If you follow me on instagram, this will be super old news for you, but as we’re only a few days away from our 6-month-iversary, I wanted to announce it on the blog, too.
We got a 3rd (and final) cat! Everyone, meet Blythe.
august 
december
He has quite the epic ‘gotcha’ story.
Quick backstory: Shortly before Harry was born, I learned about smokey (or ghost) tabbies. They blew my mind. I knew that was THE bucket list cat. Searching for a third cat-baby, I saw lots of black with black stripes, but no true smoke.
Several cats were adopted before rescues got back to me; and the few cats I did visit were nice, but there was always a compromise (not cuddly, wrong fur). I L O V E Wendy & Seung Jo, but I still missed having a cat that ‘got’ me like my childhood cat, Chrissy, did.
One weekday, after visiting a cat whose personality fit (in theory. The foster said that was the personality, but I didn’t really see what I was looking for), so I thought I might just settle, despite no *s p a r k*. During Harry’s nap, I was trolling petfinder, like I’d been doing. On the v e r y last page, I saw him: a true smokey kitten.
I called for info in his personality, but didn’t hear back. They said I could meet him at an adoption even on Saturday. Problem was, he was in Odgen…..I’d have to be up e a r l y if I wanted to get there right at the start of the event. So, I emailed, wondering if I should fill out an application prior to meeting. That’s when I was told he’d just been moved to Petco.
At the time, I was out with Todd and kids. I knew I had to see him. If he was ‘Meh’, too, then I’d know I’d probably just need to pick a ‘good enough’ cat. Or just stop.
Todd thought I was legit crazy, so I dropped him at home, and drove as fast as I dared from South Provo to Ogden with my sleeping baby, and preschooler during rush hour.
When we finally arrived (30 minutes before closing), I couldn’t spot him right away. I worried that I’d been given wrong information, and he wasn’t there. Or that he’d already been snatched up. There were only 3 cages with cats in them. (He was buried in his cat bed, and is darkly colored. That’s how I missed him.)
Then, I noticed the couple there, too, stockpiling cat items. It was then that I—thankfully—noticed Blythe (though that wasn’t his name). But I worried that maybe this couple had just adopted him. I decided to strike up a conversation to see. They were adopting, but the cat in the habitat under Blythe’s. What a relief. The couple was nice to chat with as I waited to talk to an employee (there were only 2 at the time). They were shocked that I came from Provo in rush hour—with two kids—to see if I liked this kitten. At last, I got an employee to open his habitat.
When I first picked him up, I was blown away by his gorgeous coloring! He was so sweet and calm—even purring—while I held him. We got him to play a little, too.
I needed a friend for Seung Jo, and a cuddler for me. I’ve also had cat analysis paralysis since I failed to foster fail.
Judging by the little interaction we had, and his vibe—and perfect looks—I decided to just pull the trigger! A far as I could tell, he met a l l of my criteria….if not him, then probably no one. Worse case scenario: I decide that was the worst thing ever, and returned him in 24 hours, and feel super embarrassed.
Thank goodness, as fate would have it, he turned out to be my cat soulmate.
brothers 
in 
love
Blythe and Seung Jo are probably a bonded pair at this point. They love each other. They play all the time, and snuggle, and bathe each other.
And even 6 months in, and full-swing in his ‘jerk-wad phase’, Blythe still cuddles on my chest every chance he gets, or sits on my lap, or stabs me and digs until I made him a blanket fort with my legs (even if I have to go get a blanket first). In fact, he’s been snuggled on my lap the entire time I’ve been writing this post. He also loves sleeping with Gwendolyn, and lets her tote him around. He’s a good baby. No, he’s a great baby (probably will be better once he stops being so pesky and stabby). I love and adore him.
I’m so glad I made that leap of faith. Blythe is SO worth the 4 hour journey!
