CoCo sitting on the railing of our garden tool shed. 

Our CoCo

In the time I have known Susan we have had two cats. She had a cat when I met her and I cannot remember its name. Maybe it had no name. It lived in the garage and Susan largely ignored it. It ate scraps and left overs from the soup Susan made and never came in the house. I tried to become friends with it but it was aloof and not really interested in making friends with a human. A couple of years after we met this cat died without telling me his name.

I cannot recall where our next cat came from but I think it must have been brought to us by Caesar. We called her Michue and she too lived in the garage and the yard. She was not allowed in the house except on October 31st each year. She was terrified of the fireworks on Halloween and would cower and shake

I was taking this picture of Susan and Dominic when Michu came out of the garden to see what was going on.

Michu liked to sleep in the old Mexican clay fireplace on our patio.

at each sound. We felt so bad for her that we allowed her in to sit with us.

She loved the garden and would spend the summer days with Susan as she dug and planted. She would climb the trees, Michue that is, not Susan, and look in every hole Susan dug.

Michue was very affectionate but, looking back, we did not spend enough time with her and I regret that. She was a nice cat.  I didn’t take many pictures of her but here

are couple. And then, one day after about ten years, she did not come home. We had a few sad days and we looked for her but there was no sign of her. She was gone.

After Michue there was no more talk of cats. We were upset about Michue and I think we were avoiding any repeat of that sadness. And then Susan had a birthday last year. Caesar wanted to get his mother a cat. I guess Susan figured that out from what the children said and she immediately said “Don’t get me a cat! No pets!” But it was too late. Caesar already had picked up a kitten and on Susan’s birthday, August 15th, the brought this beautiful little calico ball of fur over and gave it to his mom.

The kitten loved Susan and viewed her as mother. She snuggled with her, slept with her and was always around her. It helped that it was Susan who usually fed her.

CoCo was fascinated with water running from a tap and would get into any sink where Susan was and wait for her to turn on the water.

CoCo was so fascinated by water that for a few months she took to sleeping in the sink in the bathroom. It was just her size!

It was love at first sight. Because she was so small, she came into the house with Susan. The kitten very quickly realized that Susan was her new Mom and took to her right away. She cuddled with Susan, followed her around, and played with her. Susan was hooked!

Our new family member had to have a name. Sam suggested Fig which I liked originally but Susan was not sure. She though about it for a few days and finally came up with CoCo. It was perfect and has proven to be a good name for an elegant vain female.

 

CoCo loves the garden and she likes to sit on the water tap shelves and watch Susan. Her she is wearing the collar her Auntie Sam gave her with her identity chip number and distemper vacination tags.

CoCo loves the garden; it is her jungle. She spends her days there having all kinds of adventures. She especially likes it when Susan is working there. She loves to sit and watch her Mom working in the garden.

Tree climbing is another favorite activity, especially if someone is watching so she can show off. Actually, she is very good in the trees.

CoCo had no trouble making herself at home. The wonder of it was that Susan allows her anything she wants. This cat can do no wrong!

Susan and this cat are inseparable. CoCo follows her arond the house like a dog. In the garden the  cat watches Susan, digs in the earth with her, prowls through the vegetables, and climbs the trees all the better to watch her.

CoCo is very independent, nevertheless. She disappears for hours at a time, all day sometimes, but eventually hunger always gets the best of her and she shows up at the door wanting in.

I understand why old people like to have pets. We are alone most days but now we have a family again. There are tiny feet running through the house and there is a little soul to look after. And the affection is returned manyfold. And yet CoCo is low maintenance and very independent.  She is no trouble to have around. We are very happy that she has come to live with us!

CoCo Prosperi Porta