Today, Mary Magdalene offered me a cat.
I took the cat home.
Who says no to Mary Magdalene?
This Mary Magdalene is 74 and from Cuba. She runs a rescue organization called Francis Assisi Society. Not “St. Francis.” When I asked her why not, she sighed and said too many people were afraid of saints these days.
Carlita is a 10-week-old tortoiseshell calico, dipped in blacks and golds. She has inky paws and a face split between light and dark, like mine. She purrs like a furnace and I am afraid I will crush her if I roll over tonight.
I know nothing about cats, but being a Catholic schoolgirl, I know not to look a gift cat in the mouth from a Cuban saint. I don’t know why God wants me to have little Lita, and I hope Nina does not eat her (Eli only wishes to kiss her endlessly).
In short, I am terrified, and wondering if I have made my life even more complicated than it was 24 hours ago. What do I know of litter boxes, of cat toys?
And yet, she is curled up here on my bed with me right now, absolutely perfectly tiny, ribs poking through skin. She almost died of dysentery, Mary Magdalene told me with tears in her eyes, and she nursed her back to health.
Mary Magdalene felt certain Carlita needed to come home with me and the girls. And for some reason unknown even to myself, I said yes. I said yes.
Maybe nothing is perfect, maybe nothing is planned, maybe we can set down food and water and litter boxes for each other in this life, a feathery cat dancer or two, and simply let go of control. Maybe it will all be fine, however it is fine.
I feel like Lita has a lot to teach me—about taking in, while letting go at the same time.
Meow. I seem to have become, in the span of 12 hours, a cat person.
One more mouth to feed.
Perhaps insane. But perhaps some higher force at work. Signs have been pointing to CAT CAT CAT for months. Say a little prayer, would you, that the dog-cat introductions go more smoothly each day?
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Cats give so much in comparison to how very low maintenance they are. I have a feeling she is exactly what you need right now. Godspeed.
I have a mouse I’d like to introduce that former orphan to.
Good luck with your new little friend.
Mr. Eliot agrees with you, and that is all you need to know. Well done.
You are wise: never say no to a cuban saint. Good for you!
Cat Therapy: perfect. Enjoy.
Little Lita will bring you endless peace with her purring and softness. I’m sure of it.
We have two cats in our family. One is laid-back and calm, and hangs out with the laid-back and calm 10-year old. The other is uptight and neurotic, and only likes to be with me. I guess she considers me to be her uptight and neurotic sister-in-arms. I have learned so much from her. Trust me, your new kitty is a gift, and she’s come into your life at the exact moment you needed to learn something from her.
Cats pretty much raise themselves, so you will be fine.
I have three cats, one of whom thinks that I don’t know he’s on the kitchen counter AGAIN, and I love them more than I usually admit.
You are in for a delightful surprise. Cats are entertaining, affectionate and wonderfully weird animals. I think you’re going to like this.
My security code is “huka”, which is also the sound a cat makes when trying to rid herself of a hairball.
You strike me as the type of kind soul who would take in a cat like this.
I have had cats for a long, long time and LOVE their independence coupled with devotion. It’s an odd combination, but it is there. Enjoy!
Cats are amazing (and they don’t need toys, just an old cardboard box or a crumbled up piece of paper every once in a while).
Enjoy
Litter boxes I can help you with. The best by far, and I have tried them all, is the Tidy Cat Breeze system… No tracking . Really truely honest. Check online for a coupon and get out there and get one. Walmart’s the cheapest. You are going to save money on litter in the long run too. I know this has at least cut my litter expense in half, if not more.
Good luck. We will help you through…
Hugs!
Yay for your tiny cat! I hope she is as much of a blessing for you as ours is for me.
Congratulations, Jenn. I think cats are so special.
i can’t believe you’ve never had a cat before after growing up, taking in every possible pet in philly, like didn’t you have a squirrel and a hedgehog? i’m very curious, what were the cat signs leading up to lita? i also think any comfort/distraction in life is positive!
My husband is allergic to cats- he found out after he arrived home from work and the cat I bough on a whim made his throat swell up, landing us in the ER….oops!
If you can handle big dogs, a cat is going to be like a warm bath or relaxation. I am happy you took her in! My cat — named Carly — saw me through some crushing depression and, just, I think you’ll do so well with this addition to your household. And it costs next to nothing to feed a cat.
Cats are lovely people. We’ve had our big fat Anton for almost five years now, and the calm he generates when sleeping next to me on the bed still amazes me. I think cats are good for you.
Purrrfect therapy cats are. We got a kitten in April and he has quickly made his way into all our hearts – including our 100 pound Golden Retriever. It is precious to see them snuggle.
You needed a cat and your cat has arrived. Enjoy each precious moment.
Hugs!
I’m going to make a different suggestion: get a red (or otherwise distinctive color) blanket or two. Keep them on or near couches. Then train your cat that “blanket means lap.” If she gets on your lap when you don’t have a blanket on you, move her – possibly to get one of the blankets, possibly just moving her off of your lap.
It may take a while, but it’s good for two things: keeping the cat from furring you when you want to not be furred and getting the cat onto other people’s laps eventually (because blanket means lap).
I have to weigh in. Eli is smitten with the kitten. He follows her everywhere so he can give kisses … silly moose dog and perky trusting cat. This actually could work *if* Nina doesn’t eat the kitty!
This is making me want a cat more and more… and I already wanted one pretty badly.
Cats are good for what ails you. Just watch her – watch her move, watch her eat, watch her drink. I predict she’ll bring you peace when you don’t even know you need it.
And the purring is simply a bonus.
Sometimes a pet makes all the difference.
I hear she is a lovely little thing. I’m sure she find her niche in the family and I’ve rarely met a cat that couldn’t scare the pants off most dogs…I know my pitt is terrified of our kitty.
I also had the enormous pleasure of meeting Eli the other day! What an incredible dog. His demeanor simply oozes love and cuddles. I fell in love instantly. I like dogs in general, but man, that Eli is something special.
congrats! I’m adopting a cat of my own soon (the homestudy is tomorrow). I’ve said for a decade that I wanted a gray female cat named CC (after Carrie Chapman Catt, the suffragist) and just such a cat is up for adoption in my area. She’s blind, which was NOT part of my plan, but obstacles have a way of shrinking when things are meant to be.
Here’s hoping Carlita fits in wonderfully in her new home…and that if for some reason (Nina, I’m looking at you) she doesn’t, that a permanent home is easily found.
Welcome to being a cat owner! I grew up with both cats and dogs and I can say that I love them both. I’m sure you’ll be a great “cat mom”.
As I read this my cat is on my lap. One of the many cats. There is always enough to go around and there is always one on a lap.