Master's of the House
Friday, March 30, 2012
By: Meghan Quinn

When I was young I was not allowed to have a cat...

So a top priority for me when I moved out on my own was to get a cat. Unfortunately I never moved out on my own, I moved in with my boyfriend who is allergic to cats. In an amazing twist of fate, his former room mate had a cat so my boyfriend was already beginning to become desensitized. We went to the Humane Society on scouting trips once a week. I wasn't really sure what I was looking for since I had never had a cat before. I had grown up surrounded by dogs, birds, and pocket pets, and everything I had head about cats said they were not cuddly furry creatures my other pets were. I was a bit nervous at first, I wanted to make sure that the cat I took home would fit both for its sake and our own.
A month into our search I noticed a cat (not the little kitten I was looking for) that looked pretty rough. Upon closer inspection I noticed she was missing front leg, and that the amputation site was still not fully healed. My maternal side took over and I told my boyfriend that I wanted that cat. I was convinced that no one could take care of her as well as I could. A bit dubiously he agreed and we met Artemis (then Meeko). She was not the poor little wounded cat I had initially thought her to be. She was up and moving, even managing to jump up into our laps despite her obvious difficulties with balance. We both felt that this amazing cat had chosen us by the time we left.
We got our second cat Persephone (formerly Norma Jean) less than a month after Artemis. We both felt so guilty leaving Artemis home alone to go to work every day (I had been home for three weeks with her before starting back to work) that we started looking for a friend for Artie. I was on my own looking at a beautiful flame point male when Percy caught my eye. She was so small and graceful looking. I thought it was a bad idea, that I shouldn't even meet her since most cat owners will tell you two females not raised together are a bad combination, but I just couldn't get her out of my mind. I had to meet her. Well, the little brat stole my heart; I called my boyfriend and told him I was not leaving without her. When I brought her home, Artemis came over, hissed at Percy and smacked her with her one front paw, and they have gotten along ever since.
Now I can't imagine my life without my girls keeping me on my toes with mischief in the evening, and keeping the cold at bay at night with snuggles!