slideshow

Six sharp little needle teeth can sure wake you up. They can also cause uncomfortable nightmares until you sleepily learn that the cause of the pain isn’t the horrible things in your dream, but an eight week-old Halloween looking kitten that has seen your toes move. She’s awake and having fun, with her sharp little needle teeth nibbling on your toes. Welcome Sallie Cat, our new playful baby. She’s a silky black, with emerald green eyes, with just a touch of white under her chin. Her area to have time by herself is in our bedroom where the dogs can’t climb over the baby gate we have put up. Sallie likes snoozing on our feather –down comforter. Heaven help us if the comforter springs a leak. It’ll be raining feathers. Only, she’ll have a grand time.

A typical kitten; she is so adorable, soft, sweet. But wait until the middle of the night when she wants to play. She’s getting better about leaving exposed arms and legs alone, but sometimes she just can’t help it no matter how much we play with her to wear her out. She’s a kitten and she’s nocturnal.

Sallie already has best buddies: our two dogs, Cocoa, a miniature Dachshund and Chihuahua mix, and Judgie, a Schih tzu and poodle (we think) mix. One big happy family. Literally. At night I lay down next to my daughter on her bed to read the next chapter of The Hobbit and the burrowing Dachshund jumps up to scratch the covers until the comfortable spot is just right; then, the short-legged Judgie whines to climb up as well. His legs are too short to jump up. Okay, fine. We find him a spot while he turns circle after circle to get comfortable. I try to read Tolkien: “What is all this uproar in the forest tonight?” said the Lord of the Eagles. Right in my face is Cocoa, listening to the story. I have to push her face back in order to turn the pages.

About this time, a black ball of fluff practically flies up on the bed and scoots next to Judgie. It’s Sallie, the new “baby” not wanting to be left out. Reading time was starting to get a little squished on this full size bed. I try to continue to read: “He was sitting black in the moonlight, on the top of a lonely pinnacle of rock…” Just then Sallie notices Judgies’ long typically Schihtze delightfully wagging tail. It’s amazing how little room two dogs and a kitten need to chase each other. This is supposed to be the story before my daughter gets to sleep. The Hobbit has to wait while I separate them.

Sallie is segregated in the main bedroom with the door tightly closed. Even at less than three pounds, she can open the door if it’s just a little ajar, jump over the baby gate and be back in an instant. Judgie is put in his doggie bed, and Cocoa can stay on the bed, as she likes to hear stories as well … which I find very strange, but allow it. A little J. R. R. Tolkien never hurt a miniature Dachshund.

We feel safe leaving the dogs alone with their new sister. She has claws, after all. But, to her credit, she refrains from using them when playing with the dogs. If she doesn’t want Coco to give her a kiss, which is a doggy lick kiss, she’ll put up her paw and push her away. It sometimes feels like “Animal Planet” with all the excitement. Not wanting the goldfish, won at Barnesville Buggy Days, to become part of the activities, “Goldie” is on a very high shelf where she or he can safely view the antics of the dogs and cat.

As she gets older Sallie Cat will lose her kittenish antics of nibbling moving body parts. She’ll grow older with her “brothers” and human family and become part of the photographs and stories of the house. And, our toes will be safe once more.