Remember when we were in Fulton, Missouri, a couple of months ago and consort found a kitten we decided to adopt? When we found him, he really was nothing more than skin, bones, and parasites. We did what we could for him -- baths, flea medication, FOOD, but when we got to our hometown, we took him to our vet for a full examination. Based on the vet's best guess, the kitten was about two months old when we rescued him, and only two pounds. After a month's worth of visits to the veterinarian, and multiple rounds of medications, the kitten was finally pronounced parasite free and ready to begin his new life.
The kitten gets called a lot of things, but Fulton is his given name. Although he weighed only two pounds when we found him, he was completely fearless. He must have sensed that a forever home was on the line because he has never had any issues with the Pulik.
Fulton thinks of himself as a dog and wants to be included in all dog activities. He loves hiding and waiting for one of the dogs, or one of the humans for that matter, to walk by so he can pounce on them. The most common sight in the fifth wheel nowadays is D.O.G. walking around with the kitten attached to his hind leg.
When Fulton was first introduced into our family, we were concerned about him playing with the dogs; he was so tiny and seemed very fragile. We expressed our concerns to the vet who just laughed. He told us not to worry, the cat would be able to defend himself. The vet knew exactly what he was talking about. Yesterday evening, Fulton jumped onto Annie's head wrapping his paws around her eyes while he chomped on her ear. Annie tolerated the cat for a moment or two, then quickly whipped her head forward and backward body slamming the kitten to the floor. Fulton reared up on his hind legs pawing the air in front of him, every bit the ferocious feline. Annie gave him a whatever look and walked away.
D.O.G. and Fulton remain the best of friends. They chase each other through the trailer; they share their toys; D.O.G. continues to give Fulton baths; they curl up and sleep together at night. After one disastrous day of canine/feline gastrointestinal issues, we no longer allow the two different species to share their food. D.O.G. is very tolerant of this new baby that invaded his world. He patiently endures all injury, trouble, and provocation.
When consort takes the dogs out for walks each morning, Fulton sits at the front door and cries. After he gained a couple of pounds, we purchased a harness for him so he could go outside with the dogs. The first couple of times we tried to put him in the harness, it was like trying to thread cooked spaghetti noodles through shoe eyelets. Eventually he realized that by submitting to the humility of a harness, he would be allowed to go outside. We are training him to go on walks with the dogs. He does a pretty good job of following after D.O.G., but is easily distracted. I think we'll get there eventually.
If you had told me a few years ago that one day I would be living in a fifth wheel and taking a kitten on a walk with a leash, I would have suggested you were off your meds. Apparently, the joke's on me!
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