Here is more history about Megumi (Meg) the kitten (now full grown young lady) or should I say the best thing that has happened...
In November 2003, my husband asked me what I wanted for our Anniversary. He also mentioned that I could combine it with Christmas if I wanted. Well... on one Saturday morning, as we were going to the supermarket in the car, I mentioned that I wanted to get a kitten. The first reaction was that if we have one... "It is your responsibility!" "Do you have the time to take care of one?" and so on and on were the questions. The outcome was that he agreed that I could have a mixed breed. We went to a reliable vet and they mentioned that there were no kittens available until April/May from the strays that they receive from the neighborhood. I cried after we left the office.
I mentioned that my husband should read some books about cats. He never had a cat and had no knowledge of what to do or how to take care of one. The books from the library showed different pedigrees and he was mesmerized by the Russian Blue's grey color, temperament, and kept staring at the intense green eyes of the adults shown in the books. Well... I began thinking and in January 2004 decided that we should get a kitten and enjoy her during the winter days and nights. I had to go to the Greater Area of Tokyo with my car and decided to check all of the pet stores on my way home. I found 3 kittens at 2 different pet stores. The first Russian Blue female was a little scared of me, her brother was ready to jump down and run around... so I decided that I should go on to another store in that chain. There... I was introduced to another Russian Blue female who immediately began to purr in my hands, moved to the elbow area of my arm and sleep until I had to put her back in her cage (because the store was going to close). So... for 30-40 minutes I was in a dream-like state with what I believed was the kitten that should be mine.
I returned home and explained my day's experience and that she was expensive (but was 10% off because of a January sale). My husband said that it was too much money and again I was disappointed because I thought Meg wouldn't be mine. (We had already selected the name during the first discussion.) He said he needed to think about it until the next morning. At 5:00 the next morning, he turned on the light and announced that he had been thinking and if I am so sure with this kitten, I should go get her as soon as the store opened. I cried because it was true... she was going to be mine! However, my husband demanded that a scratching post, food, litter box, litter, toys, travel case, bed, and so on should come home with Meg, too. Well... off that morning in the early morning, I went with the car to a DIY store for the major purchases before I visited the pet store (just as the store opened).
I arrived and there was Meg. I had to wait till they fed all of the animals and watch her to be sure that she was really the kitten that I wanted. The staff were so helpful with making this possible by moving the cage closer for me to watch her. I held Meg 2 more times and knew she really was the one because she was so happy when she was with me.
Now, she is almost 3 years old. I really realize that Meg is a different type of kitten than typical Russian Blue cats. She absolutely adores people who come for a visit. (I had lots of people over for lunch during her first 2 weeks to get used to having people here.) I stayed home with her for the first 10 days to get her to trust me and feel at home with us. Afterall, we were almost 50 and with a lifetime of a well cared for cat being 14-20 years, we might only have the chance to enjoy one pedigree cat because of the cost.
more later
... there is always another day...
