If you follow me on instagram you may have already seen this, but just in case you don’t…Rolly has been having a really hard time with the new kitten (who is now larger than the dog and has no clue how strong he is, as he seems to be teething on everything and everyone). This is happening at the same time that Hailey has moved into a new place to start their pharmacy doctorate, and they’re only an hour away from us but they are still very lonely, so they decided that Rolly should come and live with them. This is actually a wonderful idea, and technically Rolly is Hailey’s cat (which explains why Rolly has a normal name instead of a pun name, because that’s what happens when you let your 2-year-old name their cat) so it feels very normal but almost incredibly unnatural because Rolly has lived with me for over 20 years.
A few days ago I took her over to Hailey’s, thinking that she’d probably hide in a corner of the guest bedroom where I was going to spend the night and stay with her until she felt safe, but within 20 minutes she was meowing insistently at the door and confidently explored the rest of the place (probably just to make sure there weren’t any kittens waiting to attack her). She was fascinated with the pigeons (currently making a nest on the balcony) and the sunbeams to sleep in.
Rolly is the most haughty of all of our cats. Removed. Judgy. She might sit near you on a rare occasion, but won’t sit on your lap. She likes her solitary living and tends to stay in rooms where she can be alone. A few times a day when she wants love she will demand it and will purr like mad, but as soon as she’s done you better stop or she will make you stop. Sort of a perfect match for Hailey, living alone in their apartment and spending so many nights studying.
I was not prepared for the fact that Rolly would instantly transform into a cat who wanted to sleep in a bed, or jumped up on the couch to sit with Hailey and I while we watched tv. I’ve never seen Rolly sleep overnight on a bed in my life but suddenly she is the snuggliest thing. Perhaps some of this is a little fear of being in a new place, but I suspect that more likely she just never spent a ton of time sitting right next to us because she lightly despises all other animals. She is so enjoying being an only child that it’s like she’s on vacation, or in a lush cat-retirement home.
It hurts my heart a little be away from her, but Hailey keeps sending me pictures of her cuddled up in bed as they study into the night. Hailey has surrounded her with toys (which she promptly ignored) and treats (which she is loving) and Hailey is massaging special balms onto her toe beans, and gently grooming her with a steam brush, and just generally pampering the shit out of her. They just ordered a set of cat stairs because “she shouldn’t have to jump into bed at her age, mom.” I suspect soon they will be wearing Rolly in a baby harness.
In short, I think this will work out just fine.
Even if I miss them both so much it hurts a little.
PS. I know what you’re going to say….now I need another kitten. And I would agree, except that Rolly is 20 and it’s possible that in the future she might need special care that Hailey can’t give (because they’re in school during the day) and I don’t want to risk Rolly having to come back and deal with two rambunctious babies and a dog. But, man I am tempted.
