Saturday, July 26, 2008

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.

40 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Cameron! I am very happy that you rescued yourself.

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  2. Happy birthday, Cameron! You are a very smart kitty to pick such a good home.

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  3. Happy Birthday Cameraon!!!! YEAH.

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  4. Happy Happy Birthday Cameron, we are very happy you rescued yourself with a little help from Merci.

    We will take a slice of cake, we teleported over from the safari. Why don't you & the rest of the JFF gang teleport back with us, it is becoming a huge gigantic cat party (dogs are welcome too). ~Socks, Scylla & Charybdis

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  5. Happy Birthday, Cameron ... I remember bein' four years old. It's a furry good year full of fun stuff.

    Eat lots of Temptations an' turkey!

    DMM

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  6. Hi Cameron!!! Happy Birthday!!! We hope you have a fun day!!

    Wally, Ernie & Zoey

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  7. What a beautiful story! Jan is so good to take Cameron in and all the kitties to accept him. Happy Birthday Cameron! May you have many more.

    love & wags,
    River

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  8. w00f's JFF, happy mewoday to cameron...smart, knew when to leave his old house fur a new loving one..

    b safe,
    ~rocky~

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  9. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAMERON!! Jan, your stories give us tears.... you are just the best. Kisses, Cameron and all of you!

    xox
    Chef

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  10. Hi, "Happy B'day Merci and Cameron" a bit late--but MOM said it would be ok to say it anyway-
    she is always late lately, we think Jan might could share that thingie with her, if it would help.
    We hope you had great and fun days

    " Happy days ahead" we are so glad
    Jan gave you both " forever homes"
    Gentleannie, Gyp, and Mollie

    and MOM
    KC

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  11. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY CAMERON!! We are sorry to be a day late!!!

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  12. Happy Birthday Cameron. You are one smart kitty to know where the most wonderful people live and that they would take really good care of you..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

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  13. Happy Birthday, Cameron! You're one canny fellow to rescue yourself like that! I'm comin' over!

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  14. What a beautiful story.I'm very glad Cameron found such a great home with you he's a very lucky kitty :)

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  15. Hai! I so happy fur yoor 4th purfday! I sink dis a good day- sorry i late tellin yoo!

    HAPPY PURFDAY!

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  16. Happy 4th Birthday, Cameron! You story is a wonderful one -- it's so nice that you were able to pick your new home!

    (My 4th Gotcha Day was Friday, so we might be related!
    Binkies,
    Freckles

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  17. Happy Burfday, Cameron! You founded a superduper wunnerful fureffur home!

    Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

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  18. Happy Birthday Cameron!! You have such good taste in picking furrever homes. Way to go!
    :o) Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie

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  19. Happy Birthday Cameron!!! we are really glad to hear your story and really glad that you found a forever home!!!
    Your Friends,
    Sly and Kon

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  20. Happy Birthday Cameron!! You are a very very smart kitty to have chosen such a wonderful home for yourself! And I bet you have a great pal in Merci...

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  21. Happy Birthday Cameron. I'm 4 too.

    Hugs...G

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  22. Happy birthday, Cameron! What a great story you have!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  23. Happy Purrday, Cameron! :hugs:
    Not able to count ur toes is not that important compared to choosing ur forever home! And u did great! We are so happy to share in urs, Merci and Percy's birthday celebrations! What a month eh? :D
    Can we check out the fridge now? heh heh

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  24. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CAMERONNNNNNN
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

    That was a wonderful story about how Merci picked you out as her kittie friend. Perfect!
    Hope you have a nice birthday and glad that you liked the gifts.

    We have to run along now, we are in a little bit of hot water.
    Sassy, Momo, Opus & Roscoe

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  25. Sorry to be so late - but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY CAMERON!!!!!!!!!

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  26. Happy Purrfday Cameron! May there be many moer!!

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  27. Belated Happy 4th Birthday, Cameron :-D I am so happy you found such a good forever home.

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  28. I'm a couple of days late, but Happy Birthday, Cameron! You are one smart kitty to figure out that Merci had a better home than you did and to move in at just the right time.

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  29. happy belated birthday Cameron!! you are a smart kitty to rescue yourself. i am sorry your mommy went to the shelter, i'm sure she found a good forever home too.

    enjoy those great videos!

    PS Bendrix wants to pee in your old neighbor's lemonaid for taking your mommy to the shelter as your gift.

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  30. OMDawg! We've missed a few birthdays! Happy Happy birthday Cameron!

    Luf, Us

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  31. Happy Birthday Cameron...That was a lovely story about you....I am so glad to have met you, such a special kitty for sure and very very smart
    Deetzy

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  32. Happy belated purrfday Cameron and Merci.We know we're late but we hope you both had great days.

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  33. Happy birthday Cameron, and thank you so much for coming to check on us, for all your purrs and prayers and good wishes. We so appreciate it! :)

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  34. Happy belated purrthday, Cameron. Glad to se eyou had a good one!
    Purrrrrrs,
    Boni Maroni and the rest of the Hotties

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  35. Happy Birthday Cameron!! What a great story on how you picked your family! Hope you got lots of treats and pets!

    Hugs, Kodak

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  36. Happy Birthday Cam!
    What a wonderful story. Stubbornness and friends pay off!

    Purrs,
    Abby Normal

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  37. Happy belated purrfday, Cameron!

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  38. Ciao Cameron! We wanted to leave you a late birtday wish. Sorry we didn't leave one sooner, our human hasn't been giving much (if any) time on the computer. We hope that you had a wonderful day and that all of your birthday wishes come true.

    Buon compleanno!
    Love,
    Opus and Roscoe

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  39. Great story Jan. Cameron's mother went to my mother's house, not the shelter.
    Glad to heat that your animals are doing well.

    Tammy

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