From commentor MEM:
Good Queen Bess (usually just Bess, unless she’s being regal) was found wandering the streets of Dorchester in 2008, matted and scared, by the Animal Rescue League. I had seen one more article in The Boston Globe about how full the animal shelters were getting, as more and more people had to move due to foreclosures or job losses. I decided it was time to adopt. Going to the shelter is tough. There are so many sweet animals there, and you want all of them. Of course, the kittens make you melt. But I decided I didn’t want the kitten crazies at this point. I wanted a more sedate older kitty, to match my more sedate lifestyle.
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I saw Bess. Her cage tag said “lap cat”. They estimated that she was about 3 years old. She’d been at the shelter almost 3 months. She was very slinky and soft, and loved to be petted. She liked to be brushed (whew). I always wanted a calico (or money cat, as we called them growing up)—because I love genetics and the story of X-inactivation. And those super-furry powder-puff paws are irresistible. We signed the papers, got chipped, and went home that day.
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She cried a bit at first. She was missing someone. But after the first month she seemed to warm up to me fully. She gets on the bed in the morning and puts the powder puff on your cheek, accompanied by a laser beam stare. You have to laugh because it’s so gentle, yet so clear. And starting your day giggling is not a bad way to begin. The same furry paws are a riot on the wood floors too. She has no traction, which makes running look like Wile E. Coyote. Once she does get purchase, she can’t stop—so it also means that sliding into area rugs functions as her braking system. Every rug in the house is has become a trip hazard for the humans–none of them have been flat all day for 2 years now.
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Adopting an adult kitty was exactly the right thing for me. And we’ll still have years together, giggling and tripping around the house. And fighting over the appropriate use of the Wii Fit.
stuckinred
Sweet kitty!
Mary G
Queen Bess is beautiful, thanks.
Phyllis
Calicos are so beautiful. Great story.
Southern Beale
Ah yes, the Wii Fit cat bed … we bought one of those …
JPL
Cats rule. My sons cat who has been visiting has taken over the household.
Josie
What a pretty girl. I love calicos. Also love the furry feet on wood floors. I had a little persian who amused herself sliding down a long hallway and around corners. She got really good at doing turns.
Ash Can
What a lovely kitty!
And I must say once again that pet stories first thing in the morning are one of the best things about this great blog. Hats off to Anne Laurie and all the contributors for doing this.
Carnacki
What a dear, lovely lady she is.
Annie
A beauty, and I love the part about the rugs.
Kristine
“All your flat surfaces am belong to me.”
What a pretty girl. Thanks for the story.
mem from somerville
Awww…my furry kitteh is the highlight today! What a day brightener.
She is a darling. She has the absolutely sweetest disposition. Even the vet laughed when she was getting a vax and Bess gave her a swipe that was such a harmless warning nibble.
And it remains hard to get time on the Wii.
But thank god for Roomba, I will add. Wow.
CayPDX
we call that “rearranging the rugs”
Beth
What a beautiful girl — thank you for sharing. We had a calico like her when I was growing up. Dumber than a box of rocks (too much inbreeding) but just gorgeous. I now have a dilute long-haired calico who is in my lap right now. She is a powder puff too and very attached to me. She was a rescue from animal control when she was about two years old. I love her the most of all our five kitties (shhh – don’t tell the others.) :)
tesslibrarian
Awww…this is why I want another long-haired cat. They are so gentle, and they learn to spin-out on the hardwood in an impressive fashion.
Mine used to want me to roll over a bit so she could lie in a warm spot. She would gently tap at my face with her powerderpuff paw until I pulled back enough for her to lie down in a preheated spot. She was 15 before it woke me up enough to realize she’d probably been doing it since she was 7 weeks old.
You and Bess sound like a happy pair. I’m so glad the right person rescued her!
AliceBlue
She’s gorgeous. I hope you and sweet Bess have many more years together.
asiangrrlMN
Queen Bess is so lovely and regal. Great story.