* * *

we have two cats, Dizzy (full name: Francis “Franny” Frank Sinatra Dizzy Gillespie Jose) and Zooey (full name Zooey “Bird” Deschanel Juliette Binoche Jose). they fight all the time, they leave fur everywhere, they’ve broken at least one computer, and they refuse to clean out their own litterbox. i love them, but they’re sort of a nuisance sometimes.

the thing is, Dizzy is amazing with kids. he lets them grab his fur by the handful, he’s endlessly patient, and a few times when emma was a toddler, he even let her climb on his back and play “pony ride”. he’s the one emma calls “her” cat, and he can often be found at the foot of her bed, purring.

Zooey’s a little more elusive and stand-offish. she keeps her distance from strangers and children. but…the new addition to the family must have brought out some sort of maternal instincts in this cat, because she LOVES eliza. if i’m nursing the baby in bed, Zooey sits on the other side of the baby (between Eliza and the edge of the bed) as if protecting her from rolling over. if the baby’s playing in her crib, Zooey jumps in and sits beside her (i’ve watched this at close and far range to make sure Zooey wasn’t planning a pounce); she even allows eliza to ‘pet’ her, which usually results in a baby with a fist-full of fur, but a totally calm kitty. Zooey has definitely claimed Eliza as her girl, and vice-versa.

And with that little expenditure of affection and patience, these cats have made sure they’re absolutely treasured, valuable members of the family.

* * *