Today I found a kitty I HAD to have. Only I can't have it. I took Jinny, the lady I help, to the pet food store, she needed Laxatone for her kitty Bylow. There is a huge cage in there filled with stray cats. There was a new small solid gray kitten in there, yes, there was. "There" is a very good word. I walked into the cage and picked up that little boy kitten. It was love at first sight and even more love at first touch. I held him close and he nuzzled. I petted him and he purred. I put him down and he wanted back up. I loved him and he loved me back. We gave Eskimo kisses. Jinny was crazy, You must have him. She herself would not come into the cage because then she would have to have him, too.

After some time, I extracted myself from the kitty because, after all, I did need to get Jinny to the grocery store. By the time we got to the store she was so adamant I must have that cat that she could hardly pull herself together to shop, even grabbed any old box of hair color, who cares. She wanted us to fly right back to the pet store and plunk down the dough for the cat. We made a plan, she would keep the cat while we went out of town from time to time, it would be fun for her and fun for Bylow, we hoped.

So, I called Mike from the grocery store parking lot. I said, I want something. He said, What?, a new house? I said, Don't be silly, I want a kitten (like to throw Mike those curve balls, keep him on his toes). OH, NO!, he groaned loudly. Then he said, Jazzi might not like that. I said, How do you know? So, he said to think long and hard about it. Fair 'nuff.

In the grocery I texted my sister, Should I get a kitty? NO!, you will be allergic. I said, No, I don't think so. She then said, I love kitties (even though she is allergic herself).

Then we took the groceries home and, as always, I went to fuss over Bylow, who is one gorgeous small cat, a Burmese. She looks exactly like a mink coat with big yellow eyes. But my chest was feeling heavy and my right nostril (the troubled one) was stuffing up. Even Jinny had to agree I sounded stuffy. Rats.

Well, I went home to sort things out over a tuna fish sandwich. Called Mike up again and first words, Do we have a cat now? No, not yet. He did say I could go ahead and get it if I wanted to. There's progress. Then I scooped up Jazzi and said, Let's go! The pet food store is Jazzi's favorite place. As soon as we hit the parking lot she knows where she is and goes berzerk. She does dances and twirls on her hind legs so they'll give her new and yummy treats, multiple treats.

But first we went directly to the gray kitty for Meet and Greet. I held Jazzi to the screen and the worker lady held the kitten up and kitty hunched back and hissed and even growled. Jazzi just looked. Then I tied Jazzi up by the cage door and I walked in and held Earl. That's right, I just now named it. It came to me. Earl Grey tea popped in my head, made me think of it, the grey kitty, purrfect, except I don't like the name Earl, I think I'll add a P and name him Pearl. That should work for a neutered kitten. There are black pearls, so why not a grey one. Now I really have to have it because once you find the purrfect name, you are goner than gone, doner than done and all that.

So by now, as Pearl and I are cuddling, Pearl becomes very curious about Jazzi and is giving her a thorough once over, very calmly, I might add. In fact, Jinny had noted how calm and gentle this kitten is, and she should know, having had cats galore and very knowledgeable, too. Well, a customer comes up and sees me transfixed with Pearl and says, You must have it, it is darling. Do you have a cat?, she asks? No, I say. Well, you must have it to make your home complete, and look how calm it is (you know, KEM, the balm of Gilead). Then another woman came up, Oh, isn't that kitty darling? Yes, I'm in love, of course. Meanwhile, Jazz and Pearl are totally used to each other by now. Besides, I've seen pictures readers send into the newspaper and it shows their cats and dogs lying down together like lambs and lions. It works.

Next step is to ask, What do I need to get started with a kitten? Boy, you need a small fortune, is what you need. So Jazz and I wander the store for an hour and pick out what we like. But I have that nagging suspicion I should sleep on it, I mean, this is a whole new ballgame, haven't had a cat in a loooooong time. But kittens were always my and my sister's first love, stories on that another blogging day. Love, love, love. LOVE.

So then we finally came home, even though I was tempted to go to other pet stores and see how not-so-cute were other kitties compared to Pearl. I mean, Pearl is Pearl, what was I thinking? So I went home to take a nap, as this is exhausting work, work that got me out of the real work that needs doing at home. Countdown to mother-in-law visit notwithstanding.

Problema. My chest was even heavier and my head even sicker after being in there for so long this second time. I think it was all the other large cats in the cage, too much dander at once. I really don't know what to do, typing out this story is making me crazy to go buy Pearl, he is only $50. But how can I risk sinus health? Why did this happen today, I certainly wasn't looking for it, it fell into my lap in the line of duty. Oh, rats.

CDW says, KEM Dear...you know how dangerous it is to see kitty and touch kitty and make eye contact. You are never going to get kitty out of your head now. Lauren's roommate just got a kitten after Christmas. Lauren was dreading it...but has ended up loving that little darling. She will call me and the little kitty is curled up next to her just as sweet as can be. She loves being able to love on it and have really no other responsibilities. Alicia (the roommate) feeds it and cleans up after it...not a bad deal. :) Let me know how this little story turns out. :)

Well, truer words were never typed by mortal man...rather, CDW. Love and more love, who wouldn't want a calm sweet kitty? And responsibility, too. I have a lot going on, do I need one more thing? Hardly, "one" more thing, too. And moo-lah. Nah, I can't do it. Sad, sorry day, is what today turned out to be. Pet store did say kitty could be returned if Jazzi hates it and/or I die of allergic reaction. But how does Mike return a kitty that's wormed its way into his heart? It's Mike's problem then, you know, I'll be expired. Oh dear, I should get it and only the most necessary accessories, like a litter pan at the dollar store. Then if I really am allergic to Pearl and it's not all the other cats that made me crazy, we can take her back -- that sounds so carnal and sad, try her on for size and see if she fits. Except it's a he. But if I'm not allergic to Pearl, then, oh, happy day.

Okay, enough is enough. I think I was allergic to Bylow when I first started helping Jinny, but I got over it, you get adjusted.

I wear the hat Christa made me when I walk the neighborhood and everyone can see me coming now. I wear it at home, too. It's wonderful and covers my red and gray (there we go, gray again) hair. Mike calls me The Kat in the Hat.

One track mind leading straight to Pearl Grey Calm Kitty,
KEM (the Kat wants a Kat, oh, can you tell, in the worst uncalm way)