Otis

John and I have wanted a pet for FOR-EVER.  But, with travel and distance and weddings and moving and holiday travel, we decided that after the holidays would be the time to adopt a pet so we would have ample time to bond and get the animal used to his or her new home.  He wants another puppy very badly.  He had a yellow lab puppy that he had to give away to his commander's son before he PCS'd to Kuwait.  It was very heartbreaking for him and he still gets updates on Davis.  He now knows that if we get a dog, I will be here to help take care of it if he has to leave again.  But again, with so many moves up and coming, we decided that this might not be a good time.  We have wanted a kitty for a while too, so a kitty is what we adopted for an overall "lower maintenance" pet.  We have been looking at kitties for MONTHS at PetSmart and, as luck would have it, found one we liked on our second trip after we got home from Colorado after Christmas.

His name is Otis.  He's a 6 month old neutered male from a shelter about 100 miles away in Illinois.  PetSmart hosts different shelters for 2 week stints to help the adoption process.  His momma was a stray.  Little did we know we ended up adopting the rare squeaking ninja cat.

He's charcoal gray, so in the shadows, he *really* blends in.  He also moves fairly silently throughout the house, so more often than not, it happens that we think we know where he is, only to find he has moved.  He was in the same room, then he's not.  He's under the bed, then suddenly under foot.  He's rarely vocal.  In fact, when he does meow, it's usually a squeak.  I have heard him full out meow, but that was under extreme duress.  He had snuck, ninja cat style, under the recliner and quickly let me know of his presence when I was unaware that I was squishing him as I put the foot rest down.  Other times, he'll open his mouth as if to meow and no sound comes out at all.

He has adapted very well to his new home and family and now it seems like we have had him all along.  This is a good thing, I expect.  He also has already earned numerous nicknames.

"Otis McGoatis"
"The Spunkmeyer"  (from Otis Spunkmeyer muffins and cookies)
"Squeaky McGee"
"Kit-ten"  (must be said in very distinct syllables)
"Crackhead"

The last name refers to habits that have developed.  He loves his toys.  We got him some feathers tethered to a rod, much like a fishing pole.  A fishing pole for cats.  We also got him felted mice.  He loves to bat them around and run around the house with them.  Even the feather bunch on the rod.  He'll get it in his mouth and trot around the house with the rod trailing behind him.  We usually find these items later "hidden".  Under John's desk, in our closet, under the coffee table, buried in a blanket, and most recently, tucked in a pocket of John's ACU pants, which were laying on the guest bed.  Anywhere he can put them.  But sometimes...he just runs around like a crackhead with a felted mouse in his mouth.

But he's affectionate, he's cute, he's soft, he's purry, he's interactive and loves to play, and he's loyal.

But maybe only because he knows we are the humans who feed him.