When we started to look for another kitty I was happy and nervous. I wanted a kitty that Thalia would enjoy and be able to play with...and one that would make an effort to respect her territory. I also was hoping for a cuddly cat!
We started looking at cats and I wasn't seeing one that just captured my heart. There were quiet kitties, aggressive kitties, loud kitties, ugly kitties, and diva kitties. Black & white kitties, gray kitties, white kitties, and strangely colored kitties. I was becoming discouraged. Nate said that since we already had a black cat maybe we should go for a cat of a different color. I looked in each cage and not one of them shouted "I'm yours. Take me!".
And then...
I spotted a tiny black kitten I hadn't seen before. He was sticking his paws through the cage and squeaking very loudly. Funny thing was that he kept looking right at me. I went over and he seemed to get more excited. I asked if I could hold him and when the cage was opened this tiny kitten literally flew out into my hands. My heart was officially captured. I brought him up to my neck and he immediately started to "make biscuits" on my shoulder while licking my face and neck with a fury. I knew this kitty was mine. End of story. Nate tried to hold him, but the little guy kept trying to jump back over to me. N couldn't top laughing and went to sign the paperwork.
Hermes aka Mees, Mees-Mees, Little Boy, Baby Boy, Puppy
Hermes sleeps with abandon...and kinda ends up looking like a dog on his back. His claws are sharp and most of the scratches we end up with are because of him. He loves to lick me whenever he gets the chance. It's very much like he's giving kisses rather than cleaning. So sweet! He plays with anything and everything and always kicks his "toys" under closed doors. He eats like a little pig. If there is cat food on the floor than it's Hermes. He can't seem to eat without making a huge mess! Catnip doesn't get him going, but treats are what he lives for. That stuff is like crack to him.
He gets very jealous when Thalia is near me. He will sit on the floor glaring at her and probably utters little kitty death threats to her in their native tongue. Unlike Thalia, he never bothers to jump up on the kitchen counters or bar top (thank god!). When he has something to say he'll say it loudly, but it's hard to take him seriously because he still sounds like a kitten. He loves getting his butt scratched, but if you try to scratch his tummy be prepared for claws digging into you. He has never hissed or yowled or made any mean cat sounds. I'm pretty sure he is incapable of being vocally ugly.
Hermes is seriously a curious cat. He will check out anything even if he is scared to death of it. People intimidate him and so usually he hides in our bedroom. Occasionally he'll come down when people are around and sniff the situation out...make a fast move though and he'll run away.
If Thalia is laying down in a certain spot and then moves, Hermes will immediately "claim" her spot. They occasionally will lay down together and sometimes will lick each other. Suspicion runs high with these two so any sweetness doesn't last long. They definitely do not hate each other...they just know their own places...sometimes...haha. It's hilarious to watch them play together. They will run back and forth, hunt and pounce, and yes, whenever Hermes is winning Thalia will scream bloody murder. Once that happens they retreat with hurt feeling and angry looks.
He is the only cat we've had that LOVES his cat carrier. We had to take it out of the closet and place it in our loft with a comfy blanket because he was obsessed with sleeping in it. It is super cute. Occasionally we'll walk over to the carrier and tell him "Come on baby boy, go to bed" and he'll literally walk in and lay down. But that doesn't happen too often so we can't really brag about it. :-)
When we're taking a shower he has to be in the bathroom with us. It's so weird. Usually he just sits on the toilet or curls up in the linen closet, but sometimes he'll sit on the shower ledge and just stare at us. I know...he's a creeper! When he wants to look out the window he rarely just sits on the ledge. Most of the time he keeps his butt on the floor and then rests his arms leisurely on the ledge. I have no idea why he likes sitting like that, but I guess it must be comfortable!
He has an obsession with my pink razor. Once he jumped so high he was able to knock my razor off the towel hanger thingy in the shower. He then proceeded to not only cut his paw on it, but refused to let go of the razor. That cat has one tough grip! Poor baby...he got mad at us for his cut paw, but never realized that it was the razor that did it. Needless to say, we keep razors hidden from his view now. My little guy also loves dice. When N was playing D&D with the guys here Hermes would stare intensely at the dice waiting for someone to drop one on the floor so he could grab it and run away.
He is so animated and cuddly. And I'm so glad that he picked me that day! My baby boy is turning 2 years old today. I still think he's a kitty and not a growing cat. We'll be singing him happy birthday and buying him some treats tomorrow. And he'll even get to enjoy an expensive can of wet food. If I could put a tiny birthday hat on his tiny cat head than I would do it...but I won't... reluctantly.
