by Jessica Capelle

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Cats are truly amazing creatures. They definitely have a bad stereotypical image going, though- the aloof king of the castle attitude springs to mind. A hissing, unfriendly, shedding monster that doesn't do anything but lie around in the sun all day and does not come to you when you call. But cat owners know better. It's the great secret. There are cats like that. However, the vast majority of cats will love on you like a dog, yet not require your constant attention, and you can leave them alone while you're at work without worrying about your shoes being eaten. Perfect!

I wanted a kitten for quite some time and finally started looking during the summer of 2005. I didn't want to deal with the spraying and aggressive behavior I thought was common with males (our family had females). But I'm telling you, there were none to be found in Jacksonville that summer. Every phone call made in reference to a classified ad yielded nothing but "sorry" or "I have some boy cats". This did not improve my already tested mood. I was due to have outpatient surgery shortly and was exhausted and sad. I was working too many hours, trying to studying for a licensing exam, and dealing with horrible pain every day. In the evening, I'd just come home and curl up on the couch or bed- it was all I could do not to cry at the end of each day. And all I wanted was a little princess to curl up with.

I could picture it perfectly: a tiny ball of fluff, mewing softly and purring like a motor. I wanted so desperately to have a little angel to cuddle with while I recovered. But I was giving up hope of finding her as I went to work the day before my surgery. Little did I know that divine intervention was working to give me what I wanted.

A few days before this, my roommate and I were looking at a cat breed book. I cooed over the beautiful cats in the book. He finally asked me, "If you could pick one" Well, how in the world do you pick one?! I said, "Okay, I'll play along. I love all of them, but if I have to pick one then it's this one". I opened the book to my favorite picture, close to the front: a young kitten with fluffy gray fur, white markings and paws, and a black nose. The little guy was so fluffy that he looked like a feather duster. Too precious. I never imagined I would find one like that though, and I didn't. My roommate did.

On the day before surgery I was trying to get through the "must-do" items on my desk when I got a phone call. "Are you willing to pay a little more money for a kitten?

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