I'm pleased to introduce the newest member of our little family--Dignan...well, officially Dignan George...A.K.A. Dig, diggie-diggie-diggie, Digger, the Dig Meister, Diggie G (his rap name), Diggie Baby, Digatha, and whatever else we happen to come up with at the time.
A couple months ago a little kitten showed up at our door. It was cold that night and neither T nor I had the heart to leave it outside so we brought it in...and fed it...and watered it...and let it sleep with us at night. We posted 'Found' fliers at the local grocery store and put an ad up at the national on-line lost pet site. After a week we had about decided it was ours which was good because I had named him. I would pick him up, turn him on his back, cradle him like a baby and tell him, "I want to hug you and squeeze you and love you and call you George"...and thus we called him George. (Please, if you are a loony toons fan will you tell me how that saying really goes and which character said it. I can't remember.) The same day I decided to actually buy a few cat supplies the owner called and claimed him. I don't know about the boys but I was heartbroken. I had really gotten attached to the little thing...the sound of his little bell ringing through the house...the way he'd cuddle up on one of the kitchen chairs in the sun...the way he'd sleep under the blankets at my feet. There was a very tearful walk down the block to deliver him to his real home and at the time I told T that I would be going to Pet Smart the following weekend to get us a cat. Sometimes you don't realize what you're missing until you get it and then loose it again...and we were missing a pet...at least I was.
I didn't really commit to a serious pet search because it was too close to the holidays and I didn't have the extra money...and T wasn't totally sold on the idea. Then when my parents were down for Christmas my step-father spotted the cat food in the cabinet and I told him the story of how we had a cat for a week and how I'd really like to have another one but I just couldn't afford it. He said he wished he had known because the parents of one of his classmates had two cats they were trying to find a home for. They were moving into a small trailer and just didn't have room for the cats. He said he'd e-mail and find out if they had found homes for both the cats and I really didn't think much more about it. Then on New Year's Day my mom told me that my cat would be riding from Kentucky with my step-father's classmate.
I was a little worried at first because 1) T hadn't actually said I could have the cat and 2) we hadn't asked our landlord if we could have a pet in the home. After much begging (but not as much begging as I had to do for the Foo Fighters tickets) T agreed to let me have the cat if our landlord said it was okay. Because we have been such good tenants the landlord didn't have a problem with it...and didn't even charge us a pet deposit. Now the only issue was how we were actually going to get the cat to Lubbock. The cat rode from Kentucky to Dallas and has been staying with my parents for the past few weeks. When I went to Dallas last week I brought him back home with me.
He's sweet...and huge...and sheds like crazy...and has massive claws that he likes to use on the furniture...in other words this will be an adjustment for us. The B-Dog loves him but I can't say the feeling is mutual. Most of the time when B enters the room Dignan quickly exits. And the B-Dog has been quite upset that Dignan won't sleep with him. I assured him that with time Dignan would get used to him and would change his mind...god, I certainly hope so...
Oh and about the name...Dignan is Owen Wilson's character's name in the movie Bottle Rocket (one of my favorites). There was some debate over the name. I wanted Dignan. The B-Dog wanted George. I didn't want George because we had already had a George...the B-Dog quickly reminded me that we didn't have a George...George's real name was Church (we found that out when we took him back to his owner)...he's such a smarty pants. So we ended up compromising on Dignan George.
For a few more pictures of Mr. D. George click here.
oh, what a handsome boy!! he has such beautiful blue eyes. i just want to smooch his face to bits!
Posted by: leah | February 05, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Congrats on the new addition to your family. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | February 03, 2008 at 07:49 AM
He is a beauty. And he's gone through a tremendous upheaval. Not only did he leave his home and companions (both human and feline) but he endured two car rides and is now living with a child. I'd say give him plenty of space and time to adjust. He's still stressed but cats are stoic and don't show their discomfort until it's at crisis level.
And I can't stress enough the importance of buying quality catfood. It is much more expensive and you won't find it at the grocery store but you'll be rewarded with a healthier animal and a silky coat.
Sorry if I sound at all patronizing. I just look at all life forms as equal entities with equal rights, period. Can you tell I'm from San Francisco?
And ... one last bit and then I'll shut up. You did a wonderful thing by adopting a cat in need. There are always plenty out there. There's never a need to purchase an animal at a pet store.
Best of luck. Treat this animal with respect and he will return it in kind.
Posted by: Franca Bollo | February 02, 2008 at 07:45 PM
kitties are the BEST!
xoxo
Posted by: schmoops | February 01, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Oh, what a beautiful face!
Posted by: Delia | February 01, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Ohhhh...there's nothing like a good cat. He's just so handsome. I love long-haired cats, but I know the hair can be a problem...but still, a small price to pay for such a good kitty friend, right?
Posted by: Sam | January 31, 2008 at 04:22 PM
i am pretty sure that
the george scene of looney tunes
fame is the abominable snowman...
and he is holding bugs bunny, i think...
although there may be more than one scene
with this being said...but this
was what comes to mind for me.
and a kitty! so cute!
Posted by: gkgirl | January 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM
What a beauty! And how lucky his is to have found a wonderful new home and family.
Posted by: Jamie | January 30, 2008 at 12:23 PM
awwwwwwwwwww .. he's adorable!
Posted by: daisies | January 30, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Any pet will thrive with lots of love and good food. My cat, Olivia, lived for 21 years. One of the best friends I ever had!
Posted by: Victoria | January 30, 2008 at 06:03 AM
he is so cute...
and i bet he will start to settle in soon...
(when we rescued millie, the rescue lady told me: 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. meaning those are the timelines for when adjusting gets easier and easier for everyone in the family)
Posted by: liz elayne | January 29, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I believe the George scenario originates from a Steinbeck novel. I was thinking it was Grapes of Wrath, but I'm not sure. If I come across it, I'll forward it on.
Posted by: Patti | January 29, 2008 at 09:42 PM
He's a gorgeous cat. Give him time - he might mellow. I say that with experience to back me up. Miss B was an agressive cat for far too long. Didn't like kids or visitors, thought I was her unappreciative slave. She's much sweeter now. I've heard male cats are more affectionate than female. I'd say you've got a good chance of having a good pet. Maybe he's just pissed off from the car ride.
Posted by: deirdre | January 29, 2008 at 09:33 PM