Where the wild things are.
My brother came to town and he’s staying in my house. I love hanging out with him but it amazes me how adding one person to my household can totally screw up my very ordered day. But then it’s my brother so I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s always liked to screw with me.
There are twice as many dishes to wash, half as much food to go around (he eats everything in sight, like a WHOLE BLOCK OF CHEESE IN ONE SITTING!!!!) the bathroom stinks, his room stinks, he stinks (he can’t take a shower because he has a cast) and THERE ARE KITTENS IN MY HOUSE!!! That I am stuck feeding every four hours. How did that happen?!!!
But how could you be mad at this face, right? Of course I’m not. I might sigh heavily and make snarky remarks all the live-long day but I really do like having him around. I find myself forgetting to lock the door at night and then just shrugging, Eh, Shawn’s here. He’ll squash the bad guys with his bad breath.
There is something about my big, bad, little (he’s two years younger than me) brother that dispels all fear. He’s just one of those kind of guys. He can look at other guys and make them whimper in fear. He’s good to have around. Even Bug is minding better. My brother doesn’t even have to say anything, he just raises his eyebrow and she obeys.
Anyway, you’re probably wondering why there are kittens in my house. Wormy, little, sick, infant kittens with gooped-up eyes who need to be bottle fed. (Yes, we are washing our hands like crazy.) Here’s why: They were abandoned at my mom’s other property by a feral mother cat and we’re just taking care of them until my brother and my mom take a road trip back up to my brother’s home in northern California. He’s got a friend up there who wants them so we are taking care of them until they have a proper home and a much-needed trip to the vet.
It’s a lot of work but I have to admit I’m falling in love with them. We all are. They started purring this morning. Their little bellies vibrate your whole hand. It’s the cutest thing ever. I’ve gone around and around in my head, thinking that maybe it would be okay to keep one. But I just can’t do it. I’ve been down the long cat life with too many cats and it’s just too hard. They get so sick when they’re old. They pee on the carpet and that smell! It just never goes away.
I vowed to myself that I would never have another cat after we had to put Maddy down. We still have Pounce and Lily at Toby’s house and they are starting to show the signs of old age. It’s going to be hard to lose them. So, I don’t know…it’s such a tough subject for me. I want Bug to have the experience of owning a kitten at least once in her life but I just don’t know if now’s the time. I’m catted out. You know?
So we’re just enjoying the time we do have with them. And when I have to wake up at 3 a.m. to make them a bottle, I just remind myself that it’s only until Friday and then I won’t have to do it anymore.
It’s good having my bro’ around too. I’m going to miss the whole stinky lot.
OH! I almost forgot to add there are chickens here too! Weird stuff happens when my brother is around. Chickens, kittens…I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow there’s a donkey in my yard.
A neighbor in my mom’s neighborhood gave my brother two chickens for free. He’s going to take them up north and start a real farm I guess. So they’re hunting and pecking all the earwigs in my yard until they make the trip up north. That’s going to be one long interesting road trip.
I’ll be staying home, thankfully. Phew!
21 Comments
Jenni H.
Hooray for Family Adventures!
Madge
Dude, if you get a goat, I’m so there.
nicole@deliajude
it is never dull out there in the sticks. maybe you’ll like having chickens in your backyard…fresh eggs and all.
SAJ
I would! But it’s too hard to keep them separate from the dogs. We’re playing musical chairs at the moment. And we’re not zoned to have chickens. I have enough room for them though. But if a neighbor complained, I’d have the chicken police at my door.
bethany actually
My grandparents that lived in the town up the road from you had chickens when I was a kid, and my great-grandparents used to have ducks and geese! Boy, that really is the sticks, isn’t it? I never thought about it that way before. :-) Tell Shawn I said hello!
Kuky
Awwww baby kittens!! Being fed from tiny bottles!! So cute. I actually did make that Awwww noise in real life.
Dad
I was hoping to see the kitten with the Scottish Fold ears!
Mom said one of the chickens is a rooster?
Elaine
I haven’t been able to get a new cat since the last one was eaten by coyotes. I just don’t know how I could deal with that stress, always worried the new cat would get snatched. So yeah, I totally get it.
DeeJay
Loved this post. I agree with you that the kitties are way too loveable. I vowed I’d never own another and it has been about 15 years so far. Hang tight!
karen
Viva la “DryPro Cast Cover”!!! $40; waterproof enough to swim in the ocean with and also just fine for a shower. I used one when I broke my leg and am buying another this week for Lars, who broke an arm falling off his bicycle last Saturday. I refuse to be [insert any number of weeks here] weeks with a 10-year-old boy who “can’t” shower… :)
Plus? Kittens! Awwwww….
Susan:)
Whatever happened to wrapping a garbage bag around a cast? Does that not work anymore? Oh and your brother totally looked like Bug in that one picture! And kittens!!! I loooove kittens. I think cats are worth it personally. I couldn’t be without one.
TexasLea
Fun stuff! I have 3 big ol’ 2 year old boy kitties that we took in and bottle fed when they were just a few days old. I said at the time “I’ll find them a good home as soon as they’re weaned” little did I know that good home would be mine. :) I understand on the old kitty problems too. Last year we said goodbye to our 20 year old cat. With the three I have now, I too am swearing off cats for life after they are gone.
I also have chickens with dogs and I’m smack dab in the suburbs. Have you actually checked your animal ordinace on having them? Most cities do let you have a small number, just no roosters. When I get a chance I’ll take a few pictures of my coop and the girls and send them your way, I bet they will make you change your mind on having a couple! ;)
Like Susan, I was wondering about the garbage bag and tape trick. Or the very basic… hold that arm out of the shower and do your best with one hand routine. I couldn’t stand no shower cast or no cast.
Enjoy the time with your bro and the critters!
BeachMama
Nice to have your brother with you, must be hard to have him so far away after he was so close for a while. Hope his arm heals up quickly or else wrap it up with a plastic bag so he can shower, I did that back when I had a cast and mine was plaster instead of fibreglass.
Mrs. Wilson
Wow, that’s a lot of animals!! Your house will be SO quiet when they all go!
Laura
I just found four kittens that had been abandoned/orphaned a couple of weeks ago. They all weighed 6 to 10 ounces. For a couple of days I fed them and loved on them and knew that I had to give them to a cat shelter. I cried all the way there and my heart still breaks when I look at their pictures. Check out my Facebook – I wanted to keep Baxter, but I know I needed to be strong. One cat is enough, but they are so wonderful to love on! Enjoy each furry, fuzzy moment!
Heather in WA State
Brenda,
I’m with you on the middle of the night feedings. I’m a Humane Society Foster Parent and at the moment I have 4 kittens that I bottle fed from just a few days old. You can read about some of our adventures here:
http://kandas-adventures.typepad.com/kandas_adventures/kittens/
As for getting a cat for Bug, my last 2 cats lived with me for 18 years, so if you let Bug have a kitten today, she can take it with her when she goes off to college!
gingermog
I used to have a pet chicken as a child, her name was Betsy Cluck, Cluck she lived under the Rhododendrun bushes in our garden- which is why I can do a mean chicken impression. I hope you and Bug are enjoying the melee while it lasts :)
amy
Goes to show how responsible and grown up you are! I would see those kitty faces and say WANT!
Even if I am allergic, have two dogs and a husband who hates cats! Stay strong! (But if you cave I will completely understand!)
Emelie
This made me smile! It reminds me of when we nursed so many kittens! And JoJo, oh, my sweet JoJo.
jo's mom
we named the Chickens Petunia and Little Joe.
The kittens are Pudge/Banjo, Emma, and Sam.
mamalang
Love this post. I feel the brotherly/sisterly bond coming through.
And one long strange road trip? I agree, but that line made me laugh out loud.