Bradford, named after Bradford Washburn of the American Mountaineering Museum, is a tiny brown tabby with a white nose and white paws. He’s moved from hand-feeding formula and His Human cleaning up Anywhere Poop to voraciously devouring his special moist food and meticulously visiting the litter box. In just this short time he’s grown from one pound to almost two and even prefers using the big boy box that requires him to scramble over a high entry to do so.
I’ve watched this little guy with amazement. His instincts have kicked in at every turn. Every day brings some new discovery or behavior and even without his real Momcat and litter mates, he is the Poster Child for Kittenhood. And he continues to teach me about life, happiness, and the enchantment of each day. So I share with you the lessons I’ve learned so far:
Play hard. But for every hour of play get at least two hours of rest.
Don’t be afraid of your own shadow. But if it’s the Evil Lord Felinor, be prepared for battle.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
No need to clean your plate first time – if it’s good enough then it’ll be even better as a snack later.
There’s something playful to be found in everything.
Sometimes a swat from someone older is well-deserved.
If you like someone, keep trying. If he mellows and lets you get closer, it’s probably worth it. But if he continues to growl and hiss, best to walk away.
It’s okay to be sure you’re a tough guy, but it’s also okay to let someone else be Alpha.
Being alone is okay. Being in the company of others like you is even better.
If you’re going to climb up something be sure you have a way down.
A couple of good stretches upon waking can really get the blood flowing.
Oh, and it might not be rude if someone’s staring at you – it might be that he adores you.
It's so comforting to know there are forces out there battling against the Evil Lord Felinor :)
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