New Family Member

For anyone who doesn't already know... we've inadvertantly allowed a cat to adopt us. I say it this way because he showed up on our porch on a very rainy Memorial Day (nearly 2 months ago now). Amazingly , he wasn't the least bit frightened of the dogs who sat patiently in the front window staring at him - until Sam asked them what it was - at which point they went wild barking at him - he still didn't flinch.

He was unchipped and uncollared and unneutered. So we locked him away from the dogs in in the bathroom downstairs and sent out a neighborhood email looking for his family. No one answered.

Week One: He is so affectionate and not showing any signs of fear when the dogs poke their heads in the door and bark at him. So we decide to introduce them. See Pepper's New Friend post on May 29th to see the 'meeting'. Who knew our dogs were capable of not eating him?

Week Two: We decide we likely wouldn't find his family and at least needed to take care of his kitty bearing abilities.

Week Three: Sam takes him out to the back deck and sits in the sun for a while; Sam falls asleep and the cat runs off. We decide that he's at least snipped and if he shows back up maybe we'll keep him. An hour later the cat is sound asleep on the chair that Sam had been sitting in. We decide we'll keep him and name him Seamus (pronounced SHAMUS for those of you who are not familiar with the true Irish spelling - a common problem in Colorado).

Today: He's chipped with our contact information (which makes him formally adopted as far as I'm concerned). He's very much attached to me despite the agreement that he's Sam's cat and Sam's responsibility. He sleeps in bed with us most nights (mostly on my side curled up in my armpit or on my pillow above my head.) He's very vocal and a proficient mouser - he's brought home 3 prizes already (his only two bad habits); but he's also EXCEPTIONALLY good with the dogs (who are finally getting to the point where they don't pay attention to him), very loyal and affectionate, litter box trained, and an outside cat during the day and promptly home by 9pm most nights waiting to come inside. I think he likes us, and I have to admit (as a non-cat person) I think we like him too.