Introducing Maximus (aka Max)!

Over the last several months I've been thinking that Disa would like a friend since I never seem to be home. Despite my fear of becoming a "crazy cat lady" with two cats - I started looking into finding Disa a friend. My vet recommended a laid-back male cat, about the same age or younger, so Disa could still be boss, and to find one from a rescue group who has been in foster care. That way they've been around other cats. Well the first one I looked at seemed to be a perfect match. Laid-back guy with the cute face and big eyes like I like.

Last night I went to meet "Camelot" (name will be changing - Max is the front runner) for the first time (I dragged Kim along to be my voice of reason). We got to the lady's house and I realized I was experiencing my worst fear - this lady was a true crazy cat lady in every sense of the phrase. She had at least 20 cats in a townhouse no bigger than 1000 sq ft / she would be lucky if she was 100 lbs. Anyways, I saw a gray and white cat sitting on the table (much to my dismay) and assumed it was him. Oh no - he was the big gray and white cat sprawled on the floor - all 14 lbs of him! To make an already long story short - after an hour of talking with the cat lady I finally pushed him into the cat carrier (pushing was required because he barely fit!)

He was good for the ride home from St. Paul. Not a word. I got home and Disa of course was all excited to see me until she saw what I brought with me. She very warily sniffed the carrier and then the hissing started (only on her part). So I brought him upstairs and put him in the second bedroom by himself. He seemed quite happy with life - I think he was thoroughly irritated with life at the cat house. Disa was quite skeptical of the intruder and slept downstairs. He seemed happy enough - although concerned because he's completely by himself now. I gave him some of Disa's "hand-me-down" toys that she doesn't like and felt bad because I heard him in there playing with them - he's my big fat, happy cat - doesn't care if his toys are castoffs!

The next week will be interesting. He has lots to learn once he gets out of his room. No getting on counters is the first big one we'll have to tackle... he seems to be a climber. He's not the best picture taker right now - so this is the best I've got.