The Cat Introduction

Last January we bought Aaron a cat for his birthday.  This shows the great love I have for my middle child because I do not love cats.  Yes,  those of you from my childhood past might remember the obsessive cat loving I did before middle school.  What can I say... I was a child but as an adult I put away childish things and that included cat love. 

So when we brought this new cat, now affectionately named Max, Maximillian, Maxipus, or just Cat, home I had rules.  No cat in the house, litter box cleaned each week and I was to have nothing to do with Max cuz I didn't like him. (period!)

Max has been with us for almost a year now and I can honestly say I have never met a cat like Max.  He purrs with gusto  immediately upon being picked up.  In eight months, he has never scratched one of my children.  In fact, as soon as a any child grabs him up he goes limp as if it is his duty to allow the squeezing and rumpled fur that is sure to come.

Max also wheedled his way into the house with his constant purring.  First the official reason was so Aaron could hold him during homework and then we realized we were buying cat food for every stray cat in a mile radius.  During the school year, Max got used to us leaving the house everyday.  It became routine to give him a goodbye pat on the way to school each morning as he sat on the porch purring his goodbye right back at us.  Summer brought a new routine and suddenly each morning Max began meowing at the front door until it opened.   He then saunters in, checks on the family, perhaps eats a little (since we moved the food indoors)  then goes to the garage door, meows again and is let into the garage to do what ever a cat needs to do in a garage.

In fact, that last paragraph I was writing  just got  interrupted by meowing at the front door and yes I obediently got up and let the cat into the house.

Now the cat routinely plays with the dogs and catches birds and mice leaving them in the front yard for us to find.  We call for Maxipus every time we go outside and I actually miss seeing Cat if he isn't around for awhile.

Today, I find myself using endearments to talk to Max and cuddling him just to hear his loud purr.  If he isn't around in the morning I worry about him.

Shockingly and with much torture to actually write this sentence...I have discovered.... I love Max.