The Cutest Age – Sneakers

For once it’s a slow start at Maddie’s – time to hang with some quiet kitties. Daisy and MacKenzie are both coming out of their shells. They reside across from each other, and both gaze out wistfully from their doorways. MacKenzie utters her frantic little meows just for a moment before settling down for our visit.

I spent some time with Sneakers, a 12 year old "love bug" sweetheart. She’s black and white, with pretty green eyes, and a funny little half sized tail. She’s a bit shy but anxious for attention, and approaches with a squawky meow. Her notes say she has a treatable thyroid condition, and that she has to be coaxed to eat. It looks like she’s lost some weight, but she’s in good shape. She rubs, cuddles, and lolls next to me, thoroughly enjoying a head massage. And she plays vigorously for an older gal, though soon gets distracted by washing. A busy girl.

Soon a mom with a couple kids come by, then another woman with an adorable little girl. Precocious too – she’s tiny but articulate. All three kids want to know about the cat toys, and I demonstrate their use with an eager pair of kittens. The little girl is very interested in the cats, but also in the doors and windows and other details of the world that grown ups no longer notice.

A couple come looking for a kitten who’ll be a good match for their frisky year old cat at home. We meet several. The first is a teensy and completely adorable 6 week old who stands on his haunches then tumbles over as we come in the room. He’s pretty shy though, in addition to being so young.

We check out a couple more confident 5 month olds. These kitties seem more appropriate, personality wise. But the tiny kitten was just so cute, the woman says. I’m glad when the guy points out that he’ll get bigger fast, so I don’t have to be the one to say it. They debate for a bit, before agreeing on a friendly and cheerful half grown kitten.

It makes me think of the child from earlier. I mean she was cuter than cute at the just past toddler stage. But also curious and smart and outgoing and active – in other words, all set to become an interesting older kid and adult too.

Kittenhood passes quickly. Seeing the older cats find homes is what keeps me coming back week after week.