Milo and friends

Last year just before Labor Day, Jake, one of Chad's friends, told Chad that he had these three cats wonder into his yard and he didn't know what to do with them. Chad called me and asked if we could take them in until we could find them homes. So, being the sucker that I am, I told him ok but we need to find them homes ASAP because this wasn't going to be a long term thing. The next day, Chad brought home a mama cat, a girl and a boy kitty. The night that I told Chad yes, we went to PetSmart and spent $200 on cats that I told him we weren't going to keep. The mama cat, who we named "Smudge", the grey girl kitty, who we named "Steeler", and the orange boy kitty, who we named "Milo" were all really good cats, they all went potty in the litter box right away. This is Milo and his family. (Note: Smudge had no tail, Steeler and 1/2 of a tail and Milo has a HUGE tail. He must get it from his Daddy!)

A few months before we took in Milo and his family, Lindy's cats Mariah and Tyler passed away. Lindy had them for 15+ years and they were like kids to her. Chad and I were hoping that she would take one of them so she wouldn't be by herself. Lindy decided that it was too soon for her to get another kitty, so after several hours of researching, we gave Smudge and Steeler to a local "NO KILL" rescue. (If you live in the area and want the phone number, please let me know. They were great!) I was a sucker and let Chad talk me into keeping Milo because he was a fun kitty and fit in perfectly at our house because he had an attitude and could stand up for himself. I told him that as long as he PROMISED to clean out the litter box EVERY DAY for as long as we had him, he could keep him. Yep, I really am a sucker.

About a month and a half later, Chad and I got married and went on our honeymoon for two weeks(!). Lindy stayed at our house and watched Melody, Allie and Milo for us. She had a lot of fun because Milo was still a tiny kitty and Mel was a tiny little fuzzball of a puppy. Milo and Mel became best friends because they grew up together. When we first brought Mel home, she was only 5 weeks old and still wasn't very strong on her feet, so Milo would jump on her and they would fall over and wrestle. This is where Milo first thought he was a dog. When Mel learned to sit for treats, so did Milo!! (Yes, I'm serious!)

Remember how I told you that Chad liked Milo because he had an attitude? Well, for a while, Milo and Chad avoided each other. Milo used to get mad at Chad because Chad would pick on him. Chad would tell me that Milo was my cat because Milo didn't like Chad anymore. When Chad had some time off a few months ago, he and Milo became close again.

A few months ago, we decided that we were going to sell our house and rent for a while so that we could get some things taken care of and not be so stressed out about money anymore. Chad found the perfect house for us last month, other than the fact that we can't have cats. So, I called Lindy and she came to the rescue. She is starting a new job (TOMORROW! YAY!) and wanted another cat to keep Willow from getting lonely during the day. (Willow is her other new cat that she got at the end of last year.)

So, Lindy flew down last Wednesday and was here until Monday. Milo got to go on his first (and only!) plane ride!! He wasn't happy about it at all. He hates his carrier. Lindy said that he did really good though. She said that when she went through security, they actually made her take him out of the carrier and walk him through!! She said she had one of the security guys help her get him back in since they made her take him out!!

Milo seems to be doing well, he's been checking everything out and is trying to make friends with Willow. She isn't having it. He's in her house and he has to follow her rules. Lindy said that when Milo gets close to Willow, she growls at him. She said he keeps trying though. ;o) Milo also gets to hang out on the patio now, he saw snow for the first time the other day!!

Because I'm a picture freak, here are a ton of pictures of when Milo was growing up, including a few that Lindy sent me from Colorado!!