Breaking News -- Kittens!

I may have mentioned that we have a minor infestation of mice, displaced by Ontario Line construction nearby.  We did bring in an exterminator, but it hasn't solved the issue so far.  My wife somewhat reluctantly said we could get a kitten.  Then she had several sleepless nights.  (While the mice were briefly in the kitchen, they seem to have moved into her room on the 2nd floor!  So odd because there are definitely other and better places for them to go.)  Anyway, she then turned to me and asked how quickly could I get a cat!  I had only just started looking, assuming this was going to be a several week process, but I accelerated the search.  (I also pressed my luck and said two kittens would be better than one, and she gave in on that.)

There were a few likely postings on Kajiji, and I reached out to a few, not sure of what to expect as it was Thanksgiving weekend.  Anyway, one guy got back to me, and we agreed I would drop by on Sunday afternoon.  This meant that Sat. and Sun. morning were spent running around, picking up pet supplies.  (We haven't had any pets for 20 years.  Since we moved to England in fact -- when we had to give up two cats.)  He had three very attractive kittens, and though they were males (and I have a slight preference for females as they generally are calmer and suffer from fewer urinary infections), I decided that males might be better mousers.  He said the orange and the silver one were available, and I said that sounds terrific.

I took the bus over to Dufferin and Dupont, near where the guy lived.  I was bummed that Bau-Xi was closed.  Normally they are open on Sundays, but I guess they decided the holiday was worth celebrating.  I may or may not get back later in the month.  When I got to the house, the guy said that someone else had put a hold on the orange kitten.  I was more than a little put out by this, since he had said the orange one was available.  Now it turns out that the black one was available (I thought it had already been taken).  I fussed a little bit and said that I was picking up two of them.  He agreed that adopting two from the same litter was better, and he gave me the orange and silver kittens after all.  Apparently, the other guy did take the black kitten, so I guess it worked out ok.

They are still adjusting to the new place, and I am not sure quite how social the silver cat will be, but the orange one is quite a sweetheart, and already likes being brushed and petted and tolerates being held.  They mostly camp out underneath my desk, but they have started exploring a bit.  I have been able to get the orange one upstairs into the master bedroom.  (And the silver one had considerably less separation anxiety last night, which is promising.)  They haven't caught any mice yet, but it's early days.  The ultimate goal is to try to get any mice in the house and then just generally having the presence of cats around should keep other mice from getting in.  Fingers crossed. 

So that's what I got up to this Thanksgiving.