She's gentle and deliberate, expressive and quirky. She loves our feet at their stinkiest, and peering over the edge of the bathtub, and of course bacon. And we just love the cat-pants off her. Catty was about 6 months old and starving when she decided to hang around the school where I taught in Houston for a few days, looking cute and helpless and buttering everyone up until some sucker caved and took her home. That caver would be me, pressured somewhat by my class of sentimental third graders but not needing much encouragement in suckerhood. Her strategy as a stray was much more effective than most, so the way I figure it she's brilliant, too.
We couldn't arrive at a name for a while. All my students (the mush balls! every last one!) could come up with were things like "Sweetie," "Cutie Pie" and "Lovey." As the days passed, we took to calling her "Catty," since after all neither of us had ever had a cat before, so she was kinda like our Cat archetype. We figured, we might as well call her what she is: Catty.
That was more than five years ago. She's part of our family now, and one of the sweetest friends C. and I could ever have. She and I are home this afternoon, hanging out together after a rather harrowing experience at the vet. She's finally calmed down some. And so have I, I guess. I don't mean to be a cheezoid or a scary cat lady, but I just felt like writing something about her, and to say how much we love her, and how special she is. Give her a little virtual ear-scratch for me, k?
She is beautiful. Sounds like she chose you instead of the other way around. That says a lot about you.
So glad that she (and you) are ok.
Posted by: LeS at April 7, 2006 5:13 PMWhat sweet pictures! I hope you and Catty are both feeling great this weekend.
Posted by: Lauren at April 7, 2006 5:33 PMMy super cat Boo Boo Kitty says hello!! Noel would too but she's kind of a loaf of a cat.
scratch scratch scratch!!
Posted by: Inky at April 7, 2006 5:37 PM*scratchie-di-scratch-scratch*
That's what I especially love about cats...cattitude. Even a 6-weeks old kitten already has it....
Posted by: Judith at April 7, 2006 5:50 PMThat is a beautiful cat. She looks very happy to be so loved.
I have to take my two sweeties to the vet on monday and it is a new vet, I'm a little nervous.
I love your blog, btw.
Posted by: Amanda at April 7, 2006 5:51 PMCute Cat. :)
Posted by: Tess at April 7, 2006 5:53 PMwhat happened? just a checkup or something more serious?
I know cats hate the vet!
Posted by: Julsey at April 7, 2006 6:19 PMWhat a beauty -- and quite the personality, too!
Posted by: Karen B. at April 7, 2006 6:32 PMHere's a scratch behind Catty's ear from me. She sounds like a dear and is a great poser for the camera! Thanks for telling us her story. Hope she (and you) are feeling better soon.
Posted by: Robin at April 7, 2006 7:02 PMShe's really beautiful. I love her markings.
Posted by: stephanie at April 7, 2006 7:04 PMShe is such a pretty cat! I have two of my own and they are my precious companions whenever I knit.
Posted by: bernie at April 7, 2006 7:26 PMOh, she's got such a beautiful face! Great picture of her! *pat pat*
I'm totally ok with you posting dozens of adorable pictures of her. ;)
Posted by: Chris at April 7, 2006 8:24 PMWhat a lovely post about a special friend...That made my heart smile, with all teeth showing!
Posted by: Skylar at April 7, 2006 8:50 PMCatty is a beautiful cat.
Posted by: oiyi at April 7, 2006 9:26 PMAwwww, scratch scratch.... What a cutie. She's so beautiful - the dearest little face. Cats really make one's life complete.
Awwwwwww. What a beautiful cat. Feel free to cheez it up, cats are the best. Ours are a bit neglected lately due to the baby, but we love them to death, too.
Posted by: valentina at April 7, 2006 11:13 PMwell that just made me tear up- yes I have cats (my first and his baby sister) and I hope the little darling Catty is ok.
Posted by: patricia at April 7, 2006 11:20 PMawwwww. . .I'm a total sucker for cat stories. Cats totally blow me away sometimes they're awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Sandra at April 8, 2006 12:01 AMAww poor Catty - what a life you've had! I hope everything is okay - glad you've both survived whatever happened at the vet (just going can be such a trauma). ::scratchy-rubby-rub::
Oh I made a warping board and made some self-striping yarn. It came out pretty good - I modeled it after the photo on "What Housework".
Posted by: Laura at April 8, 2006 1:46 AMIt's funny how the right cat always finds you. (I remember finding one lost little kitten clinging to the window screen, mewing to be let in. Sammy was great, too.) I hope Catty's well. And that you are too. It can awaken all those protective maternal instincts when they get sick or otherwise need to go to the doctor. Take care. Hope Catty's back home soon.
Posted by: Erin at April 8, 2006 4:22 AMCatty sure is a looker! Pumpkin says hubba, hubba!
Here's an ear scratch catty!
Your camera takes such perfect pics, may I ask what you use?
Posted by: Debi at April 8, 2006 6:20 AMCatty sure is a looker! Pumpkin says hubba, hubba!
Here's an ear scratch catty!
Your camera takes such perfect pics, may I ask what you use?
Posted by: Debi at April 8, 2006 6:20 AMThat is such a lovely story. Thank you for sharing... catty is so pretty! I would have caved too...
Posted by: Aimee at April 8, 2006 1:47 PMOh my goodness! I got scared when I saw the photo that she had died and you were posting a memorial. Calicos are so nice--please knit me a hypo-allergenic one.
chauf-nez
Posted by: Rachel at April 8, 2006 5:13 PMShe's beautiful! I hope she is feeling better. :)
Posted by: Alison at April 8, 2006 6:38 PMCharlie, Gladys, Little Dude and Guy say nice t'meet cha! She can come play anytime!
Posted by: Julia at April 8, 2006 7:31 PMIsn't it funny how so many of us knitters are such cat people? Genetics perhaps? Anyway, I loved your tribute to Catty- I'm just as bad with my two little sweeties. My babies Ella & Ava say hi to Catty by the way. :-)
Posted by: Kelly Brown at April 8, 2006 9:04 PMHi Catty! You're beautiful, and very intelligent, I can tell from your eyes.
Posted by: Julia at April 9, 2006 10:07 PMOh, I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. I loved reading about Catty and you. A friend like that can be hard to find. Her soft shiny fur give great evidence of being ardently cared for. I guess she found herself the best of homes. A thousand good wishes!
Posted by: Emma at April 10, 2006 5:31 AMOh sweet Catty! Does she like little chin scratches as well?
Posted by: Gina at April 10, 2006 10:39 AMAww, she's so pretty! Looks very similar to my calico. Nothing wrong with being cheesy about the kitties now and then!
Posted by: Meredith at April 10, 2006 11:25 AMShe's beautiful. I recently felt the need to blog about my dogs. Such wonderful companions we both have! Cheers!
Posted by: Rebecca at April 10, 2006 1:06 PMI Love this post! As you must have noticed on the dye day I have 3 babies of my own - they can be a pain in the butt but I love every second of it. E is in Puerto Rico right now and my kitties are really such great company - and they keep my feet warm can't ask for much more than that!
Posted by: Marie at April 10, 2006 3:00 PM