Good Kitty

Originally posted 09/16/2008
We recently adopted another cat into the household. Some friends were having allergy issues and asked us to take in their kitty. We already have a cat named Tess. Tess was perfectly happy being the sole feline, but we decided to "do the right thing" and add this one to the mix. She has very long hair and always looks a little startled. She came with a name but I soon nicknamed her "the rat" as she tended to scurry quickly through the house, trying to avoid us and Tess. As the weeks have passed, Tess has gone from despising to tolerating the rat. The rat even occassionally enters a room to be with us. Now, Tess has some issues regarding food. She's a tad overweight and tends to watch her dish pretty closely. She's always eaten her food quickly and the addition of the rat has only exacerbated this. Often, this rapid intake is followed by an equally rapid expulsion. This morning was one of those times. As I was enjoying my coffee I could hear Tess wolfing down the food I'd just put in her dish. Soon there came a pause followed by the unmistakable sounds of a wretching cat - nothing quite like it. I made a mental note that I should probably clean it up. Then something both wonderful and disgusting happened. The rat appeared and took it upon herself to do the "clean up". I think I like the rat.