CHAPTER 1
JULY
It was a regular Tuesday at the Pound. I heard Mommie tell the caretaker she wanted an adult female cat that purred. She walked right past me. Luckily for me there were only two such animals in the shelter and neither of the cats measured up to her purring standards.
On her way out Mommie glanced at me and stuck her little finger into the cage – I guess to tease me or something. That's when I went into my LOUD purring mode. "Love at first sight." Mommie reached in and held me to be sure the purring didn't stop. I could have pur-r-r-r-ed forever if it meant getting out of that prison.
Mommie told the caretaker she wanted a cat today and if I were available she wanted ME. Just think, someone really wanted me! I guess she didn't care that I was only five months old and male. She just wanted a cat TODAY.
In the office when Mommie was filling out the papers, she asked if I had a name. Of course I had a name, I just didn't know what it was. Mommie took another look at me as I scurried under the desks looking for something, anything, to go for a run away from the cage. Mommie told the caretaker about someone called Woffier and then she said I brought a sparkle to her eyes, so she called me Sparkles which sounded good to me.
4th OF JULY
This is my second night with Mommie. We seem to be getting along together OK. I sure hope so. This house is much nicer than the cage at the shelter. Last night I slept on the floor by Mommie's bed.
Tonight about 8 p.m. some really loud BANGS were going on. I was afraid and ran to Mommie for protection. Mommie explained that they were just fire crackers and tonight would be the only night they would go off, except on New Year's Eve.
Mommie held me outside for a while as we watched the fireworks display that the neighbors put on. Mommie said it was free and not too loud. I would just have to get used to it. I saw that several of Mommie's outdoor cats had come on the porch, but they skedaddled away when they saw me. I guess they wanted protection from the fireworks show too. Mommie said her Woffier was afraid of them too.
WHAT PART OF "NO" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
Mommie actually said that to me. I don't understand "No" because nobody ever told me what it means. Mommie says she is going to teach me what it means.
Lesson 1: Don't drink out of Mommie's diet soda cup. She bopped me on the nose and said "No". After the third time, the "No" got a bit louder. If I were a lawyer, I would suggest to Mommie that a diet soda cup left unattended on the night stand is "an attractive nuisance." It is so-o-o tempting.
I think I am getting a handle on this "No" business, because now I get close to the diet soda cup, but I don't dare risk taking a sip. I really don't care for the bops on the nose and I don't want to know how loud my Mommie's voice could get.
MOMMIE IS A PAIN IN THE YOU-KNOW-WHERE
Really!! When Mommie got up this morning she sat on the side of the bed. Apparently she didn't watch where she was sitting because she sat on my tail. Now I have a pain you-know-where. Another half inch and I would be a paraplegic - or dead.
Did she even notice that I weigh less than five pounds? Sitting on me is like having a pickup truck sitting on her. I hope she got the message.
I know, I know, she was sorry and picked me up and cuddled me. I think I might fake a tail sit just for the cuddles because she does it so well.
PLEASE, MOMMIE, PLEASE
I met some really nice cats that live outside here. One in particular, smells like a mommie herself. She meows at me, asking if I can come out to play with her little one that she calls her black angel. I don't think she realizes her little "black angel" is just that, a black angel! When his mommie is not looking he makes faces at me and mouths – ha, ha, ha, you are in prison.
By "met" I mean I see, hear and smell them through the screen door. My Mommie keeps the door locked so I can't get out and they can't get in. I know the outdoor mommie would come in and baby me if she could.
Mommie saw my forlorn look, but insisted that she "might" let me go out to meet the others in a month or so, but right now she said I need to be in the house. Mommie didn't see it, but I stuck my tongue out at her when she wasn't looking.
How long is a month?
MY NEW BED
Mommie had a nice towel she put on the floor for me to sleep on. Ha! She had hung it outside to dry and it was r-o-u-g-h which was not very pleasant. When she wasn't lookin I slept on the couch at night because it is so much smoother – and it makes a nice scratching post.
But this morning I found my dream bed – on the pillow next to Mommie. I got to sleep with my head on Mommie's shoulder on a nice smooth pillow case. Mommie woke up when I started purring too loud. (I've got to learn when to purr softly.) I might have to reconsider this spot because Mommie's head is pretty big and if she rolled over she might smash me. Decisions, decisions.
NEW CAT FOOD
Mommie was trying very hard to be a good Mommie, but she bought me cat food that was too crunchy. She said the bag noted that it was for kittens up to age 9 months. It didn't mention how young the cats could be. Even though I have rather sharp teeth, that food was just too hard for me to manage.
Today she finally bought me some soft kitten food. Yum, yum. I think I was rather hungry because I almost ate the entire package by myself. It was fun to tell that black angel about how Mommie was really taking care of me. He has to sleep out under the stars and he can't be near my Mommie. Guess I feel sorry for him.
THE PITTER PATTER OF LITTLE FEET
Mommie's side of the story: "I was caught up in the pitter patter of little feet this morning when something with four feet landed on my face and woke me up. I guess that is as good an alarm clock as any."
Sparkles side: I was aiming for the big hole in Mommie's face that was sputtering and doing something Mommie called snoring. I knew it sounded like purring, but even I can't purr THAT loud.
My jump stopped the snoring and Mommie grabbed me immediately and began petting me so she could hear ME purr. She really liked the purring thing and I liked the petting part. Guess we were a good fit for each other.
THE LITTLE FAN
I have been with Mommie for ten days now. When she leaves she puts me in the bathroom and shuts the doors. The last time she came home she noticed that I was hot and panting.
Her solution is a little fan on the floor in the bathroom so I can be cool. She made sure the slits in the fan were small enough so I couldn't get my little paws in them. Cool!
Mommie always put the fan on s-l-o-w. She doesn't know I can change the speed of the fan by stepping on the controls. Yesterday I finally got the fan up to a speed that I really like – FAST. It cools me great.
I GET TO GO FOR A RIDE -- YIPPEE!!!
Mommie said she was going to take me for a ride. Just think, I get to go outside for once!
What she forgot to tell me was that I was going in a cardboard box with holes in it. Whew! It's hot in that thing. She also forgot to tell me I was going to get some shots.
I met Dr. Bill and Dr. Candie. I thought Dr. Candie looked like a nice lady (I even purred extra loud for her) until she...
