Meet Guinness

Guinness is a special cat.  He's actually not even a cat yet, he is a kitten.  He came to me wrapped in a towl on the very same day I had found out that my grandpa had a heart attack.  I had gone out to see Remi, my horse for comfort, because there was nothing else I could do.  All of a sudden, Sam, our neighbor's dog came running by.  I turned around and our neighbor and good friend was walking toward me with something wrapped in a towel.  I had no idea what it would be, whether it was healthy and alive or sick.  He had found him right by my house near the side of the road in a ditch.  It was a cool, rainy spring day, and this tiny kitten was wet and shivering...I couldn't say no.  Then again, I love animals so much I even think moles are cute.  I know.  You don't have to say anything.  I'm crazy.  We took the kitten into the house, and I was hesitant to even hold it.  Not because I was afraid it might have fleas, ticks, or some crazy disease; I knew I would fall in love with it.  Did I mention Matt and I live with a dog (Cope), and a guinea pig (Gizmo)?  Our house is tiny, and already full.


We brought the kitten into the bathroom, and I grabbed the hair dryer and turned it on low, ready for the kitten to freak out.  He didn't.  He let us dry him off.  His shivering gradually subsided, and Casey, our neighbor, said, "I think you have a new kitten!"  Immediately I told him no, we absolutely did not have a new kitten. 


Shortly thereafter, Matt got home, took one look and said, "No, you are not keeping it!"  Approximately 15 minutes later, after Guinness was dry and curled up asleep on my chest he said, "Okay, fine.  You can keep it."  So that is how we got Guinness. 


Fast forward about a month to now, and Guinness has made his way not only in to my heart (like that was a tough one), but in to Matt's and even Cope's heart.  He actually thinks he is a dog....wants to go outside when Cope goes out, wants to eat from his food bowl (he has his own), drinks his water (it must taste better coming from someone else's bowl), and plays hard with Cope. 

At first I was concerned about Cope accepting Guinness.  I don't know if there is anything in the world he loves to do more than chase cats. Yeah. I know.  As Guinness began rubbing up against Cope for the first time, purring, Cope's eyes were wide and he wasn't sure if wanted to bite him of swat him away.  They have since become best friends and they love to play together.  Cope is extremely gentle with Guinness.  I wish I could say the same about Guinness with Cope.  He loves to lunge at him and knaw on his tail.  But they also love to curl up and sleep together...It's funny how things just work out, how the best of friendships can arise from the most unexpected places, and how two creatures who are usually naturally sworn enemies can love each other so much...