A Feline Friend

I first want to start off by thanking all of my readers of my first blog post. I know it wasn’t much but I truly appreciate your comments and reading my blog. Some of you have asked where the name Cherie came from – as I was trying to think of a very creative but original name I was getting somewhat stuck. Cherie is a name I have used for internet screen names over the years, trying to be safe but sticking to what my parents gave me, so simply it is a nickname I have used online. No one calls me Cherie but I felt it worked best for the kind of blog I wanted to write. And the persona I wanted to create for my blog.

As I starting having discussions and emails about my blog entries, I started to develop writer’s block (really, this early - I hope this doesn't develop into a pattern). I have ideas for the future but not for right now. Sounds a bit silly doesn’t it? I know, I don’t make any sense. I struggled a bit with the topic for this entry. I want my readers (you) to get to know me but I also want to have substantial blog entries as well. I also do not want it to be boring – although, it probably is – but hey, it is my blog after all. So I have decided to write about the newest additional to my life recently – Phoebe.

Phoebe is my 6 year old, domestic short hair, brown/white/black tabby cat. What can I say about Phoebe other than she is a definitely one of a kind. When I decided to live on my own again, after living with my parents for 6 months after taking a life change, I knew I wanted a companion. I was dead set on a dog, a dachshund to be exact; I wanted a dog so badly. Unfortunately it is very hard to find apartments and landlords that allow a dog. So I decided to bite the bullet and go for a cat. We always had dogs and other animals growing up but never cats so this was a whole new ball game for me. I did not want to rush into getting a cat, I wanted to find the perfect one and I wasn’t just going to take any stray cat or kitten. I knew I wanted to adopt one but I also very hesitant about going to the SPCA (which I probably would have ended up doing). I was settling into my apartment and waiting until I got back from my big vacation to Brazil (we’ll save that for future entry) when in early May I got an email from a very good friend of mine. She wrote to me that a co-worker’s sister was relocating to Arizona and desperately in need to find a home for her cat because she was unable to make the trip. So after a few brief emails and phone calls – a week later Phoebe was mine and we started our life together.

It has been a very interesting ride so far. I only had Phoebe for a week before I took a jet setting adventure to Brazil. And one of my closest and best friends opened his home to her and for that I will be eternally grateful. It took her about a month and a half but I believe Phoebe finally feels at home and is now ruling this roost. She has her weird personality quirks like all cats do but I would not trade her for anything in the world. And I appreciate all of my cat friends for helping me along the way and training me on proper Kitty Momma etiquette. I, however, have been dreading the day where I would have to take Phoebe to the vet. Today was that day.

 I have to say, I was very proud of my little girl and was pleasantly surprised how well she did. We had a little snag getting her into the cat carrier and some crying down to the car and on the drive to Allentown but overall she was not bad. I was even more impressed with how she was with the Vet; I guess I should give most of the credit to the professional. She almost resembled a completely different feline – and I could even pet and hold her, which is something that doesn’t happen on a regular basis if at all – at least not yet! Perhaps my biggest surprise of all was the bill. I didn’t know what to expect but I did not think the bill would be triple digits. We’ve always had pets in our household whether it was a dog, rabbit or a bird – I was never fiscally responsible for paying the bill. Welcome to the world of adulthood, Cherie! Don’t get me wrong it was all for my little girl and to keep her healthy, but let’s just hope we can keep these visits and bills to only once a year.

Meow.