Bandit
Key Traits: spunky & full of surprises
Meet Bandit
Here’s cat blog celebrity number three. Bandit or “Bandito” as he is affectionately known is my source of sweet affection, and also large doses of almost daily human frustration. Bandit found his way into my heart as I browsed the adoptable cats showcased by my local shelters on the Pet Finder website one crisp (and boring) fall day. Something about this little black and white kitten with the long fluffy coat seemed to scream, “come and rescue me, you’re my new mom.” Or at least that’s what my irrational mind was shouting silently to my heart. We had adopted two cats the previous year. (When we had only planned on one.) Why in the world would I adopt a third cat? I certainly did not love cat hair and soiled litter boxes enough to justify my enthusiasm. I can not explain the “I must be Bandit’s mom” feeling with any real rationality. So I’ve just had to accept that I’m going to need to harness some self control when it comes to cat acquisitions.
Does Anyone Really Just “Look” at the Humane Society Animals?
Sure I told myself and my family members I just wanted to go “look” at Bandit. Yeah, right! Even my eight-year-old son could see right through that flimsy statement. “Oh cool, we’re getting another cat” he said without missing a beat. Yikes! Am I really so transparent?
My son and I hopped in the car (actually mini van, but anyways..) and off we went to “look” at Bandit. Arriving at the Humane Society, we were directed to a cat room. Basically your standard stacked wire kennels filled with cats of every age, size and color. There he was! The tiny adorable, delicate little boy kitten I’d seen on the internet. My first words; I want him! So much for “looking”.
Buy One Get One Free?
In the cage with Bandit was another tiny white female kitten. She was the sister of the adorable black and white I’d already fallen hard for. The staff member helping us informed me that their preference was to keep the two of them together. They wanted to adopt them into the same home. “Lucky” for me she explained it was buy one get one free cat days. Free and cat don’t typically go in the same sentence together. I may not be a total math whiz but, yeah add it up, that would push my meows in the house to a total of four. Three sounded a bit over the top. But four bordered on “cat lady” status in my mind.
Honey, Bandit has a Sister
I stepped outside and made a quick call to my husband. Somehow I managed to get the green light, and we signed the papers and were handed a bag of cat food and some pamphlets. Back into the van with one cardboard carton holding two tiny kittens. They, along with myself and my son were off to begin our new adventures together. They both turned out to be horribly ill, and required hundreds of dollars in vet care, but I’ll tell you about that another time.
Fast Forward
Bandit is a sweet affectionate boy. He loves being petted, and has a motor that can rival most household appliances in it’s decibels. I love this cat. He also is, how can I say this nicely; not the “brains” of the group. He’s the type of cat that mistakes a bathtub for a litter box. You know what I mean?
Marking, and We’re Not Talking Ink Here
Although Bandit is neutered, he developed a habit a couple of years back of marking random areas around the house with his urine. He doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal. I strongly disagree.
Cue the vet visits, Prozac, Calming herbs, Feliway and more deterrent products than I can count. Bandit never noticed all of my frantic actions, and continued on with his merry urine spraying ways. I will share the sordid journey with you in a future post. Long story short, Bandit was given the appropriate vaccinations and encouraged to spend time outdoors each day. He hates it. He stands outside the door yelling at us. He stares in the windows. If I close the shade, he will climb the window screen and peer in through the small crack at the top of the window. Never a boring moment when this kitty kid of mine is on the move.
More to Come
I’ll share more stories about Bandit with you in future posts. There is more to his adoption saga and subsequent adventures, but I’ll save that for another day.
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