koopa

When Liam was six, Aunt Bethany got him an excellent birthday present: Charlie. We took some flack from people for getting an animal for a birthday gift. "What are you going to do when Max turns six?" the people sneered. "Buy another dog? Good luck with that!" Well, as luck would have it, Max and Charlie, well ... they're not such good friends. So when his sixth birthday rolled around in February, Max asked for a kitten. And as they often do, my parents just happened to have a couple of cats gestating at the time. We had to wait for them to finish baking and get weaned, and my dad and Loni and Klaudia put in a lot of time making sure the kittens were all socialized instead of feral, child-hating felines. And Sunday afternoon the whole plan came to fruition when we brought home the cat Max had picked out. Her name is Koopa, and she is completely adorable, as you can plainly see.

So far, Koopa has adjusted really well to her new home. It helps that Max and Liam are home for the summer to play with her all day long. At night, she goes upstairs with them (our bedroom being the territory of Greta and Dora, who will not hesitate to defend it), chooses a boy, and curls up with him. She likes to switch things up. Koopa is a good climber and is particularly fond of climbing up my bare leg, which I thoroughly "enjoy." So far, she and Charlie seem to be pretty comfortable interacting with each other, and I suspect they will be great friends. Greta, the alpha cat, has done a little warning hissing, but mostly just gives the little one the side-eye before strolling contemptuously away. Dora seems cautiously accepting of Koopa, probably because we've brought home three tiny humans and a dog since she joined our family, so her resistance is worn down. At least this time we brought home someone she can relate to.

Curiously, Liam has fallen faster and harder for Koopa than Max, who seems way more interested in playing video games than in playing with his kitten. Tonight, Liam asked Loni who she likes better, Charlie or Koopa. "Well," Loni said, trying to be diplomatic. "I'm really more of a cat person." Liam thought about that for a minute, then sighed. "I used to think I was a dog person. Then I got Charlie." He's told me a couple of times this week that he wishes he could get a kitten too, and tonight he told Loni that he would be happy to trade Charlie in for a feline model (not happening).

And as for Henry, he too is under Koopa's spell. He keeps asking if he can get a kitten of his own. And you know what I tell him? "Of course, Henry. For your sixth birthday." Thank goodness that's still three-plus years away!