Can I keep him? Can I keep him? Can I keep him? Huh? Huh? Can I keep him? Can I? Can I? Please please please please please?

Heh.

So anyway, I came home last night at about 1:30 and there was a little orange kitten on the sidewalk. He ran up the steps into a neighbor's yard when I got out of the car, but then he came over next to another parked car where I could vaguely see another cat. I didn't get a good look at the other cat, because it took off and ran into the alley, but the kitten came right up to me and started mewling and generally making himself my new best friend.

Now. I already have too many cats. I determined that my optimal cat number is greater than two but less than three, but since it's not possible to have a fractional cat I'm already over my limit. Going up to four is just a bad idea, any way you slice it.

But he's adorable, and after I put some food out for him he stuck around the porch all night (mostly up on the brick fascia on the stairway to the main entrance upstairs, but on the porch nonetheless). I got up this morning with two options: call a rescue group, or take him to the vet. Which do you think I did?

The vet said he's in pretty good health, about 8 weeks (going by the pound every four weeks rule, which was the first time I'd heard that) old, and almost certainly raised by people to some extent because he was totally adjusted to being around humans and being picked up and stuff. The vet said with actual feral kittens, you can't even get near them. I ended up getting the recommended treatment for his ear mite, worm, and possible flea problems (it's called Revolution), and if I keep him he has to go back in three weeks. I also got some information on rescue groups they've worked with, and the vet thought he'd get placed really quickly since he's small, cute, and personable.

But since the rescue people probably aren't there on weekends, I've got him until Monday, by which point I have to make up my mind if the house can handle a fourth cat or not.

And now I need a nap, since I got out of bed early to make sure I didn't miss the vet's Saturday hours (where "early" on a Saturday means "before 11").

(2000-06-10)