ZUKO

Oh my goodness you came!
For that you may stand at the door looking at me and I'll purr from a distance.

I know, that probably doesn't sound so friendly but the truth is, life hasn't been too nice to me. Not a lot is known by Jenni about me and my memory is a bit dodgy - I'm old remember - but here is my story.

How it began

I liked to visit this lady. She had a few cats and we all tried to avoid each other. I guess we were all a bit old and preferred our own company. Problem was this lady passed away and no one in her house wanted us cats.

Next time we all knew we were bundled into cat carriers and left at the vet - surrendered and unwanted. The other cats liked to be picked up, they liked being cuddled and talked to right from the moment the vet opened the carrier.

Me? Well I crouched at the back of the carrier and when that big hand tried to reach it I readied my claws for battle. The closer that hand got to me the more ready I was. I might have been 14 years old then but I could move when I needed and living on the streets had given me a mean left swipe. And so, just before that hand touched me, with my back up against the carrier I launched my attack. A series of swipes in quick succession, a yowl of pain, and I watched the now streaked with blood retreat. I wasn't done yet, I told them off with a growl and maintained my fighting stance. No way were they going to get near me.

Maybe I overreacted a little? I don't know. My cat companions were soon collected in cat carriers by other people. I was tipped into a cage on a shelf and let me tell you I made sure they knew exactly what I thought of that treatment!

There I remained with my own food, water and a kitty tray. I overheard two humans talking about me going to sleep forever. I didn't want to do that, I just wanted to be loved and have a home. I felt so sad and it didn't improve my mood. Even the food didn't seem so great anymore.

But, do you remember that hand?

I saw it again a couple of days later as it put on some kind of covering. My fighting stance resumed. I was ready to protect myself at all costs. The cage unlocked. The hand coming for me. I swiped like I never had before but each one seemed ineffective against the hand. I reared up and my head hit against the roof of the cage. The hand dared to reach around my waist. I readied both front paws and dug my claws into that hand. The hand began to pull me out of the cage and so I sunk in my teeth. Ain't going to lie, made my teeth hurt something terrible, but I was fully invested in winning this fight. As the hand pulled away from the cage I pulled my back legs up and extended my claws. The room around me moved as I was placed on a table. Something sharp in my neck and then my mind floated away into a world of endless mice for me to chase and hands to bite.

When I woke up everything was a bit fuzzy and I knew two things:

there were no mice in the cage with me
there were no hands either

When I tried to eat I found someone had put this thing around my head - I know, I saw my silly reflection in the door of the room. My mouth also hurt and not to mention I was a bit sore...in a certain place.

And that was life for a week or so before the hand returned. That human bent down at the cage of the door and told me that I couldn't stay much longer. I remembered that conversation about sleeping forever. As much as I had enjoyed the world of endless mice to chase, I still liked to be awake for a few hours a day.

I tried not to be as grumpy when that covered hand returned. I cowered in the carrier as I left the room thinking: This is it! It's the end.

Instead, I was handed over to a human with two little humans and told I had a forever home.

New Beginning

I found myself in a home with two other cats. No way was I making friends. I spent every waking moment hidden under the big bed and with my paws armed and dangerous.

Then this big black and white cat called Domino came to check on me. He's a friendly cat - his brother PJ is a bit more standoffish (we put up with each other but aren't besties). But as the weeks went by I finally realised that these people didn't want to get rid of me. I got myself a new name too, Zuko. Apparently I got named after some television character who went through a lot.

Days turned into weeks and I discovered that sleeping on the bed was much more comfortable for my body than the floor. Of course, anytime a human dared come into the room I was under that bed as fast as I could. Domino said everything would be okay. For a young cat he sure knew a lot. Did you know he got adopted like me? I'll let him tell you his story when he's ready. I'm quite happy to curl up asleep next to Domino or sometimes we groom each other.

I even found this soft pink ball that rattles when I chase it. I only do that when the humans aren't watching - I'm positive I'm so stealthy enough they'll never find out! With Domino's encouragement I even allow the humans to pet me. Sometimes, I even headbutt their hands for an extra pat. If I'm feeling generous, I even let Jenni pick me but I time it for 4.7 seconds exactly before I demand to be put back down.

So that's my story. I spend most of the day sleeping. Occasionally I run onto the back veranda and look at the yard before high-tailing it back inside. I don't want to get locked out and not have a home anymore so best for me to stay inside.

Yes, I'm a little old and grumpy but my new family don't seem to mind.

Weapon Sharpener

I only act like a kitten when no one is watching!
Really, the humans don't know.
Also this thing helps me to always be prepared for any hands I don't know!

Heated Seats

It's not really heated but it is right next to the heater in the lounge room and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Here I am dreaming of that world of endless mice I can battle.

Kitten Supervisor

Apparently being old means I have some responsibility towards these little bundles of fluff. I supervise at a distance when it's my turn.

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