She was a showgirl…
OK, that’s probably not true, considering we found her at the animal shelter and not in an alley behind Caesar’s Palace lying in a bed made out of used pasties and rhinestone-encrusted thongs. But trust me, she’s definitely cute enough to be a showgirl. And I’m talking high-end casino showgirl, too, not cruise ship showgirl where you don’t even need all of your front teeth to be a headliner.
(Idea: Train cats to perform “A Chorus Line.” Get rich. Buy mansion in Jamaica. Leg-warmer wearing cats sign multimillion dollar deal with Purina and cut all ties. Die alone.)
Meet Lola!
Unlike her namesake, she ate the yellow feathers I put in her
hair and peed on her dress cut down to there.
“Hey, just wait a goshdarn second! She’s not an orange tabby!” you’re all probably yelling at your computers right about now. Or at least you are according to my strange mental disorder that leads me to believe that thousands of people around the world are deeply invested in my kitten choices.
Allow me to essplain.
Monday night we went to the shelter to pick up the orange tabby we had put a hold on, only to find out that she wasn’t allowed to go home for a few more days due to some lingering health issues. We said we were happy to wait for her, but as we were getting ready to leave, we heard a loud “meow” and a clunk. We turned around and saw a little furface clinging to the wire door of her cage, desperately trying to get our attention. She gazed at us with big green eyes and then started purring loud enough to hear over the dogs barking in another room.
“Uh-oh, looks like someone wants to adopt you,” I said to the completely charmed boys.
Suckers that we are, we immediately gave into the kitten’s quite impressive salesmanship and took her into one of the shelter’s Meet ‘n Greet rooms where she played like she was competing to win a gold medal in the 2012 “Yarn Ball Destruction” event. Then, when we were nearly 100% smitten with her, she climbed my leg and contentedly curled up in my lap.
“They must teach kittens the ABC rule here,” Chris said. “Always Be Closing. That feline’s a mondo playa.”
“Please don’t talk street,” I muttered to him while I debated what we should do. On the one hand, the orange girl tabby was soft, sweet and completely adorable. But on the other hand, this kitten—while not the cutest we’d ever seen—was the perfect combination of playful and snuggly, and she also had a wild spirit about her. A spirit that reminded me of a calico that I used to know. A calico who lived for 19 1/2 beautiful years.
I went to the front desk where Chad, the exhausted volunteer, told me the orange tabby had quite a few people interested in taking her. “What about the calico?” I asked. “Does anyone want to adopt her?”
“No,” he answered as she stared intently at us from her cage. “And she’s already been here a month.”
Five minutes later, she was on my lap and we were on the freeway heading home. She purred the entire way.
She has a shaved belly! Just like Billy Ray Cyrus!
A huge “thank you” to all of you for the fabulous name suggestions. My family and I loved reading all of them and they definitely would have worked perfectly well for either cat. (Or the imaginary friend I plan to have when I’m in the nursing home.) But we ultimately decided to call her “Lola” (which a few of you suggested) because what else would you all expect from a rapidly aging Fanilow Cat Lady? I think Barry would be pleased.
Anyway, no more cat stories for awhile. I promise I’ll now move on to something more exciting—like maybe laundry stories! Or grocery shopping stories! Or stories about my brain cells being cooked in the 90 degree heat! Hooray! (And Jeanne Flynn, please email me your address so I can send you a special something that’s definitely not Pokemon cards and my old Spanx. Are you allergic to latex?)
How could you not love her? OMG, I want one and I have too many cats already!
She is lovely! And I do need further reports because I have a 3 year old male (neutered) and he wears us out with his antics so I think he needs a playmate, but a cat-lover friend says that he is the king here and would resent a newcomer. So I need to know how your two work out their new living arrangements.
Congratulations on your new addition. May she live long and prosper in her new home. Love the name.
So, of course I teared up at the nod to Dickens, but I’m so happy to *meet* your new addition. And, umm, if you ever have cat stories you want to share, I could probably make myself available.
Sounds as though somebody spunky passed the audition! And yes, I was one of those saying, “Wait a goshdarn second!” because I thought with 4 “Likes” Ion my suggestion, I had this competition sewn up.
Just make sure to name the kitty condo the “Copa”
She looks like my late great Echo, who was one fantastically adorable & loving big boy. What does that mean to you? Only that by some kitty karma, Lola will be just as fantastic as my Echocat. Smoochies to her.
Welcome Lola! Congrats to everyone
That is one adorable kitty. I’m a dog person myself, but that kitty is so cute I’m almost ready to convert. Actually I love kittens. Cats tend to be too independent for me (and my co-dependent personality), but kittens are fun. I hope you all enjoy Lola.
(1) I immediately noticed the switch and bait.
(2) She’s a doll.
(3) Congrats to Jeanne for suggesting an awesome name.
(4) Despite having an orphan 3 week old kitten at my house, I am not tired of cute kitten stories.
(5) Love the photo. Pictures of her dressed up in a showgirl costume could make her a YouTube star.
More kitten pictures!
Awww, I had a Lola-cat, and she chose me too at an adoption event. I sat on the floor in the cat room and that sweet girl walked right over and climbed into my lap. Congrats on your new family member!
I’m impressed you aren’t the proud new owner of two cats. That’s what I’d of done…which is why I’m never allowed anywhere near a cat shelter.
She’s adorable.
Welcome Lola!
“not the cutest we’d ever seen but…”
No way! That’s exactly what Bill said on the night he met me.
I might’ve crawled up onto his lap then, too.
Of course we were in a bar.
(But it was NOT on a cruise ship so don’t get smart.)
p.s. I forgot. This post isn’t about me. And Lola is perfection. In every way.
Lola is very cute, but even more importantly, she already has your number. Watch your credit card very closely or she’ll be figuring out a way to order can toys on ebay.
And that’s a purr-fect name.
Congrats!
We adopted a stray kitten last Dec and named her Lola. I have since started calling her Lola Bird after Lady Bird Johnson b/c she is a feisty cat and I always thought of Lady Bird as classy, but with a feisty side too.
First thought: Holy crap, Wendi’s color blind!
B.) Those are some biiiig ears.
3.) When they work that hard to earn their spot, they will never work that hard again. Be prepared for chaos and mayhem.
Lastly: Omigawd! SO cute!
PS: Thanks for jamming that song in my head for the rest of the evening.
Ohhhhh, she’s purrrrfect!!!!
And, I have that same colorful carpet. ‘cept my cats have sliced ours to shreds and it’s headed out to the curb this weekend.
Lola is super adorable! I love her and have already forgotten about that orange cat and her “health problems.”
I’m all teary-eyed and jealous – you have a new cat AND a new kitten. Congratulations on the adorable new addition!
If Lola and Virgil have issues, may I suggest “Cat Detective” (if you don’t have it already). Wonderful book on cat behaviour.
All best for you and your furries!
Used pasties and rhinestone
crustyencrusted thongs…have you been in my closet again?Congrats on the newest family member.
Aww … I was looking forward to some cat stories
Lola is perfect of course
Hola Lola!!
Oh, she’s adorable. We would have been taking her out of there, too, if she was lonely and oh so charming. Have fun with Lola!
Knittergran, I had an adult male cat who lived by himself for a few years. Then I brought in a new cat (who needed a home). The first cat beat the snot out of the newbie for a few weeks and then they were best friends. It was a tough transition, but it’s worth it.
I have seen kittens like her referred to as calitabbies. Calico Tabby’s. She is beautiful and I know Virgil will love his little Lola kitty.
Knittergran, I have read that a female kitten would probably win your male cat’s heart!!
Lola is spectacular.
I love her.
So glad you picked the unwanted clown rather than the popular girl. Welcome, Lola!
Lola clearly wanted to be loved.
It’s heart-breaking that nobody had chosen her, but wonderful that you could.
What a lovely cat.
You’re all fortunate, indeed.
Beautiful, but I have a REAL showgirl. A retired actress. She was just a kitten in the stage production of Little Women, and had been rescued from a junkyard before making the big time. But, they wanted a retirement home for her when the show closed, and I made the mistake of taking my 12-year-old daughter to see the play. Needless to say, we were sitting at the stage door, closing night. Eventually, my daughter went off to college, got married, two kids – and Bonnie the actress still lives with me – just the two of us – growing old together in Galveston.
As soon as I saw the blog title, I slapped my head and said, “Of course!” Great job on the name and I’m glad she won your hearts over. Kittens are crazy fun!
So cute 😀
Great name for an adorable kitty. I’m so jealous. I want a cat so badly but certain people in my house are allergic.
Perfect!! And Knittergran – you have a great chance of the established cat NOT liking your new one. Or vice versa. We had two cats who got along soooo well. The older one died and my sweet sweet Spaz seemed to really miss having his buddy around. We went to the shelter and picked up a lover. 3 years later and they still absolutely hate each other! But then we had to take on one of my daughters cats who was terroriZed by her new puppy – losing weight and not grooming himself. Now he and the older cat love each other. Theres no telling if they’re going to get along at all.
I don’t even particularly like cats but that photo of her on her two back paws with her toy melted my heart!
Glad you picked her. Though whatever Lola wants, Lola gets.
I love that you started an animal blog.
Am I the only Mouthy Housewife without a cat now? I’m not doing it ladies.
Just like Billy Ray Cyrus–that cracked me up!
Mazel tov, Lola! Hope you like Pinot Grigio!
Lola…good name.
Did Lola write Scary Daddy Confessions, too? (you had to have seen that Today Show segment).
Cats are so damn genius. They totally know how to hook you. She is a cutie. Good choice for sure!
Awww, I love a good cat story. I’ll get a room next to yours at the ‘home’ mkay? xo
Awww Jeez, what a cutsie furball.
She played you like a kitty xylophone (not that there is such a thing- so please make one).
I have a Lola too – a puppy. Equally playful. Also ate a feather from her hair.
So sweet. I love kitties…sadly, everyone in my family has cat allergies.
So we just got a puppy. She’s cute too. But really needy. Like all of this feeding and walking? When does it end? I know – just saying…