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<<<..........................................My New Family...............................................>>>
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Sisters Sasha and Konya were born over 12 years ago in Aiken South Carolina. At three months old my mother adopted them from an animal shelter. They are mostly Maine Coon cats and lived with Mom in Lenox Massachusetts, until January 2009. Due to her age (89) and declining health she decided they needed a new home. Over the years I have had extended visits with Mom helping her with health issues so both cats know me. So with a heavy heart I drove north from North Carolina (11 1/2 hours) to claim the kitties. My Mom adores them and the joke in the family is that Sasha and Konya are our half sisters.
"As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind."
- Cleveland Amory
Mom got the kitties after a trip to Turkey (with me) in 1996. My father had passed the previous year and she said she didn't like coming home to an empty house. The names are significant because she named them after our three-week adventure in Turkey. Sasha was named after our tour guide, gentle, kind, humorous soul from Croatia; Sasha left his country during the civil war and worked as a tour guide. We had lots of fun and laughing with him.
Konya was named after a city in Turkey where we saw the Whirling Dervishes. The afternoon we checked into the Hotel in Konya, Mom asked our other guide Hussam (Istanbul University professor) when we would see the Whirling Dervishes. Hussam said he hadn't made arrangements for us to see them. Well Mom was crushed and told Hussam the reason she came to Turkey was to see them. She talked to Hussam several minutes about it and you could see in his face he was a bit surprised by Mom's insistence. Both guides liked us because we never caused any problems, always were making jokes and were totally enjoying our trip. Finally Hussam said he would see if he could arrange it for the evening. True to his word we saw a performance that evening at the Hotel. For an hour they whirled and most of us feel into a trance. It was one of the most spiritually lifting experiences I have ever seen and felt. And I had the best night sleep on the entire trip.
Of all the locations in Turkey we traveled there was only one place I felt very uncomfortable and was quite agitated the entire day and half we were there. At times I felt fear rise in me as we visited the different museums. I had many incredible and life changing experiences in Turkey yet in this one place I couldn't wait to leave. So it was a nice balance for me to see the Whirling Dervishes. Yet the next day after leaving Konya I sighed deeply and relaxed. In some past life I lived in Konya and it was hell for me.
"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats."
- Albert Schweitzer
The reason I spent time telling you about the cats names is because it is quite reflective of their personalities. Konya is an alpha female, and totally dominated my mother's attention, hisses at her sister, is indifferent to being brushed and was quite jealous if Mom showed affection towards Sasha. Moody would also describe Konya. Yet she can be very affectionate, smart, sensitive and is a one-person cat. She is slowly transferring her affection to me.
Sasha is a love and will receive affection from anyone. And she loves to be brushed. I have never had a cat like her and I have had many cats. She goes into a trance when brushed, purrs loudly and rolls her eyes up. If I didn't know better I would say she was having an orgasm! And she knows she is no longer second cat. She doesn't like to be picked up but I do it anyway to get her use to it and yesterday I finally felt her relaxing in my arms. My Mom never picked up the cats! Go figure...LOL From the minute I took the cats Sasha purred and fussed over me. She knew the rules have changed. She is finally coming into her own at 12.
Konya is grieving for Mom as I write these words. Yet she is eating and purring and at times demands my attention. She loves to be picked up so at times I hold her and walk around the apartment talking to her. They both love to watch me.... all the time. I even had to set up an extra chair next to my computer! One concept they haven't grasped though is they try to rub my left hand while I use the mouse. They also don't quite get the fact that I have to gently push them away so I can see the computer screen.
"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior."
- Hippolyte Taine
We bought two cat shelves, which were easy to attach to the windowsills so they have comfortable perches to watch the world go by. The cat box is the big issue. In the past I always had cats that went outside but these don't so the cat box gets lots of use. As a result there is cat litter at times on my bathroom floor. Konya won't use a hooded box so I have to constantly sweep up litter. Eventually I will have Sasha meet Chester, the Maine Coon cat that lives upstairs. My landlord Bobby and I have been talking for weeks about how to do the introductions. Konya won't be participating.
"Beware of people who dislike cats."
- Irish Proverb
A large problem in the United States is the abandonment of pets. Many animals are dumped on the streets. When I lived on Cape Cod people would just leave the pets when they after the summer was over. Also when many elderly people can no longer take care of their animals, family members will often not take on the responsibility to make sure they are well cared for and loved. In my family animals are loved. My sisters, my daughter, my nieces and nephews will always be there to help. We love our cats and dogs and consider them important members of our family. After all, we are all connected.
"I love cats because I love my home and after a while they become its visible soul."
- Jean Cocteau
Two months later: Both cats are well adjusted now and have completely accepted me. Konya hisses less at her sister and I can even brush her when she is relaxed. She even lets me brush her tummy. Sasha still loves brushing and demands I turn on the water in the sink so she can drink from the tap. They both purr the moment I touch them and still watch my every move. Konya sleeps with me at night but isn't happy when I object to her sleeping in the middle of the bed. They both talk to me by meowing and making an "urp" sound that cats do sometimes. They still follow me from room to room. Sasha is quite interested in quilt making but hasn't grasped the fact that I have a difficult time sewing when she is sitting on the piece I am working on. She gives me "that look" when I make her move. One of these days I’ll have to make them each their own cat quilt like I use to do for my previous cats.
"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."
- Mark Twain Notebook, 1894
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Sasha with her tongue out while washing herself.
She just had her morning brushing.
Konya in her cat tree.
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"Dogs come when they're called. Cats take a message and get back to you."
- Mary Bly
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