Highlight Reel 2009: Julius

So technically this isn't 2009, but it's a very significant event in the Faller household, and it's a great way to get you all interested in this blog (Who could actually resist a cute kitten video?)

Julius came into the house as a 5 month old foster kitten that I was nursing back to health from a nasty URI (upper respiratory infection). When I first picked him up, Julius was little more than a pathetic orange fuzz ball struggling to breath. He'd scored a low 3 on a health scale of 10 at the Humane Society, mostly due to being severely underweight from his infection. His sneeze had a radius of about 3 feet (no joke), and its force was enough to scoot him almost a foot backwards across the floor. The humane society gave me all kinds of medications, special foods, and instructions to get him back on his feet. Though I had fostered cats with similar ailments before, when the veterinarian handed me this little bundle, I was nervous that my care might not be enough.

That nervousness instantly faded away as soon as we got into the car. The kitten who had barely moved and not made a sound in the clinic started caterwauling with a passion as soon as I set him in the carrier out of my arms. I was so alarmed that I picked him back up with the intention of running back into the shelter. He immediately stopped and started to purr and we were on our way again. Against protocol, he sat in my lap the entire drive home, paws on the steering wheel, tip of tail in my face. Now that I know him better, I recognize this as Julius's need to be in the center of everything whether it is your homework or your shower. Even locked away and recovering in the blue room, Julius found a way to become the center of everything I did for the next few days.

After two weeks of R&R at the Faller house (enough for anyone to gain a few lbs.) I was supposed to take him back to the Humane Society where he would have a better chance of getting adopted. But of course by this time, I had fallen in love with him and had no intentions of giving him back. I pulled out all the stops- pouting, begging, trying to be extra-good and thoughtful- in what was a most likely hopeless attempt to get to keep Julius. Luckily, my dad is just as much of a sucker for cute homeless animals as I am. On Christmas Day 2008 Julius became an official member of the Faller Family. My dad handed him to me wrapped up in a Christmas bag complete with red bow, and I was so surprised and happy that I actually cried.

Since that day, Julius has racked up quite a few stories and nicknames. My personal favorites are Julius Sneezer and Agent Orange, and in general he rules the house with a fury fist much to the dismay of sleeping beings, decorative plants, water glasses on countertops, and anything that moves too quickly.