Page 40 of Grumpy Pucking Orc (Orcs on Ice #1)
The door opened, and the older human woman with her short silver hair in rows of curls approached. “Bwat, you should be sweeping. I know you’re a volunteer, but we’re counting on you to keep the dog kennels clean.”
Bwat sent me a pained look, then left with his broom as the gray cat meowed in protest.
“Are you interested in adopting a cat?” the woman asked me once Bwat was gone.
I nodded. “The human woman who will soon be my wife has a cat, and I thought it might be good to have one of my own. That way when we return to my home, her cat will not be lonely.”
“Some cats are very particular about sharing their home with others,” she informed me. “They are territorial animals, and it can take a long time for them to get used to another cat in the home. If you introduce them slowly and carefully, and keep your expectations low, they can learn to coexist.”
I stared at her for a moment. “I…I don’t understand any of that.”
She patted my elbow. “We have booklets to guide you in introducing the cats, but basically you need to keep them separated for a while. The new cat can stay in a bathroom where it will feel safe and the current cat will become familiar with its scent. Like I said, it’s a slow process.
And some cats never really become friends with the newcomer.
Some bond and will play and enjoy each other’s company, but some just tolerate the new cat and stay as far away as possible. ”
“That does not sound ideal,” I mused. “I hoped to provide company and a playmate for Judy. I don’t want her to be lonely living somewhere without cats.”
“Most cats don’t care about having another cat around.
They’re not herd animals like sheep or horses, and they do just fine living independently.
As long as you provide Judy with human companionship and interesting toys to keep her mind sharp and her body fit, then she’ll be happy.
I would be concerned about predators wherever your home is, though.
I’d recommend not letting Judy outside the house when you and your fiancée move. ”
“Judy is not allowed outside of the house now, and I would take her safety very seriously. Jordan loves her, and I am already fond of Judy.”
The woman beamed. “You sound like you’d be a wonderful cat-dad. While Judy might not need a feline companion, you still might want to consider adopting one so that you and your fiancée each have your own cat. We have so many that are looking for a good home.”
I looked at the stacked cages that held what seemed like dozens of cats. It was overwhelming. And while I would enjoy a cat of my own, I didn’t want to alienate Judy or do anything that might annoy the cat.
“I sometimes travel for work,” I told the woman. “Our hockey games are not always in Baltimore, and I wouldn’t want a cat to suffer while I’m gone.”
“Cats are the perfect animal for people who might be gone for a few days at a time,” she countered.
“You can set up an automatic feeder and watering fountain, and since they go in a litter box, you don’t need to worry about coming home to a mess.
And if you’re going to be gone more than a day or two, you can pay a pet sitter to drop by each day to check on the cat and make sure everything is okay. ”
I did like the idea of having a furry little killer waiting for me at home.
And while I was certain Jordan and I would return to my homeland, there were logistics that might delay our marriage and move.
Even if I proposed this weekend, we had several months of games that I felt I’d made a binding commitment to.
Honestly, I felt uncomfortable about leaving mid-season, even though the reason for my journey here was complete.
The team needed me. Could I really abandon them?
Either way, I was not going to make a decision on a cat today.
“Is there one that you recommend?” I asked the woman. “I would want to talk to my mate before adopting one, but I would like to tell her about a specific cat in that conversation.”
The woman nodded and led me down the row to a cage toward the end. Inside was an ebony cat with startling orange eyes.
“This is Coal, although you could always change his name. He’s a relaxed and easygoing cat who would quickly adapt to a new home and would be good with other cats.
He’s not going to be pushy with Judy if she doesn’t like him, but he’ll be happy to play if she wants.
His favorite things are sitting on your lap, perching on top of kitchen cabinets, and his little mouse toys filled with catnip. ”
She opened the cage and scooped Coal out, depositing him in my arms. The cat’s ebony fur was short, shiny, and soft. He purred instantly, staring up at me with his orange eyes before rubbing his head on my chin. I instantly loved him, and with great reluctance, put him back in the cage .
“I’ll need to discuss this with Jordan first,” I told the woman.
“Of course,” she said, closing the cage and putting steel wire between me and the cat I already felt had sunk his claws into my heart. “We always want to make sure every member of the family is on board with a new adoption.”