Here's the thing

I know, I promised that I would write about the kittens. The kittens that aren't kittens any more as they are now almost 4 and 5.5. :)
So, we got the kittens when our girl, Qwill, was diagnosed with skin cancer. Husband pretty well freaked out and decided we had to get the new generation started so Sam wouldn't be left alone when she died. That was almost four years ago and we have four alive and well kitties. We are happy about the four kitties. They are our babies. I am getting side tracked.

First of all we went to some shelters around town. We both believe that you always adopt in twos so they have friends and can gang up together. None of the shelters had kittens, or cats for that matter, who really connected to us. So off we went to animal control. They had TONS of cats and kittens there and I quickly became interested in one little girl, but she wasn't calling to me, I just thought she was pretty. She was black but when you looked at her or pet her she had white roots. Plus the volunteer told us that she wasn't 18 months yet and already had a litter of kittens. I was so excited to have a new little slut kitten I couldn't even tell you! While I was flirting with my little oddity, husband was finally paying attention to a Siamese grey Tabby mix. We didn't really look at him because we didn't want the Siamese attitude problem that we had heard so much about. Husband reached into his kennel and met the sweetest most cuddly cat we had ever seen. He was a year and a half so we were a little worried about that.

Well, we ended up adopting our little slut, who we named after a porn star we like, Bella, and our new cuddle monster who we eventually named Links. He has this cool tattoo pattern on his forehead so I thought he might be a little gangster. So Links for the chain link fences. Aren't we cool!

Anyway, Bella and Qwill HATED each other from first sniff. We put Bella and Links in the guest bedroom to get the sniffing and relaxing over with. Bella was not very nice to Links in that room, but after a few days when we allowed them all to mingle, I thought our two girls would kill each other.

I asked my mom to please take Bella off our hands as she only had one cat, and we started the search for another boy.  We realized through the experience of Bella there really was a difference with the breeds. We really wanted another Mainecoon to have that laid back accepting nature that we already had with Sam.

After some good internet searches we found the spitting image of Sam online. His picture looked like Sam looking back at us. So off we went to check out Basil. Now I can't have food names for cats, just seems weird.

He didn't want us to hold him on his back at first, but he relaxed into it. He was a little jittery and unsure but he allowed us to cuddle and hold him so we decided to give it a try. We brought him home and put him the the guest room with Links.

At this time Scott and I were taking turns sleeping in the guest room with Links. Now this is where Links bloomed. He would keep you awake all night with the cuddles. He would flop onto your hands for scritches and he would purr and make a fool of himself. This made it clear we had made the right choice adopting Links. When Tobi (at that time still vaguely Basil) went into the room with Links it was all very calm. You could hear them walking around under the bed, sometimes a little scuffle but nothing big. They both came up to cuddle with us but were mostly figuring each other out.

I had the first night in the room with both of the boys. Let me tell you the fight they had under the bed, in the closet, and many times running over me jumping on my gut in the process, well it was impressive to say the least. The room at the time was full of boxes so I couldn't do anything to stop it. So I just tried to sleep and deal with it in the morning.

So the next morning I wake up to two cuddly kittens giving each other a bath.

Here is the thing about Links. He is unsure of himself in a crowd, but alone he knows he is great. He likes the one on one cuddles, he will draw you away from the crowd to get his own special cuddles. He will sit at the highest place and wait alone for us to notice he is in a good spot. He is basically shy, and would be a great only cat, or maybe with just one other passive cat.

Tobi is a force of Nature. He comes at you full force and thinks he can win you over by sheer force of will and personality. Did you notice the intentional use of the word FORCE three times, I meant it. Basically that night he was jumping on Links and chewing on him all night until Links gave up and decided it would be easier to love him then to fight him forever.

We have since seen this tactic with Sam who gave up just as quickly. Within a day or two, Sam and Tobi were cuddling and giving each other a bath. Links and Sam have more of a power struggle relationship. Sam wants to show he is the alpha, and Links just wants to cuddle with him.

Now Qwill has not been so easily swayed. Qwill likes Links very much, they get along and can be in the same room. It has been four years and Tobi is still trying his bite her in the ass, swat her in the face with all his might, or jump on her back while she is running away ploys... it is not working. It has been so bad that at the beginning of their time with us, Qwill started being more of a bitch than normal, and she started calling them "The Bastards" when she was walking down the hall, or trying to get away.

I know she can't talk people. I know cats can't talk, but if you were in the house when Qwill got her pissy on you would understand what I mean. She has a way of invading your brain and meowing in a specific way that makes you understand. SHE TALKS and she named them "The Bastards." Here is what I mean for example:

Imagine if you will a cute cuddly Qwill innocently walking down the hall, you see her through the door frame into the kitchen. Seconds later you see the flying squirrel pose so expertly fashioned by an over excited Tobi. One millisecond later you hear the screams of frustrations of a girl who was simultaneously jumped on and bit in the butt. Then a rant fills your brain telepathically as you walk into the office to force Tobi to leave her alone, all to his batted eyelashes of innocence and "what I didn't do anything", and you see Qwill climbing up onto her sanctuary behind the monitor on Husbands desk:

"Those little basters make my life miserable. I was just fine with Sam and Mom and Dad, and then those little bastards came in here and ruined everything, (Meow) You could kick those Bastards outside and everything would be fine you know. Stupid Bastard biting my butt, and attacking by air. Who attacks by air. (Meow) Why don't you get rid of those Bastards Mom!!!! Come over here and pet me for the love of God! I was just bit by a Bastard in the ASS. (While being cuddled soft innocent eyes looking adoringly at me) Mom, can't we go back to the old way and get rid of those Bastards. it was so much better before...."

Then I gently remind her that we got the little bastards because of her, and now they are here and she needs to make nice.

It is funny. We will be sitting in the room with all of the boys in sight and Qwill will start to throw a fit like she is being attacked. We yell at her, "we know you are fine, knock it off," and the Rant starts again. "Stupid bastards!"

So needless to say we call our Cats, Sam, Qwill and the Bastards. It is a wonderful home.

Notice chew marks on Links neck from where Tobi had just been attacking.

Dd I mention that I am allergic to cats? Oh well, I love my babies.