I recently announced our formal adoption of Edgar Allen Poe, the adorable five month-old black kitten. As I was reading the comments, I was both thrilled and delighted with all the supportive, happy feedback. In fact some folks called us “heroes” for adopting a black kitten. They sent us many blessings.
However I didn’t quite understand the reason for the accolades we received for adopting a black kitten. We didn’t purposely adopt a black kitten. We just fell in love with his charming and beguiling purrsonality and his sweet, affectionate nature. But even if his color was pink and purple polka dotted it wouldn’t have made any difference. It was not only this little pip-squeaks’ personality and the cute chirping sounds that he made that were “ear and sweet candy” to us; it was also his gentle, curious personality that drew us to him the instant we held him. It was very obvious that he was begging us to give him a permanent loving home. Two hours later he got his wish!
Nothing could make us regret our decision to adopt Poe. He makes us smile and gives us so much joy. He showers us with an abundance of love and lots of kitty kisses. But had I known ahead of time that we would be coming home with a black kitten, I would have been better prepared and would have made some radical changes to our environment. We would have painted almost everything in our house white.
For example: Our bedroom furniture is rather dark and Marty’s exercise machine is black. Although we kitten-proofed the bedroom, we couldn’t change the color of our black flat-screen TV. Our phones are black; our bedroom chairs are covered in a dark fabric, and the bedframe is black.
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to find a black kitten on a mission to all of a sudden disappear in a room that was made to suit his taste? Edgar Allen Poe simply blends right into the shadows, leaving us dismayed when Poe has decided that he doesn’t want his presence known. I am certain he is getting one heck of a belly laugh at our expense!
Edgar Allen Poe joined our family already named. He also arrived accompanied by a flea or two. His fairly incessant scratching gave us a clue that Edgar Allen had some pesky insects hitchhiking on his body. Have you ever tried to find a flea on a black kitty? I mean – It’s a fruitless task as far as we are concerned!
Someone suggested giving Poe a bath using Dawn; leaving it on for about 10 minutes then rinsing him off thoroughly. Since Poe was attracted to water, I actually gave this idea some consideration. That was, however until he spied me filling the tub to take a bath. Naturally, Poe made a power dive into the tub, but once his paws, tail and belly got wet he started frantically trying to climb up the side of the tub. In his attempt to escape from the tub, the energy he exerted was identical to the amount of energy necessary to reach Mt. Everest’s peak. Give him a bath? It would be a fruitless exercise. In comparison, summiting Mt. Everest would be a breeze.
Our enigmatic and highly intelligent kitten had been named “Poe” by the shelter folks. We decided to give him a “classier” name which would fit his personality. So when I found an article about Edgar Allen Poe in which he was described as a “mysterious child playing practical jokes on his classmates and teachers and had an excitable temperament with a great deal of self-esteem”, I knew we had hit the nail on the head.
We are slowly introducing Poe to Sir Hubble Pinkerton, our senior white Oriental Shorthair. Poe is fascinated with his big “brother”. At the time of this writing Sir Hubble is kinda hedging his bets about this whole relationship and seems a little intimidated, but he treats Poe very gently.
What will transpire in the future remains a mystery. Should they become best buddies what I do know is that it will be much easier to locate a black kitten who is hanging out with an all-white cat. I am sure that they will work together to decide how their relationship will evolve.
If you happen to have a Chrystal ball handy, would you kindly share a prediction of what lies ahead for them? Please let me know in a comment.
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I have had the same problems. Combine the color black with the cat’s ability to move fast and surreptitiously and you’ve lost him in a jiffy.
Having lived with a tuxie girl for many years and now living with a tortie girl, I can relate to your “disappearing” problem! When Mittens, my tuxie girl- who had four little white paws and white fur from her chin down onto her tummy- was lying down or curled up in such a way as to hide her white fur…oh yeah, she vanished in and around dark and dark objects. Now Shadow, my tortie girl, was so named because with her dark tortie coloring she vanishes into the shadows! She’s even harder to see than Mitts was! I’m glad you rescued young Mr Poe. I think you will find that he will bring you, Marty and Sir Hubble (eventually) a great deal of joy. Congrats again!
Humans are the weirdest species on the planet by far.
No problem, Michael. In Britain and Japan having a black cat cross your path is considered good luck. I find it weird that some humans would hate an animal or a human because of their color. Some folks hate black dogs for that reason. And I’ve even met people who express hatred for black horses. Humans are weird.
I don’t think it makes any difference what color a cat, or dog is, as long as they win your heart and feel loved as I know you and Marty do. I am so happy that he found you and adopted you. I know he will have many happy years in your home where he will be cared for and loved.So happy for all of you.
So ridiculous, I agree! and humans are still color-prejudiced worldwide as well. I have no patience for this whatsoever. The same Creator made us all, all colors, all species — and loves us all, intrinsically. That’s more than enough for me.