The Great Cat Compromise

Hello everyone.  Margo here.

Let me set the scene.

Cedar City, Utah.   A bright sunny day in September 2015  The whole crew is here for a gas leak survey of the town (see our Cedar City Post).  While the guys are at work the ladies decide to take a trip to the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum.  They enter the museum and as Margo is signing the guest book, a kitten jumps up on the desk:

Act 1: 

Margo:  "Oh, look! What a cute kitten!"

Park Ranger:  "Yes.  He's been here for about a week.  He's precious but we just can't keep him.  He needs a good home."

Margo:  "Hmmmm..."

The little fluff ball of black and white rubs against her hand and follows her throughout the museum.

Act 2:  Later that afternoon, as Kevin returns home from work

Margo: "Hi Honey.  There's something at the museum we visited today that I need you to go look at.

Kevin:  "I'm really tired and had a long day.  What is it"?

Margo:  "Well actually, it's a kitten that needs a good home."

Kevin:  "Absolutely not!"

Act 3:  Later that evening

Co-Worker Mike:  "So Kevin, I see ya got a cat."

Kevin:  "Yeah.  We compromised.  She wanted the cat.  I didn't.  So we got the cat."


That's how it really went.  Let me introduce Oreo Meowseum Mason - Rio for short.  I know, Oreo is spelled with an "e" and we call him Rio with an "i" but who cares.  It's my cat. 

As I write this at the end of October, not only has he grown in size but he has grown in our hearts.  Even Kevin loves him but he just won't admit it to anyone.

Our little fluff ball, who, when I first saw him had really big paws, has now grown into them.  With his muscular body structure, extra soft, long hair, bushy tail and unique markings we wondered what kind of cat he was.  We researched and found that he is a Turkish Van which neither of us had ever heard of.  It's a rare breed named after a lake in Turkey.  He fit the profile perfectly with his friendly disposition, love of water (he plays in his water bowl and in the sink) and physical size being well on his way to the reported 16 pound average and length of 3 feet.  Did I mention that LuLu is only 25 feet long?

We were worried about how he would do traveling.  We have been known to take long trips (one of Kevin's arguments) but we got lucky and he is an excellent traveler.   He never complained and was content to look out the window and enjoy the scenery.  He spent most of the time in a small cardboard box without a lid, that we affectionately called his car seat, but would voluntarily alternate to his expensive, stylish cat carrier (door open all the time).

Cruzin" Cat

Nap time somewhere in Texas (note "car seat box"

He's adapted very well to the trailer lifestyle.  He's chosen a few purr-fect cat perches and window seats.  He's also doing very well on his halter and leash training for going outside.

Final Scene:

Rio settles in for yet another cat nap.

 


In-Joy,
Margo