Lord Rama

Ahh, good ol' October. It came in with a chill, much to my dread. I love October- really my favorite month of the year. Hello!? Halloween!

It was about this time last year that I adopted Luna and Hex, a pair of older Oriental Shorthair rescues, and my first cats. It was quite a learning experience, getting used to sharing my home with not one, but two cats. Hex passed earlier this year at the end of June, which left Luna quite lonely, having never been without her brother. Finally, I decided it was time to bring another cat into the house.


Enter, little Lord Rama. Terror of Fort Disaster, Home of the Wilderness Childe.

Rama is my first kitten, and like Luna and Hex, this is something of a learning experience. Rama is a 3-month-old American Wirehair that is bubbling over with energy. He seems to find mischief everywhere. I've come to realize my house is definitely not kittenproof!

With Rama I am learning that I don't handle chaos well. Personal chaos, sure. My life is a bit of a roller-coaster most of the time between work and school. I often refer to situations as "misadventures" in an attempt to keep my sense of humor. Likewise, my home has been informally dubbed "Fort Disaster" - for a very good reason. But this. This kitten. He's another story.

He is uncontrollable chaos. He's like a child, with his own independent attitude and free will. I can't control him or his actions. At best I can influence them to a degree but with limited effect. He either chews my algebra folder, or my hairbrush. I can't stop him from chewing, so I must pick my battle, decide what is more important, and let the rest slide. He's determined to climb on my wine rack, so the bottles all get moved to the smaller rack, allowing the big one to be used as Rama's own personal jungle gym- at least until he's too big to enjoy it.

This must be what parenting is like. Minus poopy diapers.

I'm definitely learning to take things in stride, and you can't really stay mad at him when he nuzzles your face... until he bites your eyelid. (Yes, he JUST did that.) It's funny to think what a nuisance Luna has been, but now she's such a darling angel in comparison. I guess it helps that since Rama came into the house she hasn't been as noisy and complains much less. While she doesn't exactly like him yet, she does seem less lonely.

For me, it's a lesson in patience. He definitely brings a more lively energy into the house- something it desperately needed between my busy life and poor old Luna. Sure, it'll be a challenge having a kitten attacking my hands during downward dog pose, or batting at my head when doing my breathing practice, but such is life.

For now it's a lot of hoping and praying that he doesn't burn the house down or destroy something important- sort of like an actual child- enjoying the happy playful moments in between. And spraying everything with lemon and eucalyptus oil.


A few things cats can teach you- (according to Google...)

• Make the world your playground. 
• Whenever you miss the sandbox, cover it up. Dragging a sock over it helps.
• If you can't get your way, lay across the keyboard until you do.
• When you are hungry, meow loudly so they feed you just to shut you up.
• Always find a good patch of sun to nap in.
• Nap often.
• When in trouble, just purr and look cute.
• Life is hard, and then you nap.
• Curiosity never killed anything except maybe a few hours.
• When in doubt, cop an attitude.
• Variety is the spice of Life. One day, ignore people; the next day, annoy them.
• Climb your way to the top, that's why the curtains are there.
• Make your mark in the world, or at least spray in each corner.
• Always give generously; a bird or rodent left on the bed tells them, "I care."
• When you have something important to say, try to say it in the dead of night when you're SURE everyone's sleeping. There's no better way to get the attention you deserve.