This is my new cat.

The picture doesn't really do her justice. I have never seen a cat with such fantastic markings. Someone in her family must have been silver tabby, and it shows up in these ghostly cyphers down her side.

I adopted her at the ASPCA in New York City. The woman who was putting her in her cage told me she had brought her in herself -- people know she works down there, and so sometimes strays show up on her doorstep. She named her Estrellita. Unless another name hits me with gale force, I think I'll keep it. I considered "Cielo" earlier today. The woman says that Este followed her around like a puppy, and so far that's been more or less the case. At the moment she's deeply, deeply sacked out, legs twitching, eyes half open and the whole deal. It was a stressful day, and she got spayed two days ago, too.

Jamie and Charlie also adopted kittens, Maggie and Moishe. (Catholic Charlie is adamant that his kitten be raised orthodox Jewish. Who knows why. Suffice to say that the matter of the bris has been somewhat complicated by the matter of the neutering -- does a eunuch get a bris? do cats have foreskins anyway?! questions best left unasked.)

Getting a cat has been a profoundly difficult process for me... I've written a little about it which I may or may not finish up eventually. Mostly it has to do with not having been there when my childhood cat and best friend Hazel was put to sleep, guilt about not taking Ralphie back now that I can, and of course abiding issues about loving and being happy. Posted by Gus at October 11, 2003 07:49 PM | TrackBack