by Nannette E.
We adopted T.C. from Folsom Feline Rescue the weekend before Thanksgiving, 2006. He's been with us almost one year -- and boy what a year!
T.C. is a large caramel and cream tabby. He's not orange, more like buff. When he was with his foster family, they called him Muscat. He is a male kitty and he is around 3 years old.
We actually had our eye on another kitty, but when I got to the pet store she was gone. The only one left was Muscat -- T.C.'s original name. We really wanted a new kitty. We had just put our 19-year-old cat to sleep.
T.C. was the last kitty left and I knew he needed a good home. But, what sealed the deal was he let me get into the cage with him. He was not scared and he talked a blue streak.
So I put down my deposit. I came back that evening with my husband and our 13-year-old Dalmatian/German Shepherd cross dog, Jack, and he didn't hiss at Jack. We felt T.C. would fit with our family nicely. We all decided he was the one, so we made arrangements to pick him up the next morning.
T.C. came into our home and took over. We did have to make some changes, though. Our last kitty was only 8 pounds. T.C. topped out at 17 pounds! He's like having two cats! We needed a larger carrier... we had to buy one at the store to get him home! We needed larger litter boxes and beds. You definitely know when he jumps on the bed or is running up the stairs! He's not built for stealth.
T.C. only eats one specific kind of dry food. He demands to drink water from the faucet. (We got him a fountain drinking bowl so he can have running water when we're not home.) He will only use his potty box if it is in a bath tub. Leave it out and he'll leave you a "present" in the tub. He is getting better at being held. But on his own initiative he is a snuggler, loves to knead bread, and loves to give love nips -- little nips at my husband's cheeks and nose.
T.C. is so inquisitive, even his tail seems to be perpetually crooked on the end, just like a question mark. He does not have one scared bone in his body. Turn on the blow dryer, vacuum cleaner, or leaf blower -- he doesn't flinch. Nothing seems to scare him. He always wants to be with people. Everyone he meets is a new adventure. When the doorbell rings, he runs to see who is visiting.
My husband and I have been married for 20 years. We have no kids, so we've always had dogs and cats. My husband, Gene, is a dental technician at Folsom Prison and I am an electrical engineer working for the Northern California Power Agency in Roseville. I am a crafter and sewer -- most recently a scrapbooker. Gene is an outdoor lover. He's a hiker, canoer and kayaker.
T.C. was a replacement kitty for our beloved Elsie. In 2006 we had to put down two dogs and our cat. T.C. has certainly helped us grieve through laughter. He is just what we needed.
Everyday is a new experience. T.C. is like no other cat we have ever had. Like I said, we originally wanted another kitty, but we are so thankful we got T.C. He has been a hoot. 