There can be no other description for this precious little bundle of fur.
I did not really intend to get her. I had planned to go to the pet shop and see what they had. I was actually hoping for a puppy. The pet shop had no stock, but a lady was there with her son and three kittens.
I didn’t even see the third one until I was ready to leave with the goods I had purchased. There was one white kitten, with a small brown patch. Then, there was Gem. The third was clearly bred from a Siamese with most of the typical markings.
You would be forgiven for thinking that a connection was made the moment that I picked her up. She curled up on my shoulder, shivering in fear, completely overwhelmed by the day’s activities. I bought a whole bunch of stuff for her and by the time we left, she had crawled over my shoulder and settled on my cushion behind my back. By the time we got back to the bus to go home, she had wedged herself between my back and the cushion and was fast asleep.
When we got back to the house, everyone wanted to see and hold her and she let her dislike be known mewling loudly and checking where I was.
Today, I have spent very little time on the computer. Gem has considered my bed her safety zone and does not like being moved very far from it. She gets extremely vocal when going outside. The big wide world is extremely daunting for one as small as herself.
Gem has already fallen asleep in my lap as I finish off this entry. Considering it is back to work in the morning, and an early start, I should heed her advice and get an early night …
It's my life ... 
Glad to know you have a new friend.
I hope she can sheath her claws – my tomcat never learnt to!
I am sure she will be great to have around.
I have several scratches on my right arm, bearing testimony that she has a lot to learn. As for tomcats, we have one at the house as well, which is why Gem is safely shut away in my room with all her comforts…
I’m so glad for you. Gem sounds like she was meant to be with you. I wis you many happy hours with her 🙂
I got my pitch black kitty last year June @6wks from Cat Care… nobody can tell me that you cant train a cat – as my Peanut comes running like a dog when I call her and she understands every word that comes out of my mouth 🙂
I love her to bits.
I found after keeping her indoors for a very long time, about 3 months (also in a room at first), that she’s not a roamer, and she comes quickly when she’s called.
My only suggestion to you is to have her spayed asap to keep the tom away from her.
I look forward to more of your Gem stories 🙂
Shaz
Hey Sharon
I have had that comment from several people – that she was meant for me.
I’ll tell you tomorrow whether the idea with the bag works or not and will definitely keep you updated with more stories – and hopefully a few pictures to go with.
As for that Tom, apparently, males kill kittens that are not their own offspring, which is why I’m so careful to keep her safe. I have already seen him slinking around the room once. Another reason why I hope the bag idea works too…!
Take care
T
Hi Trudie!
This is the type of story that warms my heart. I was everything BUT a cat fan when my path crossed with a grumpy, weatherbeaten and extremely self-reliant cat crossed my path. He was a company mascot named “CompuCat”. Being one of the first on site and usually last to leave, I used to feed “the thing”. Before long, this cat “chose” me. In winter he would lie over my arms while I’m coding away. If I moved him, the lap got selected. Eventually I homed him and named him Purrkins after his very loud V8-purrmotor.
That cat is single-pawdedly responsible for turning me into the devout cat person I am today. Hearing a story like this does indeed warm my heart.
Please do keep the kitten confined to the house initially. So many foreign smells, sights and sounds will frighten her. She doesn’t know where home is, or rather which way (yet) so she does need to be “anchored” by giving her a fair bit of time confined to the house. I’ve just moved to Cape Town and all of my cats have now been confined to a single room for the past 3 weeks (already a week longer than planned). Once we’ve cleared some of the clutter from boxes and packages lying around, I’ll let my cats out to explore the house and keep them confined to the house. Only after 2-3 weeks of that will they be allowed outside again.
Having a kitten is one thing, but honestly it cannot compare to being there when they’re born; watching the mommy look after them and, eventually, how they’re taught to start exploring.
I need to cut myself short. I can write volumes about this. Enjoy your new best friend, and don’t forget “There’s nothing better than a Rub-A-Tum tum”….
Watch out for my next blog entry, where I want to tell more about the cats I’ve encountered. I’ve never been against cats. Just frustrates me that they prefer just one person. Unlike dogs that love everybody.