saying!

Sub-text to this is that Gilean’s such a furball that I have come to realisation that I have become used to being covered in cat hairs after we interact. I now have my ‘cat clothes’ that I do not mind being covered with visible cat hairs. Rosie, being short-haired, sheds much less or noticeably. Gilean is, literally, a growing Furball a’la the Tribbles of Star Trek