meet Benjamin
J’s sister heard meowing at her door the other day - found an orange cat eager to sprint into the apartment. She harboured him while she visited each neighbour on the floor to see if they had misplaced an orange cat, while she posted (very obvious) signs in all of the right places indicating “Found: Orange Cat. See Apt ___.” No one visited to claim him. Someone had let their cat leave - turned them out at the age of 6 months to 1 year.
Turns out this delightful orange cat is really that - delightful. Highly affectionate, gentle, sweet, well-behaved, house broken - but not neutered. How could anyone give him away like that? As soon as I heard about him, that she needed to find him a home since she couldn’t keep him, I had a strange feeling about it. And then when I met him that night, I fell in love. You can never predict when you will meet someone you have a connection to, and I knew it when I encountered this orange cat, that something was going to change. J and I thought long and hard about it; so surprised we were even considering adopting him. Adopting kittens was something we were going to do later on, when we were more settled - certainly not right before a four month trip to Europe and an unknown future academic year. But again, sometimes these things can’t be planned.
Long story short: we decided, against all odds, that if he needed a home, our tiny apartment is as good as any. We named him Benjamin. So what about my trip? Well J is staying at the apartment, and will now have some sweet feline company. And I have someone to get to know who will keep my mind off of my travelling fears for the time being. (Someone else I can miss on my trip; let’s not think about that part right now).
He has beautiful stripes and very pink parts (nose, paws, ears).
He is so affectionate that he reminds me of a dog in the way he energetically “bashes” your face with his in his enthusiasm. This morning when J and I woke up and had a morning hug in bed, Benjamin decided to come and snuggle in between us, so sweet I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I hope I get woken up every morning like that. His favourite spot is the window where he can look down at all of the activity. This is how he tends to sit, with one paw outstretched.
He is extremely smart. Had to reckon with his reflection in my full length mirror, gets his own cat toys from a plastic bag when he chooses to, explored every nook and cranny in our apartment within 15 minutes, is endlessly curious. So far, he can’t figure out why I am so enamoured with my macbook, and finds the moving pictures perplexing. Here he is watching youtube with me (his eyes are open):
I promise: no more gushing! I feel like I am in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship! Needless to say, I couldn’t have asked for a better non-human animal companion for this humble abode. I can’t believe he’s really here.
Hopefully he will settle down later for more portraits, since he is quite handsome.
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