Remember Pretty Kitty?

Remember Pretty Kitty from my post "Are You Barking at Pretty Kitty?" Well, Pretty Kitty may act a little arrogant around other animals...okay, he's just plain obnoxious around other animals.  But when it comes to people, Pretty Kitty makes Cary Grant look awkward and unrefined!  Pretty Kitty knows how to walk that fine line between charming and needy.  He's just a cool cat!  He likes people and it shows.  When he looks at you  it's almost like you can hear him say, "Of all the people in the world,  I like you the best!"

But Pretty Kitty is not my cat.  He's a neighborhood cat that we all love.  He likes the freedom of being outside and running and stalking voles in the backyard. 

Last week it turned really cold here.  Nighttime temperatures dropped into the teens.  Our friends, Montrue and Bill, being the kind people they are, had let Pretty Kitty inside their house to get warm.  There was only one problem.   Saga, their beautiful Saluki dog, hates Pretty Kitty.  Pretty Kitty would sit in front of the french doors to the study where Saga sleeps.  I think Pretty must have smiled as he mentioned with his kitty telepathy how he had the run of the house. Saga answered with ferocious barking while attempting to dig a hole through the antique doors!   He really wanted to wipe that smile off Pretty Kitty's face!  These two are like oil and water.  They could never stay under the same roof!  What to do about poor Pretty Kitty?!

Montrue kept mentioning Pretty Kitty's plight to me and how she would let him stay with her if she didn't have the problem with Saga.  I would say, "He's not my cat.  I don't really want a cat."  Montrue would say, "I know, it's just a shame to see such a great cat have to freeze in the cold."  "I know, but he's not my cat.  I don't really want a cat." I would say again.  Then she said, with a slight twinkle in her eyes,"You know, Bill says, if Debbie was really a Christian, she would let Pretty Kitty stay inside at night." I gave her a look, "Yeah, right."

A week and a half ago, Pretty Kitty got in a fight and came around with a big gash in his head in front of his ear.  Montrue saw him first and washed him off and doctored him up.  It was a nasty cut and he looked so sad.  We were looking at his head a couple of days later...he was getting some better but had a long way to go.  Montrue, my good friend with a wicked sense of humor, said once again,"You know, Bill thinks if you were really a Christian you would let Pretty Kitty inside!"  This was followed by a sweet smile and look of innocence.

Last Tuesday night, I was in the kitchen when I saw Pretty at the back door looking in sadly from the cold.   I opened the door and Pretty Kitty came in with a frigid gust of wind.  I picked him up and told him he could sleepover.  I put him in the laundry room and went to the Dollar Store for kitty box, kitty litter, cat food, and a few toys.  He was one grateful kitty!

Since then, we've spent many hours together with him sleeping in my lap or following me from room to room. I've enjoyed his company.  He  now has the run of the house  and  enjoys  alternating between my lap and Chuck's.   Montrue and Bill are having a great time  chuckling over how ridiculously attached Chuck and I are going to be to Pretty Kitty before it's all said and done!

I guess a real Christian would let Pretty Kitty inside from the cold!  I guess love is sometimes inconvenient.   Sometimes it involves cat hair.  Sometimes you even have to buy a pooper scooper!  But then,  sometimes you get to hold a purring ball of fur in your arms like a baby and watch him sleep. And sometimes  you get to be loved back by a world-class charmer and genuine cool cat like Pretty Kitty.