We had a visitor night before last–towards midnight, scarcely visible in the dark but crying a pitiable cry.
She was small and furry black with a kink in the tail.
She was distressed and hungry, a exhausted refugee searching for sanctuary.
Meredith was immediately on hand with a plate of food and some water.
“Don’t feed it,” I heard myself saying.
“I definitely am feeding it!” retorted an indignant wife.
In a flash, I had run through all the drawbacks that might occur in the coming days and weeks. (There were precedents.) The effect on the resident cats; the fact that maybe we had enough cats (three indoor and three outdoor) to be going on with etc…I quickly came to the conclusion that the mite was more a problem than a gift.
Then I saw the little black bundle and backed off knowing it was a done deal–we were a four” indoor “cat family!
The following day the vet said HE–for she is another he–is about three-and-half months (milk teeth still in place), of good character and in sound shape–and gave him his first vaccination.
Lundi? Sidney? Gaston?–names on the list of possibles.
Pippa does her usual hissy fit and we’ve seen little of Ben.
Beau is wary but tolerant from the comfort of a strategic chair.
The little mite–not a bad name–slept through his first full day in the wicker basket Meredith had “made nice” for him.
“What-a-ya-gunna-do?”! ? Here I am! Nice lady! Comfy basket. Food in the dish–go for it! “
There’s a lesson for us worry guts…
*french for monday)
Robin Ellis 
What about Minuit for a name ? I don’t think you have much choice in the matter of keeping him…he can obviously sense a loving home !
Minuit would be good–it had crossed my mind.
I was called “the cat lady of Sheridan Road” in another life. How is your brother, let me know. XX, Marion
Jack is well–thanks.
They choose you!! I just got adopted last week by 14 yr old Lily from my local animal shelter. She thinks I am not too bright, but on the other hand having a big house with only one other feline has it all over the crowds where she has been living for 4 months. She is not fond of cats, but we are making progress every day.
Robin, good afternoon! Congratulations for a new component of family! Another cat is another blessing we use to say here… so good luck to you both and baby-cat-boy too. Poor little one; he is very lucky finding Meredith and you, thanks God! I love Gaston as name; he is a sweet snout naughty 😉 Ciao a presto!! Bea. Invio eseguito dallo smartphone BlackBerry 10. Da: Robin EllisInviato: mercoledì 24 settembre 2014 15:58A: papibea@gmail.comRispondi a: Robin EllisOggetto: [New post] Falling in the butter dish..!
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Robin Ellis posted: “We had a visitor night before last–towards midnight, scarcely visible in the dark but crying a pitiable cry.
She was small and furry black with a kink in the tail.
She was distressed and hungry, a exhausted refugee searching for sanctuary.
M”
Hi Meredith & Robin, That let me think on Puske puske when she walked in about 12 years ago she’s also fantastic.Good luck with the nice” Blacky ” cat , big hughs from Puske puske & Chantal xxx.
Well, he’s adorable and reminds me of a friend’s rescue cat who arrived unexpectedly. He was beautiful, although somewhat weathered and was given the rather grandiose name of Orlando!
Fortunate for him that he landed on your doorstep and I’m sure he’ll soon be totally integrated in your feline family.
Kara
Hahaha, I laughed knowingly at your entry. I hide FB entries from my husband of my friend who fosters mother kitties and their precious families. I squash talk of having another kitty when my husband comes home from his feeding visits to a nearby feral cat colony. I discourage him from spending Sundays at the local No- kill cat shelter petting the kitties. It is hard enough for me and doubly hard for him to turn down a darling feline furrball. We currently have 2 inside cats, one special needs and both dearly loved. It would be SO easy to increase the ranks. Your article was heartwarming. Go Meredith!!
Lundi – Icelandic for puffin! How about Jet?
Puffin even!
Word is out on the feline grapevine that Chez Ellis is a fine refuge for kitties in need of a loving home. There must be a special place in heaven for folks like you. ❤
Reminds me of the film “Cheaper By The Dozen”… Of course the little mite will stay and join the happy family. In time the “seniors” will accept it into their circle. It couldn’t be otherwise for two such kind people as you both are… Good luck!
Just thought of another name…McNeil ! He turns up on the doorstep late at night shouting and demanding entry !
Great thought, Julie. Donald even…
Awww….poor little thing! They know where to come! ROBIN ELLLIS!!! YOU DID NOT SAY “DON’T FEED IT!!” DID YOU??? !!!!
My sister and bro in law have the same kind of house. They lose a cat to illness or tragedy and get upset and say “I will NEVER EVER HAVE ANOTHER ONE…when the rest die that will be it!!” And then…the creatures just show up! Either someone brings a new baby to them (the latest is kitty Sadie who’s previous owner was ill- oh and even a dog named the same name as their beloved dog that had to be put down, “Bubba”…they have a second “Bubba!” My cousin owned Bubba but he passed away in March) The cats that show up just “know where to go” I call my sister’s house the “cat spa resort” The dogs that have lived there have it pretty good too. Congratulations on your new baby! I just know that you have a very warm, welcoming and loving home.
Briefly, shamefully –yes!
I was adopted by a suspiciously similar-looking furball when I was a high school student, he followed me everywhere in the schoolyard. I carried him home on the school bus in my hat – I named him Shadow, he named me friend.
Yeah! Another kitty!!! As we say in our house: cats happen!
What a good heart you both have.
Awwww!! Just in time before the cold weather comes…I hope when the dust settles, everyone will be happy. Extra treats & playtime are good bribes.
We’re trapping & “fixing” some strays from a town near us. Luckily, my friend is part of a rescue group that carefully rehomes everyone. (Except the truly feral; we fix, then return them to same place & someone feeds them.) I usually just do transport—if they stay at my house longer than overnight, they would stay FOREVER!
Gaston is pretty funny, as I remember from my daughters infatuation with the
Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, where Gaston was the puffed up egotist who assumed everyone was mad for him. This little wisp looks pretty un-Gaston like right now, but who knows? A few weeks of table scraps and other chez Ellis indulgences he may develop handsome biceps,
Best,
Nancy N
Ben sent him after encountering him in the woods. “Poor thing! You need a bite – walk on up to my Misses; she is a fine and caring lady and the Master of the house is a bit of all right too!” (P.S. I vote for Gaston.)
You did the right thing.
How about Garrick?
Nice idea–the Poldark dog would always be in my mind, though.
The more the merrier, sometimes. My black kitty who showed up in the night 10 years ago is called Zorro. Because, he came “out of the night when the full moon was bright.” However, zorro is Spanish for fox.
Cats, I do believe, have a sixth sense which directs them to the folks which might be most acceptable to their plights. Obviously, this kitten knew where to look. Don’t underestimate feiline intuition!
Yea, Meredith! (Sorry, Robin) 🙂
No problem!
Wow, your piece on something so mundane was beautifully written. It’s rich with literary charms and delights your readers. Everyone is pulling for the little charmer. Heck, I want to name him “Lucky” or “Lucky Charm”. I suppose “Grace Ellis” may be a tad too pretty for him. How about “Grayson Ellis”. Congratulations to you and your wife on lucking out on this type of lottery.
Thanks Marjorie
You are on a losser here Robin the puss has decided,that yours is the home to be,not daft these cats.He is a cutie and I am sure that your other cats,will soon come round and teach him the ropes of the house I quite like the name McNeil for him as he does look fluffy,though I do hope he does. not take to sitting on your head
Not a bad idea, Elaine.
Hi Robin, a beautiful piece of writing. Like you, cats just happen to arrive at the cat flap and before too long, have made their way into the kitchen, and my heart. What have you decided to call him? As you know I have a website on cats: http://www.thedailymews.com Would you be kind enough to write something about him (and perhaps the interaction of your other 3 house cats) for the Cat Chat section of my website? I know you are a busy man so I quite understand if you have to say ‘non’.
Pauline
Thanks for asking.let me have a think.
That is heart-warming! Blessings to your family, two-legged and four-legged. I am sure the young one will fit in nicely, given time.
We have a similar situation. Our 12-year old Black Lab is getting on, and the granddaughters wanted a puppy, too. So a 6-week old Black Lab puppy has been added to the establishment. So far, so good! Though the elder Lab does not like to be pulled into play, he is a gentle mentor and cuddling together is perfectly acceptable to him.
BTW, if I ever get another pair of dogs, I think they will be Garrick and Perdita!
Best of luck!
Given his colour and the way he arrived, it has to be ‘Minuit’! My mother acquired a young little ginger and white female only last Saturday having lost her 19 year-old black and white male at the end of July. We have changed her name from ‘Morrigan’ (!) to ‘Molly’ and we adore her already. Right from the start, although obviously adjusting to new surroundings, she would come up immediately for fuss and attention and she has the most adorable way of squirming with pleasure when she is stroked or brushed. Cats just have a way of wrapping us right round their little paws! How anyone could have parted with our beautiful Molly we do not know!
Bless you both for giving little stray kitty a home. We are a 4-indoor cat family, having recently adopted a Maine Coon kitten named Abigail Adams. Feeding time is a bit interesting – reminds me of a zoo!
We took a little stray in years ago, and our little “Tassy” turned out to be our all time favorite cat. She passed 3 and 1/2 years ago at the age of 12 and is still missed. Good for you Robin and Meredith!!
Talking of naming cats,thanks to my three daughters all of our cats have alternative names. Cleo is Werber, Dennis is Bibsy,Trigger is Joe, Poppy is Poppadopalous,Minnie is MooBelle,Sasha is Bunny Bean and Piggy is the only one without an alias..
Interestingly,all of them answer to both their names…what a strange household I live in !
So sweet! I’m pretty sure the feline population of south west France know which side their bread is buttered on though “Falling into the butter dish”, I’ve not heard before. Best wishes to your new feline friend and to you and Meredith of course!
You had to offer the voice of “reason” first, so that you would claim later it was a rational plan (as if). I suspect that even while you were saying it, you knew the outcome. “McNeil” (great suggestion, above) led me to think of “Mack”. As the song goes, “Macky’s back in town.”
Not feed “it” indeed! As if THAT was going to happen! Precious little scrap. She looks a bit wary – “could this really be THE place? Safe at last?” Yes, it is, little one. And I love Lundi. I’m restricted to two by my landlord and a husband who never had pets and lost his heart to these two rescues who came to live with us five years ago. Tho he still blusters and pretends otherwise. I wonder how your new little one will fare with the hedgehogs!
Love this story. And “He” is adorable. And you and Meredith inviting him into your home is so very very kind and sweet.
My French is practically non-existent however I think the French word for “gift” is Cadeau. Anyway perhaps “Cadeau” as a name consideration?
Very happy for all of you in the new addition to your happy home.
Sent from my iPhone
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We like cadeau–thanks Kate. It’l have to be the next through the door though–we have a name, TBA!
What a little sweetheart!
Cats find you, not the other way around. I found that even the case when I went to the SPCA looking for a little buddy, and an older cat as they seem to be passed over more. I went with a particular ‘color’ as I had always had a black cat, but all the ones I saw & held didn’t seem to connect with me. Then I asked a volunteer if any were chatty. She pointed out in passing a washed out looking calico in passing, which I noticed had not taken her eyes off me. As soon as I held her, I knew she was the one. She chose me.
Lovely story, Sheila.
Is kitty still nameless, or has the important choice been made?
“Midnight”–…black as…
Warleggan ? He looks like he might grow up to be a crook!