Welcome Home, Gabriel!

It's been hard keeping this a secret for an entire week! But now I can finally let the cat out of the bag.

Gabriel (Oak) the day we met.

About 2.5 weeks ago, I was looking at the kitties at Giovanni's rescue website just to see.... I honestly didn't think I was ready for another kitten. But then I saw an orangie and well.....my heart went pitter patter. 

I applied o adopt from the rescue again, but by the time my application was accepted a mere several hours later, the kitten I was inquiring about had been adopted. Well, rats! So I kept an eye on the site the following days. I saw two orange brothers and inquired about them. Again, adopted out. Next, I saw two more orange brothers and actually set up a meeting with the foster to come meet them. Woohoo! But then she told me (several hours before I was supposed to meet them) that someone had adopted them. I saw an orange and white guy who was adorable, but he was also adopted out before I heard from the foster. Rats, rats, rats! 

Then, the first kitten I'd inquired about was up for adoption again, but he had coccidia. 

I was starting to wonder if God was telling me no, no kitten, not right now. 

But I decided to take one last stab at it...and set up a meeting to meet two kittens, Cedar and Oak. Again, another pair of orange brothers. 

When I was asking their fosters about them, it seemed like Cedar was everything I was looking for - snuggly, sweet, talkative, playful, and likes other kitties. But he wasn't all that interested in me. Oak, on the other hand, kept saying, "Pick me, pick me, PICK ME!!!!" I've learned enough to know that you have to listen to the cat, so I went home and told the rescue I'd like to adopt him. 

I went home feeling pretty good about my decision, but I was still just a tiny bit wary. What if God was saying no and I was just being stubborn? Oak was playful, social, and really seemed to want to come home with me, but was this going to work out? 

Well, I paid the adoption fee but had to wait until he and his siblings had neuter and spay surgeries done. Oak has four siblings - one orange brother (Cedar) and three gray sisters (Maple, Aspen, and Willow). 

They all had their surgeries on Thursday and did well. So I was able to pick up my baby on Saturday!

Here's the kicker. I found out on Thursday that Oak's litter was born on my birthday! I think that was God's way of affirming this is the right cat. 

I decided to rename Oak Gabriel, like the angel he is.

He and Giovanni have seen each other and are hissypants. Gabriel is currently spending most of the time in my room with the door shut, but he does get some time in his playpen in the living room. The hissing has calmed down from nearly every time they see each other to about half the time. Progress. I know it'll just take time. Everyone needs to adjust. But my anxious mind likes to run away with things.

If any of my animal communication friends want to talk to the boys and encourage them to get along, that would be lovely. I know they will be friends when they give each other a chance. They are both as sweet as can be.

Gabriel is a very snuggly guy! I've wanted a snuggly cat for years. He loves to be on me and with me. He gets upset when I leave the bedroom to visit with Giovanni but calms down after a few minutes. I don't think he's used to being alone. He slept on me most of the night last night. So sweet. 

Here is a video of Gabriel playing with a catnip bird on Saturday. I don't have a lot of photos of him yet. It's hard to get photos of a kitten who is on the move so much! I'm sure I'll have lots more to share as he continues to settle in.

Please send positive vibes for a smooth (and quick!) introduction process. I just want everyone to be happy.

Welcome home, Gabriel!! I already love you, little man!