We adopted on January 7th of 2012, our wonderful, beautiful girl cats, Polly and Jasmin. There shelter names were Laura and Carolina, respectively, but we changed their names after a few days of living with them and learning about their personalities and style a little more.
They are terrific and much loved and appreciated in their forever home with us! Attached are pictures that show them at least sharing and not being too fussy together, but the beginning few weeks and even months were rough! Oh, the fighting and hissing and scratching and yowling! BUT, over time, they have negotiated a way of life that they are both happy in and we can’t imagine ever, ever being without either of them. We went away for two days to a wedding in October and were just so nervous about how they would do, how much they might miss us, but they were just fine with a friend stopping by to look in and freshen their food and water, etc. Our friend even brought a book and sat on the couch for a while to read, and sure enough the girls came around to visit with her and Polly even hopped on her lap for a while.
They are goofy and energetic and wicked smart. They like to chase and play and while Polly is the more out-going “puppy-cat”, Jasmin is in her own way very loving and sweet and RUNS to the door when Mark comes home at the end of the work day for a few minutes of love and greeting on her special, blue cotton weave entry-way rug (we can’t ever get rid of her “blue zone” rug—seriously, when I wash it she is confused about why it’s not where it should be for the day!)—it’s her routine and you can’t cheat her out of it! Polly’s routine is just to be around all the time, sleeping with us, talking to us, waiting for us to finish our meals at breakfast and dinner because she knows that as soon as we clear plates, she’s allowed to get on that kitchen table (such a spoiled girl!) and have HER treat! At breakfast that’s a tiny bit of the leftover milk from a cereal bowl and at dinner that’s some Bonita fish flakes on a proper plate. Jasmin has gotten to like the after-dinner fish flakes, too, but she likes to have you wait on her and bring her little treat plate to her in the dining room, where she waits under the dining table!
Sometimes they tussle, but no one is hurting anyone and it’s mostly play and cat-tag. They love “Da Bird” and catnip and the diabolical laser pointer mouse. They play so hard that they have to eventually flop over onto their sides and just breathe deeply for a few minutes to catch their breath. And, often, they join forces to spy on the evil squirrels and birds they see invading their yard from their cat perches at a few different windows in the house. They do get some outside time with us, but ONLY accompanied and ONLY on extended leads—there is NEVER any “letting the cats out” or unsupervised outside time, period. And they have learned that when they see us bring out their harnesses and matching leashes, etc., it means some fun is about to begin! Although, we haven’t been outside since sometime in early November since the weather has been cold or wet, etc.—we’ll pick that back up in spring, when we can all enjoy the yard together. Polly likes to have us walk her around the yard, see the sights, but Jasmin likes to pick a piece of ground under some tall grass or a garden bench and just WAIT and WATCH for birds, etc. Polly is no slouch, but we can see Jasmin is the very serious, very skilled huntress!
We sometimes let them explore the garage for a few minutes and if we leave the car windows open in there, they will climb in and sleep on the seats for a while. They are generally good girls, too. We haven’t had too much problem with clawing, except on some of the wood trim around the doors, etc., but we are working on that and think they are getting better with using the scratching posts more often than not. They had a bad start with using the litter box appropriately, but got over that fast and are now perfect in that regard. And, for bonus points, they really didn’t bother the Christmas tree while it was up, which was a welcome relief. They now and then gave it a lick or a chew for a minute, made the bell ornaments jingle lightly, but generally weren’t interested in it. They listen pretty well and don’t try to sneak out the doors when they are opened, etc. Such good girls!
Polly is the more ordinary and sturdy looking cat: she’s more “cute” than “pretty”, although sometimes she just looks so sweet. Jasmin is just a beauty queen, through and through. Pol is more a tomboy cat and Jas is the classy lady. Polly is fearless of people of any size, gender, number, age, etc., who come to the house and she greets them immediately, while Jasmin is more cautious but does warm to people and even to young, energetic kids if they are here for at least a few hours and she has time to get used to them.
In short, we adore them and spoil them without any regret. They had their annual vet check and vaccinations on schedule in late October and they are doing very well and are in excellent health. Jasmin has really grown in the year and both girls weigh within about a half pound of one another and are roughly 10 lbs each, give or take. Their coats are silky and their eyes are bright.
Thanks to HSP for giving us these little joyful hearts of our home!
The Polito Family
