Sunday, June 19, 2016

The Making of a Cat Guy


My father grew up on a dairy farm where animals weren't pets, they had to earn their keep.

After my parents got married their first "child" was a three month old tabby kitten named Patch, who was my best friend for the first 15 years of my life. Other than when his own parents died a few years before, the night Patch passed away from a brain tumor was the first time I saw him cry, I think because he knew our hearts were breaking.


Through the years my dad more or less "put up with" my mom's (and subsequently my) cat obsession. He didn't dislike them, he just didn't have strong feelings for them one way or another. Each new cat we brought into our lives was met with an eye roll followed by gradual acceptance.

I knew we were wearing him down after I adopted Tara, and my mom told me a few days later that he privately told her Tara was "a really nice looking cat". Thanks to Tara and then Truffles after her, Dad has completely fallen in love with my torties. Like me, he's drawn to their feisty personalities and unique spirit. The day I told him I'd chosen Mudpie his first question was if she was a tortie!

He went with me the day I picked her up and Thomas, the shelter mascot, gravitated towards him instead of me!!!


Now there is a total love affair between him and Mudpie. He's more protective of her than I am and she takes any chance she can find to crawl into his lap for a nap. She clearly adores her grandpa and the feeling is mutual.


Happy Father's Day, Dad. You're the very best father a cat girl could ask for. 

Thank you for realizing that if you can't beat  'em, you may as well join  'em.

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We're joining our friends at The Cat on My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop.

37 comments:

Three Chatty Cats said...

This is such a sweet post!

The Swiss Cats said...

That's so sweet ! Happy Father's Day to your grandpa, Mudpie ! Purrs

Erin the Cat Princess said...

Happy Grand fathers Day, with the emphasis rightly on the GRAND, what a great guy. purrs ERin

Purrseiodn said...

Great selfies! Happy Father's Day!

Ingrid King said...

What a lovely post, and the photos of Mudpie with your dad are precious!

Dee, Nicky, Dusty & Izzy said...

What great memories! What a great story about Mudpie! My dad had similar feelings about cats when I was growing up. Along came a cat we named Frodo who won over his heart. Frodo lived almost 20 years, and my dad cried when he crossed the Bridge. From then on, my dad loved cats, and had his own love affair with a little ginger girl named Rumble. He loved her, and she loved him. When my dad died from lung cancer, Rumble was lost with out him, and sadly passed away from cancer a year later. My memories of my dad and cats always bring a smile to my face, even though they also make me a little sad. How fortunate we are to have dads who supported our love of cats!

The Island Cats said...

Aw, what a great dad...and grandpa...you have! Happy Father's Day to him!

Unknown said...

How adorable! Mudpie is lucky to have such a great granda. Happy Father's Day!

pilch92 said...

That is so sweet. Happy Father's Day to your wonderful Dad!

Annie Bear said...

I love the photo of you and your dad and then of course the shots of Mudpie in his lap. It's just great that he's come around to being a cat guy. I wish my dad would. Happy Father's Day to your dad!

The Menagerie Mom said...

I absolutely love this post, Melissa. It is so sweet, and I loved learning all of this about your dad. I just love that he and Mudpie have such a close relationship! Too cute!

My dad sounds similar to your dad. He grew up in a more or less rural area, and while he always liked animals, he never grew too attached to them because they were either there to earn their keep or were indoor-outdoor pets that never lived very long. When my sister and I were little, though, he and my mom adopted indoor cats and dogs for us to grow up with. Back then, although my dad did care about all of them, he always gravitated far more towards the dogs. After my childhood dogs passed, though, my parents never adopted any more. (My sister and I did adopt Astrid, whom my dad loves, but he seems content with letting her be the only family dog). Then, when we brought home abandoned 3-week-old Thimble and her brothers to bottle feed, my dad fell in love. He especially fell for Thimble's brother Trapper, who is one of my parents' now 5 cats. My dad sure loves his cats now, and he gets so worried if he thinks that one of them might be a even little sick.

Well, I'll stop rambling now. I hope your dad has a wonderful Father's Day, Melissa! I'm sure he will, with plenty of Mudpie cuddles. Purrs!

Hairballsandhissyfits.com said...

Wonderful photos of your dad and Mudpie! My dad was the same way - did not like cats at first but them I would find him petting my trio (Frodo, Amarula and Zulu) when he thought I wasn't looking!

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Happy Father's Day to your dad and Mudpie's "grandpa"!

Fr. Tom Fish said...

Happy Father's Day to your dad. Mine felt pretty much the same way about cats and then became attached, thanks to me. He even said out of the blue, just before he passed,he wanted to come back as a cat. I told him I would be looking for him and loving every kitty just in case.. Sending hugs on this special day of memories. <3 ~ Julie and kitties

The Florida Furkids said...

What a super sweet story!! Happy Father's Day to your Dad!

The Florida Furkids

Marg said...

That is such a wonderful story and such great pictures. We are so glad that Mudpie is making your Dad happy. Good for her. Happy Father's day to your Dad for sure.

Lou Belcher said...

Nice selfie pics... Happy Father's Day to all of you.

Have a great one.

hugs, Bugsy and Knuckles

Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty said...

Lovely post!

Happy Father's Day :)

Purrs xx
Athena and Marie

Unknown said...

This is an absolutely adorable story. I love your dad!

Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Such a lovely post. Happy Father's Day to your dad.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

Awww that was darling!!! Glad your Dad emerged from the "dark side" ;) Happy Father's Day to him! catchatwithcarenandcody

Timmy Tomcat said...

Wonderful photos but those of Mudpie on Dads lap are special indeed.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos!!

Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat said...

Beautiful Father's Day post! "If you can't beat em, join 'em." Aww. I can't imagine anyone NOT falling in love with Mudpie (and Truffles and Tara). It takes a special man to appreciate a cat girl - and we're glad you call one your dad <3

Cathy Keisha said...

Happy Father's Day to your Dad. Even though I don't sit on my Pop's lap, men's laps are the best.

meowmeowmans said...

This is so sweet, Melissa! Happy Father's Day to your dad, and all fathers everywhere! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Dat is so sweet. We see 2 bootyful ladies and a very handsum daddy. Happy Father's day to your daddy and Mudpie's grandpaw.

Luv ya'

Dezi and Raena

LP said...

Happy Father's Day to your cat loving Dad;p It's always nice when we can turn a non-believer into a believer :D

the critters in the cottage xo

P.S. Who wouldn't love Mudpie?!!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. We almost teared up of it. Your father is a remarkable man and you look so much like him :) Pawkisses for a wonderful day :) <3

Anonymous said...

Loved your post (and the photos), Melissa!

da tabbies o trout towne said...

what a totally awesome father's day post Melissa !!! Happy belated dad's day to your dad ♥♥

Colehaus Cats said...

That was adorable. Thank you for sharing your dad with us!

Kitties Blue said...

Melissa, this is the sweetest and most touching story. Your dad looks and sounds terrific. We all send belated wishes for Father's Day. Thanks for hopping. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

A Tonl said...

What a PURRFECT story!!

BeadedTail said...

We loved your story! Happy Father's Day to your dad!

Chirpy Cats said...

What a great post, I love how you say he "just tolerated your cat obsession" But I'm sure through all his eye rolls he loved the kitties because you loved them.

Pawesome Cats said...

Great post - what a lovely story. A happy Fathers Day to your dad 😻