Queen Bee Kiki
Monday, October 28, 2013
By: Alicia Farmer

Kiki adapts to new home in no time. Getting lots of love!

We were on our way out of the downtown cats room with another cat's adoption sheet in our hand when we heard a meow at our feet. There was a beautiful grey cat begging for rubs. As soon as we touched her, she began purring so loudly it was ridiculous. Our son immediately said, "She's the one!"

So we returned our original cat's slip to his cage and instead took out the one for Kiki, an 18 pound girl who had been surrendered by her owners. She was, as her owners promised, easily adaptable to the new situation in our house. Thankfully, we were also easily adaptable to her. She is a cat who knows what she wants and does not hesitate to demand it.

We quickly learned she prefers to scratch horizontally (alas, the $40 spent on a vertical scratching post -- she likes the $10 cardboard better). She does not like to be picked up or carried, but will take over your lap when she decides she needs rubbing (see drowsy girl in the photo). Does she meow ALL THE TIME? Yes she does. We did not want a vocal cat, but we are learning to enjoy her various sounds (and this is what you get for not spending time with the animal before you adopt her, right?).
We are trying to help her lose weight, both by putting her on the diet our vet recommended and by playing with her a lot. She does like to chase toys if we're game to pull them.

All 4 of us are happy to have her outsized personality in our house.