Aaaand just like that - he's a cat person.

[chowmama]

DH has always been tolerant of cats. He likes them well enough and brought two separate strays into our household because they needed help. He's a soft touch with a good heart. But he doesn't relate to them the way he does to dogs. They're my cats and my responsibility, mostly. The constant dialogue goes: "Why is he doing that?" He's a cat." "Can't you get him to stop?" "No." "Okay. Really?" "Yeah." "Okay, I guess."

Well, until Audrey, the cat who gave birth under our porch. She wasn't sure about him at first and actually hissed at him when he was giving her more food. She hadn't done that with me. But she suddenly changed her mind and started to come out when he was in the yard, rubbing up against him, purring, asking for pets and generally flirting shamelessly. She even approached Radar, the elderly dog and they shared a good curious sniff with relaxed body language. Those two will get along. Fast Eddie is going to be a harder sell.

DH is in love. We have to keep her. Even when I reminded him that the kittens needed to stay with her for another month (3 weeks old is the confirmed age), he's ok with that. (Although I think kitten patrol is going to still be up to me.) Audrey isn't going anywhere.

We got them out from under the porch at the crack of dawn this morning. We had to destroy part of the trellis to make an opening. Audrey was already out and kenneled. 2 of the little ones were easily reached, one needed me to go up to my waist to reach it, and the last made a break for the farthest, deepest corner of the space. The space wasn't tall enough for me to crawl, so I dragged my prone self, work scrubs and all, through a lot of rubble to nail the little sucker. Backing out was equally comical - DH still wishes he'd had a camera handy. They went to the vet clinic when I did.

We have 2 boys and 2 girls. No leukemia or FIV, thank Bast! No fleas, for another miracle. Enough ear mites to make up for it, and of course, bellies full of worms is a given. Audrey was the mellowest, sweetest girl at the clinic. Of course, she was in a large kennel, on a thick layer of soft towels, with food, water, litterpan and kittens handy. And it was warm. She and the kittens slept, nursed, and slept some more. They've had more pictures taken of them than your average Kardashian. Audrey didn't care in the least; the original no drama mama. Since she didn't get anxious, neither did the kittens.

She has no microchip. She's had all the matts and burs shaved off her, and her ears have been thoroughly cleaned. She's now had a rabies vaccination, with a future distemper/respiratory combo when the furballs are weaned. (That's their official name at the clinic; Audrey and the Furballs.) Even after she tired of Churu and let us know we could stop any time, she was gentle and never defensive or aggressive. Now that they're home, I'm going to let them rest a while in their new apartment, formerly known as the bathroom. The kittens are confined to the tub, with soft bedding and all the amenities, but Audrey can explore the whole room.

In about an hour, it's worming medicine all around. Happy Hour!