Henry looked very similar to Shadow; a cat that had been hanging around our yard a while before Henry's arrival. We all agreed that Henry was probably the offspring of Shadow. Their facial structures were very similar and their personalities were also very similar...sweet and loving.
Yam would come over after work to spend time with Henry. She eventually made a vet appointment for him to have him looked over, neutered, chipped and vaccinated. All went well and she was able to take Henry home. He is still a sweet and loving cat. Being a house cat agrees with him. He has filled out and has become a very handsome boy. When you pet Henry his fur feels like a mink coat.
A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, a young, gray cat showed up in our backyard. He was sitting in the grass just looking at The Colonel and I. The Colonel went to get some cat food (he always has some on hand). He opened the can and put the cat food on a paper plate. He set the plate a few feet from the back porch steps and called for the cat. The cat ran to the plate and gobbled up the food. The Colonel opened up another can which the cat too gobbled up.
We called the cat to us and to our surprise he came without fear and let us pet him. He loved the caresses and ear-scratches. He came to visit us everyday. He liked to be near us. When The Colonel was rebuilding a porch swing for a friend, the cat was under his feet.
Yam was not aware of the new cat at our house but one day while we talked to her she said that she was entertaining the idea of getting another cat. We told her about the new cat. Yam came over to see him. She liked him and he liked her. She decided then that she wanted to "adopt" this cat.
Yam asked if we could bring him into our house so that nothing would happen to him while she made a vet appointment for him. We said of course. He fit right into the house cat role. He picked the most comfortable seat in the living room, my Lazy Boy recliner. He slept in our bed (especially on my side. He could not be far from me at any time, day or night).
Yam decided on the name James for her new cat. Since her other cat was named Henry, she wanted to continue the kingly names. She researched the names...Henry means "Ruler of the house" and James means "Supplanter, one who follows or overthrows". How were they going to get along when the time came to introduce them?
Yam was able to make a vet appointment for James on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She had to work, so The Colonel and I took James to the vet early that morning. All of James' blood work was good, so they were able to neuter, chip and vaccinate him. We picked him up around 2 p.m. and brought him back to our house.
The next day was Thanksgiving. Spud came into town from Jacksonville. Yam and my in-laws came from in-town. We had a lovely lunch with all the fixins. James did not mind the full house. Everyone loved James and James loved everyone.
When it finally came time for Yam and my in-laws to head back into town, Spud went to stay with Yam. He was going to help her with the task of introducing the "boys" to one another over the long, holiday weekend. I missed having James around me.
Spud stayed in the guest room with James. Yam and Spud slowly introduced the boys to one another, as did The Colonel and I the next day when we went for a visit. James was eager to meet Henry and would chatter to him from the other side of the door. The Colonel and Spud went to The Home Depot to get a piece of wire shelving. Yam used it to make a barrier between the boys; they could see one another but not get to one another. There was very little hissing or growling form either cat. Finally the shelving was removed and the boys were able to get near one another (if they wanted to). Yam reported no major fights.
The Colonel and I visited Yam and the boys last week. The boys were getting along nicely. Henry licked and head-butted James and James did not flinch. Yam texted the following photo to us the other day. It is entitled "Nap time"...
Looks like the boys are getting along nicely (despite their kingly names).
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