Day 98 – Cats, no cats, cats, no cats.

After Melba died last Dec, Doug and I agreed that when we got another cat we would get two kittens to allow the boys to each have one of their own.  My understanding is that we would wait until Winter so the boys would be somewhat trapped inside to spend time with the cats.  Doug of course could not wait and when I came home the other day both boys were sitting on his lap at the computer and I was greeted with “Mommy, come see the kittens Fuji and Everest.  They are so cute and are available at the Arlington animal shelter.”  Thanks Doug.  So knowing when I am beat and don’t have the energy to “fight” something Doug obviously is going to keep talking about until he wears me down, I agree for the family to go look at the kittens. First thing I noticed when they let them out to meet us…kittens are very small and very fragile.  Second thing I noticed, Lukie is not so small next to the kittens and although very loving, not so aware of kittens fragility.  I asked if we could look at some older kittens (all of 4 months old), but got protests from Doug.  So we had the boys pick out two and put in the adoption papers.  Arlington County smartly then has a 24 hour wait period (to probably check and make sure we don’t have a bad history with animals).  They also handed me a 4 page document on how to kitten proof your  home.  Crap, I thought we were done with this kind of stuff and kitten proofing seems much harder than kid proofing.  Anyway, boys all excited.  I hesitant and  selfishly thinking about all the ways this is going to complicate my life.  I walk into the house the next morning after my run to Doug looking very worried.  He has slept on it and thinks we need to wait at least a year on the kittens.  He is leaving for Ohio for two days and wants to tell the boys before he leaves.  He tells boys.  Boys seem OK.  Doug leaves.  Samson cries for the next two nights.  I may just go to the shelter myself and get the older kittens if they keep bugging me about it, but at least for the time being, I don’t have to stay up all night kitten proofing the house.