Who should I get?

[tokolosh]

We've made great progress in the last 7 months or so, but I miss normal kitties so much!

There you go. If you ever had one cat you really truly loved, it's just not the same to have cats you're merely fond of, no matter how fond of them you might be. I am fond of cats. They do make me happy. I really like consciously choosing how I interact with them so they're happy too. And I want to allocate the available space in my family for a new cat somewhere where it will make a difference. But at heart I'm not a full-on full-time rescuer or foster-person.

I've been running through all the possibilities in my head similar to what you've mentioned and haven't come up with a solution yet either. I guess I'll just keep my eyes and ears opened and when I see someone that is desperate for a home, I'll adopt.

I have hope so I'm trying to have patience too. There's a guy on a mail-list I belong to who had a cat with a huge personality and clearly it was his primary 'person' in life. When it died over a year ago he pretty much shut himself down, cat-wise. And this is an extremely intelligent, strong-willed person But then his cousin came to live with him while he waits to emigrate, and the cousin has a cat of his own . . . it's been really funny and really sweet watching this guy resist the cat, when it's so obvious his goose was cooked the moment that cat came through the door. Johan can call it 'the current cat' and 'the resident cat' all he likes - the cat knows what it knows. I wouldn't bet an old hairball on the chances that cat is going to Holland with its 'owner' when the time comes.

I desperately wanted to go and pick one out, but then I got anxiety picturing myself trying to decide on just one. I'd feel guilty about not taking them all. So I didn't go. And now I feel guilty about that.

I go down to the local shelter and hang out with them. Give the ones who want it attention and stroking and some social time, waiting for that lightning to strike me again. I get overwhelmed too. I don't want to reject anycat. I just don't like having to say 'this one's lovely, but . . . '.

And I also hope that when you make your decision, you'll be willing to share that and lots of pictures with us!

Oh, you'll never hear the end of it. Whoever we get will be completely gorgeous.