The Adoption of Jasper
Adopt and save a life
Exactly one week ago we adopted a kitten from the Toronto Cat Rescue. I had seen the kitten online and although he wasn’t quite what I was looking for I agreed to a meet and greet.
In a way, I was afraid of meeting the kitten because I knew that once I met the little thing, I wouldn’t be able to walk away.
The kitten had been raised by a foster mother but was now housed in a Pet Value store. Upon entering the store I was directed to the adoption center and there he was … Jasper, a three-month-old ginger tabby. I knew right there and then that with me he would get his forever home.
It took some time to complete the paperwork and then we were on our way.
Once home I knew that the best way to introduce a new kitten to Holly, Halley, and Greyson, the resident cats, was to keep the newbie in a separate room and to gradually introduce the kitten to the adult cats.
But, Jasper had other ideas. Alone in my bedroom, he started a meowing concert Pavarotti would have been jealous of. To hear him cry was heartbreaking so I threw caution to the wind and let the little thing out.
When he noticed the three resident cats he promptly put his back up and fluffed out his tail. The reaction of the resident cats varied.
Holly sniffed Jasper and decided he wasn’t worth bothering with.
Halley smacked him on his head.
Greyson looked at him wild-eyed and made a hasty retreat.
So much for a warm welcome.
Today, a week later, things have changed.
Holly still doesn’t bother with Jasper. She a bit of a hoity-toity madam. She’s neither friendly nor unfriendly with the kitten, she merely tolerates him.
Halley can’t make up her mind whether she likes the kitten or not. One moment she plays with him, the next she chases him around the house. When she’s had enough, she retreats to her basket and surveys the goings-on from a safe distance.
Greyson is being chased by Jasper. The poor thing can’t sit or lie down anywhere without the little one nipping at his paws, playing with his tail, jumping on his back, or grabbing him in a headlock.
If nobody wants to play with the kitten, the kitten amuses himself. He has an array of toys and if he has a toy in his mouth he growls like a fierce lion. Other than that he jumps on the wall unit, digs around in a silk flower arrangement, swings around in the curtains, or just sits and enjoys the fresh air.
As for Jasper’s name … I knew that had to be changed. I knew a guy once called Jasper and he was a complete jerk. No way did I want a daily reminder about him. The kitten needed a new name.
I posted a message in a cat group on Facebook asked for name suggestions. The members were not short of inspiration and came up with several nice names, but none of them seem to fit. Out of all the suggestions I like Willian the best.
“How would you like to be called William?” I asked the kitten, and not a word of a lie, the little one shook his head. A coincidence I’m sure, but I decided not to go with William. And then I saw a picture of Nicolas Cage. Nicolas … Nic … yeah, that might work.
“Do you like the name Nic?” I asked the kitten. And you’re not going to believe this, but the kitten turned around and let out a loud meow. I took it that he was in agreement. Nic, it was.
No sooner was Jasper renamed Nic than he took a celebratory drink. That is to say, he tried to take a drink. He put one of his front paws on the bowl and managed to tip the whole bowl over. Water all over the floor. Nic, not liking his wet paws got the fright of his young life and fled to my bedroom. The result, wet paws that ran from the kitchen all the way to my room.
If Nic is a messy drinker, he’s also a messy eater. Rather than dipping his head into the dry nibbles bowl, he sticks his front paws into the bowl and scratches half the content of the bowl onto the floor. Then he proceeds to eat the nibbles off the floor.
Watching Nic and his antics, I wonder what lies in store in the months and years to come. Shall I keep you posted?
