Cameron Turns 4

Jan actually remembered today is Cameron's birthday. A little late in the day, and with a little help from us, of course, after she totally blew Merci's big day. Cameron is a little shy about telling his story, so we're going to let Jan do it for him. We borrowed his story from a post on her journal. But first --

Cameron, we love you, even if you can't count past your toes. We're glad you decided to come live with us and we're sorry for all the teasing we've done over the years. You've been a good sport. So .....

Happy 4th Birthday, Cameron!

Cameron was one of five kittens born to the neighbor’s cat. For weeks, I couldn’t walk Merci near the neighbor’s house without the dog begging to visit the mother and kittens on the front porch. She was disappointed each time a kitten disappeared to a new home. Cameron was to remain as a companion to his mother, but she began to wander and Cameron was alone much of the time.

He started sleeping in a flowerpot on my porch and following Merci on our morning walks. One day he begged to come inside. Merci was so excited she jumped up and down, practically stomping Cameron under her feet. My cats’ hissing and growling spoke clearly that Cameron wasn’t welcome. He left with alacrity when I opened the door.

Still, one day he walked in with his friend Merci, climbed onto the dryer and lay down in front of the food and water bowls, where the other cats had to climb over him to eat and drink. That certainly raised the noise level around here, but he stuck it out, until one by one over the course of several weeks the other cats accepted his presence.

I carried him home several times the first week. He would return, staring through the screen door with such sad eyes, I would relent and open the door to let him back inside. When his mother came into the yard, I thought he might return home with her. They chased each other around a bush a few times before Cameron ran to the back door. Then he returned to his mother, rubbed his nose against her nose in farewell, and raced up the steps after me. A few days later, I spoke to my neighbor and Cameron officially became Merci’s companion and playmate.

A few days later, the neighbor's wife took Cameron's mother to the animal shelter. So, basically, Cameron is a rescue; he rescued himself. Otherwise he would have ended up at the shelter too.

UPDATE: We've heard from our ex-neighbor. She left a comment, "Cameron's mother went to my mother's house, not the shelter." That's good news! But we wish she had left her email address.

And now, let's cut the birthday cake! (Merci's and Percy's are in the picture, but we already ate those two.) Help yourself to a slice or two of cake. Sassy baked it.


Sassy also sent him a set of very appropriate kitty videos. Appropriate, as in she is currently on an African safari with Momo, Opus & Roscoe.

Any of you want to watch one? Or two? We can toast some Temptations and raid the fridge. We have ham and turkey. And we saw some..... Oh, we're not going to tell you. You'll have to come see for yourselves.