Without his big buddy around, Kimber's howling and scratching the bedroom door at night only got worse. We had started shutting the door about a year ago as a light bulb moment solution to the cats' constant interruptions of our sleep. It wasn't perfect, but at least it did stop them from pouncing on the bed during the night and jolting us awake.

It took some convincing but I eventually got Al to agree that we desperately needed a kitten to distract Kimmy. Then, not one, but two, because Kimbercat is 14 and a little one could freak him out by wanting to play all the time. Two kittens, my research showed, would play with each other and Kimmy could watch.

So I started calling local breeders listed on the web, looking for Ragdolls, but there were no kittens to be found. We went to the Humane Society -- no luck. We visited kittens in cat rescue foster homes but they youngest was 10 months, not quite what we were looking for.

Then, one day on the way home from work, we happened to stop by the pet store near our house. And there they were: four eight-week old Persians. As soon as I saw the one with the beautiful blue eyes, I knew he was mine (in memory of Jazzy). Al chose an adorable tabby-coloured female who just clung to him in the store. Way expensive ($988 each). We took them home that very night.

Because all three cats would need de-worming before they could be together, the kittens spent the next week in the guest bedroom. After the vet appointment, we would let them free whenever we were home and there was lots of hissing going on by Kimmy as the little ones wanted to check him out. He would sit up high -- on top of the dresser or bed or couch -- and watch them play below. About three weeks later, he was feeling comfortable enough to sit on the floor, and eventually running in all directions and letting them chase him. It's still hands off though.

What about nighttime? No improvement at all, if not worse. The vet wants us to continue to keep the kittens locked up in their room at night, for I don't know how long. So without the little ones around, Kimber's howling and scratching the bedroom door at night continues. I'm spending a lot of sleeps on the living room couch because he settles down when he has me all to himself. Great.

Meka




Safi