As I grow older, I'm much more selfish and less brave than before.  I
have sworn that there will never be another cat in this house after
Hobo goes to RB.  

When we lived in Florida we had eight kitties.  It broke our hearts
when the we lost the first (jaw cancer) and I still remember thinking
later while watching the remaining cats "Oh, God, we have to go
through this seven more times!"  Horrifying thought, how could we do
it?  So what happened?  We allowed strays Speckles and Hobo to adopt
us from the streets.  *Nine* more losses to get through!  We loved
each and every one equally.   Focus on the love and enjoyment, silly!
So we did.  Wonderful years with all of them.

When we moved here from Florida, only three remained - Custard, Hobo,
and Speckles.  Custard left us a few years later, at 19 years.  Each
loss was excruciating, as you all well know.  Speckles broke my heart
again when she died last fall and our love for the nine departed is
now concentrated solely on Hobo - sick with diabetes, hypertension,
and kidney problems.  We know his leaving us will tear our souls out,
and I pledged that he is our last cat.  No more.  Couldn't stand
another, selfish as it may be.

So what have I done?  Earlier this year, I posted that my daughter is
moving to Budapest, Hungary, and is heartbroken that she has to leave
her five kitties behind.  She's looking for homes for them.  I
half-heartedly said I might take one, maybe.  She's now ready to sell
her house and e-mailed me to see if I'd take D-Day or Widget.  Sure,
I'll take them both!!  She told me D-Day is terrified of Widget who
attacks her.  I thought D-Day might like one of her cohorts to keep
her company and help her adjust.  I'd take Hoover, who's the oldest
and sickly, and Barney with whom D-Day gets along fine.  Strumpet is
mostly outdoors and mostly with their neighbors across the street so
he's got a home now and Stephanie hopes she can find one for Widget.

Oh, lord, what have I done?  Will Hobo get along now that he's a
"single" and king-of-the-hill?  ( Good thing there's been an RPCA
thread about integrating kitties.)  Would other cats be happy here as
indoor-only kitties after years of being free to roam?  Have I lost my
mind?  *No* *more* *cats* I say, *no* *more* *cats*!!

Oh, well, as they say, a house without a cat is not a home.

 Jeanne