- Joined
- Jul 22, 2013
- Messages
- 27
- Purraise
- 23
Hey all,
I jumped the gun and was into another thread earlier and figured I should at least take the time to do a little introduction here as well.
A year and a month ago, I had never had a pet...ever...not even in the house while I was a kid. Then my wife came home from work with a little black ball of fur peeking out of a carrier. Go figure.
A rescue stray or feral (guessing will never know) who was found claws latched to the underside of a dock along a waterway, believed to have been there for at least two days as he was heard meowing the day before and couldn't be found, the kitten was placed into my wife's care by her boss who lived in that area and couldn't take in another animal. Is there some adage about not saying 'no' to your Boss when they hand over a six week old kitten? Probably should be if there isn't, just saying.
So, starting that day in late June 2012, that kitten kind of took over, as all cat people probably are well aware happens. I get reminded often that I said something along the lines of "yes, we can keep him, just remember he is your responsibility for feeding, litter box, etc". The term might not be reminded so much as 'thrown in my face'. I was suckered in by the kitten within one hour. I think the moment was when he tumbled over a little fuzzy red mouse toy and then commenced raking the toy with his hind feet. Suckered I tell you, suckered.
My wife, Jessica, insisted that we name him something appropriate and suggested I use my plethora of useless knowledge to come up with a strong, possibly mythological/deity name. Her example, although not choice, was Thor. I think we had seen that not too far before then since no way I would have expected her to suggest Thor out of the blue as the standard on what we were looking for.
I ran through in my head water-related names from the pantheon since he was found under the dock... no go. I considered the more common names, but seemed like was trying to hard for the strength and awareness factor. For a short time, even considered going slightly obscure with Vulcan or Hephasteus based on the soot black color. All this time, as can be easily seen, the comments about his lanky frame and panther look came easily while doing the name hunting...and then it clicked. Pan. God of Mischief (dead on) and Nature (appropriate). And dual meaning with his panther look. I suggested it, she seconded it.
The first night, he actually slept between us on the bed. Haven't had a quiet night like that since, but hey, at least we have that first night
First timers like us, it has been a whirlwind. The concern that pops up for what are probably in hindsight such natural things that we laugh thinking about it. She picked on me for putting pillows around the base of his cat tree since he seemed a bit reckless on it. We both royally freaked the first time(s) he did the huff-n-puff presumably tied to possible hairballs. I delved onto the internet when he had this tendency to vigorously twitch-shake his head. We consulted and determined that kittens lose baby teeth, when we found a tooth had come loose and fallen out.
He has been living up to his name with the mischief he gets into. We were maybe a touch too casual about his play biting, and don't really mind it although sometimes he gets a wee bit too worked up and that can hurt some A couple times we have explored his interaction with the mother-in-laws yellow lab. Got to see that he does hiss like the best of them Heard he even spits. Good boy. He is super social BUT takes some time, sometimes day or more, to accept other people around. And both Jessica and I, and our respective shirts, have learned that holding him when a dog or person comes nearby that he doesn't want to be around, is not the wisest choice.
Going to put a few pictures showing first arrival at home, in between, and a recent. Hope the little story was entertaining, because you can't get that few minutes of your life back
I jumped the gun and was into another thread earlier and figured I should at least take the time to do a little introduction here as well.
A year and a month ago, I had never had a pet...ever...not even in the house while I was a kid. Then my wife came home from work with a little black ball of fur peeking out of a carrier. Go figure.
A rescue stray or feral (guessing will never know) who was found claws latched to the underside of a dock along a waterway, believed to have been there for at least two days as he was heard meowing the day before and couldn't be found, the kitten was placed into my wife's care by her boss who lived in that area and couldn't take in another animal. Is there some adage about not saying 'no' to your Boss when they hand over a six week old kitten? Probably should be if there isn't, just saying.
So, starting that day in late June 2012, that kitten kind of took over, as all cat people probably are well aware happens. I get reminded often that I said something along the lines of "yes, we can keep him, just remember he is your responsibility for feeding, litter box, etc". The term might not be reminded so much as 'thrown in my face'. I was suckered in by the kitten within one hour. I think the moment was when he tumbled over a little fuzzy red mouse toy and then commenced raking the toy with his hind feet. Suckered I tell you, suckered.
My wife, Jessica, insisted that we name him something appropriate and suggested I use my plethora of useless knowledge to come up with a strong, possibly mythological/deity name. Her example, although not choice, was Thor. I think we had seen that not too far before then since no way I would have expected her to suggest Thor out of the blue as the standard on what we were looking for.
I ran through in my head water-related names from the pantheon since he was found under the dock... no go. I considered the more common names, but seemed like was trying to hard for the strength and awareness factor. For a short time, even considered going slightly obscure with Vulcan or Hephasteus based on the soot black color. All this time, as can be easily seen, the comments about his lanky frame and panther look came easily while doing the name hunting...and then it clicked. Pan. God of Mischief (dead on) and Nature (appropriate). And dual meaning with his panther look. I suggested it, she seconded it.
The first night, he actually slept between us on the bed. Haven't had a quiet night like that since, but hey, at least we have that first night
First timers like us, it has been a whirlwind. The concern that pops up for what are probably in hindsight such natural things that we laugh thinking about it. She picked on me for putting pillows around the base of his cat tree since he seemed a bit reckless on it. We both royally freaked the first time(s) he did the huff-n-puff presumably tied to possible hairballs. I delved onto the internet when he had this tendency to vigorously twitch-shake his head. We consulted and determined that kittens lose baby teeth, when we found a tooth had come loose and fallen out.
He has been living up to his name with the mischief he gets into. We were maybe a touch too casual about his play biting, and don't really mind it although sometimes he gets a wee bit too worked up and that can hurt some
A couple times we have explored his interaction with the mother-in-laws yellow lab. Got to see that he does hiss like the best of them Heard he even spits. Good boy. He is super social BUT takes some time, sometimes day or more, to accept other people around. And both Jessica and I, and our respective shirts, have learned that holding him when a dog or person comes nearby that he doesn't want to be around, is not the wisest choice.Going to put a few pictures showing first arrival at home, in between, and a recent. Hope the little story was entertaining, because you can't get that few minutes of your life back
