Orange Kitty

Five years ago my son created an orange cat at Build-A-Bear that he named, "Orange Kitty."

Filling orange kitty with stuffing.

He has wanted a real orange kitty ever since, of course. At the time, we lived in an apartment and couldn't have a real pet. Since then, we have moved into a real house and he has collected a baby sister. Despite my pointing out that a baby sister was way better than an orange kitty, and despite the fact that I did get him two pet frogs, my little man still dreamed of having his very own orange kitty.

My friend Julie rescues feral kittens and domesticates them. I thought perhaps if an orange kitty came along that we might adopt one of hers. Which we did. The first time I saw a picture of the orange kitty Julie had rescued, I knew he was the cat for us.

Not too bright, but just right for us.

Sadly, when we adopted orange kitty who my son named Obi-Wan Kenobi, the kitty hid in our basement for about three weeks. I was stressed that we were going to wind up with a cat who hated us. I was sad to think we wouldn't have a kitty to cuddle and shower with affection.

I read everything you could read about domesticating a feral cat. I was almost ready to give up on this cat ever loving any of us when I read that some cats take three months, six months or even years before they decide to accept their humans. But then one day they will show up on your lap and you have a furry friend for life.

When I read that, I knew I would wait for Obi-Wan Kenobi to come to us on his own terms. Well, sort of. Then I spoke to my sister who is the cat whisperer and she said, "You just need to grab him and love him." So I did.

Obi hugging me.

Soon, Obi was not only loving me, but loving everyone in the house. He let Grace love him. Sort of.

Sweet little nonconsensual hugs.

He loved Max whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Opportunistic snuggler.

And he even loves my husband despite the fact that he was not a cat person prior to this. 

It pets the kitty or else it gets the hose again.

Obi has taken on many of our interests now that he's a part of the family. He enjoys gaming with Max.

Obi is rooting for the Detroit Lions in Madden Football.

He enjoys playing with Grace's accessories.

Cat burglar.

And he enjoys keeping an eye on our street.

Obi on neighborhood watch.

Although I do have to admit, some of his hobbies and interests are a mystery to us. The chasing after invisible things for no damn reason and racing around the house confuses us. As does the meowing in the middle of the night. And the begging for food. Cats are strange. We like them that way, of course, as they are endlessly entertaining. But sometimes, when I feel a little paw patting my face at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning because someone thinks it's time for breakfast, sometimes I think he could be a little less interesting.

This is not normal.

Grace certainly seems to agree.

"Look, cat. Only one of us can be the center of attention in this house and it's me."

But it's safe to say that Obi-Wan Kenobi has made cat people of us all. And we've made a people kitty of him.