My first cat was 2 years old when he came to live with me. He had never been outside his First Dad’s apartment,not even in the hallway, I kept him Indoors for the Summer and Jiggled a teaspoon in an empty water glass whenever I wanted to Give him a Treat. Best done if waking him from a nap. He Liked Treats. Finally I let him out. He chewed grass, went sniffing around. Whatever. We went outside playing together. He came back to the Treat Sound. I got braver,or less controlling, however a dad with like a teenager is supposed to do. Extended Curfew, I guess. One day he did not respond. There I am After Dark with a Flashlight, crawling around underneath the neighbor’s tall pine trees two houses over with a flashlight and whispering Spsst, c’mer you little rascal, it’s bed time. For one of us. I since learned, don’t let the kids out in the evening if you have already fed them supper. And Finally, I have learned, even if you do, they will come home, even at 3 am and let you know they are back by scratching or meowing at the front or back door. Unlike real teenagers, they want to sit up late and purr and tell you all about their adventure. It’s hard to be a parent.
My present cat, currently an only child, was adopted at approx Age 5. I am at least her 3rd Parent. The person who tearfully brought her to live with me had her for 3 years until one of her family developed allergies. She got her from the humane society at about age 2. She was either strayed or abandoned. Her very long hair color patches are mis matched and do not repeat in any pattern and she is a big bone gal, well over 20 pounds but is not fat. She is so incredibly intelligent and lovable if you give her the slightest attention. Which to her means, all you have to do is look at her and say Hi. Then she is your friend. She goes Nose to Nose with my DxW dog, cocker spaniel size, and they are best friends. She is not a “lap sitter”. Rather, she likes to sit beside you, like there is room on the chair, or on top of you, whichever she finds most comfortable. I kept her Name which she loves to hear you say over and over. Mademoiselle M… . I can’t spell her name and it is entirely too femme for my tastes. I tacked on Ada as a middle name (which she does not acknowledge), because She resembles a favorite great aunt; that is , her Long Hair is always askew and develops dredd locks if not brushed. I should have Re-Named her Crumbs-Chief-Been-In-The-Brambles-Again or Silent Bob ( she talks without emitting sound) or Bob Marley, because she develops dredd-locks if not brushed regularly. Any of these would have been easier for me.
Now at age 11 Missy M has lived with me 6 years. I am her longest surviving Parent. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Well, I would. I am about to set her on about a 2 week collision course of gnarly behavior. Family Adjustments take some time to get used to.
Her older “sister” died this fall of old age, although she was only 18. One of us is adjusting well to being the Queen Bee in the house, and one of us wants to renew some of the antics and laughter and energy that siblings display. “We” are going to have a new sister sometime after the holidays!
I am going to go the route of looking to the Humane Society, Rescue organizations and my grocer’s neighborhood bulletin board. It sounds silly, but I don’t even know how to look for a new family member. This may be different from what you are looking for. All I know is, this time, we’re having a baby !!
We adore her too. 
