- Joined
- Jan 18, 2016
- Messages
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This is my kitty, Esther. Essie for short. Sometimes "Essie-bon-bon" lol
I got Essie at 8 weeks from a farm. "Kittens for $25" the listing said. Little did I know, my $25 kitten had medical issues that would cost me about almost a grand to date (she's almost 4 months. Don't worry. She's ok. Nothing chronic). I don't regret it, though. She's my precious lil buddy.
I've learned so much from her. All my life I've lived with cats. When I was born, my parents already had a senior cat, who passed before I could remember him, but I've seen him in videos. Years later, they let my sister and me pick out a little 6-week old kitten we named Thomas. Tommy lived to be 16 until he passed from cancer. Last January, I got a call from a friend saying her little sister had gotten a 4-year old all black megacat named Agnes from a shelter/rescue a few weeks earlier, and she was looking to rehome her. We adopted her. And... then, a few months later, I moved out of my parents' house. Bought my very first condo. Which was exciting, but... soon got lonely. I needed a cat. When I'd visit my parents' I would spend so much time with Aggie and just about cry when I went home. I threatened so many times to take her with me (especially since it was MY friend's little sister who brought Agnes into our lives), but the poor girl had so much anxiety from being rehomed a lot, so I didn't. When I saw Essie's picture online months later, I knew she was my kitty. I just knew it!
When I got Esther, she taught me patience. She hissed at me at first, which I wasn't used to. None of the other cats or kittens ever hissed at me when I first got them home... I learned to look at life through her eyes. I had pulled this little 1.67 pound baby away from her home, her mama, and her sister and two brothers... The 12 hours it took her to learn to trust me were difficult. She was in the bathroom and hissed every time I entered. The following 12 hours, when I found she loved to walk on my chest and shoulders as I was reclining, were even worse. She stunk!! Horrifically!
At first, she was a mess. Climbing up my jeans, jumping on tables, meowing constantly, biting anything that moved (including me), poking my face as I tried to sleep... The first two weeks I regretted getting her to the point I searched online to see if a cat really needs love specifically, or if just top quality food, medical care, toys, a good litter, etc. were enough. Training her was like an awful game of wills. She knew there were things she wasn't supposed to do, but if I didn't pay attention to her for any more than 5 min (I work from home, and I need to concentrate when I do payroll), she'd specifically do something I'd thought I'd already trained out of her. It was madness. But... she taught me how quick to anger I am. I'd looked up her symptoms online and read about "Single Kitten Syndrome", but reality was, her medical issues are what made it too expensive to get a second kitten, though a second kitten was the solution all of them seemed to give. I had to believe "Single Kitten Syndrome" was something training could overcome, or I'd remain miserable for who-knows-how-long. Giving her up was never an option. I wanted to love this kitten as much as I love Agnes. Through patience and persistence, I won a really great kitten.
She's a phenomenal kitty. No more pawprints on my glass tables (she doesn't even climb up there when I'm not looking!). She sleeps next to me, silently, all night. If I don't pay attention to her, she occupies herself with her toys or goes to sleep on her tree. I can leave the house to hang with friends or go grocery shopping without worrying she'll be loud and bother then neighbors. It's been over a month since she's climbed up my leg, and her biting has decreased 95%. Even when she does touch my skin with her teeth, it's like she remembers and licks instead. It's wonderful! I was worried as I'd never trained a kitten myself before. Nor had I ever even seen such a strong-willed kitty (vet says it's the nature of a calico.)
She is ok with the semi frequent drive to my parents', even though it is almost an hour and having two places to freely roam. I think she knows she can tolerate the drive because Aggie waits at one end (and at the other end is her exclusive territory). She really loves and looks up to Aggie. Aggie tolerates Essie's antics with a grace fit for a saint. Aggie is overweight, so Essie at least helps her get some exercise when they play, though Agnes's stamina is a drop in the bucket compared to Esther's. It's so cute when they sleep next to each other huddled on the cat tree.
But, anyway, there's my buddy. She's almost 4 months now. She's curious, strong-willed, fun-loving, adapts to new situations quickly, confident, loathes canines with a passion, and loves playing with any toy shaped like a mouse. Usually good for a cuddle, except at 9PM, give or take 20 min, when she turns into a rocket, darting back and forth all over the floor and around the couch, everywhere her little legs can carry her.
Nice to meet you all!
