Welcome Riley!

We recently added a new member to our family. Riley Buttercup joined our little unit a couple of weeks ago and has quickly made himself at home. 

This little bundle of energy originally came to us under the pretense of us cat-sitting for Grandmaw while she and Pawpaw were on vacation. However, after sitting with Riley for about 10 minutes I could tell Amelia had fallen deeply, madly and truly in love with this kitten.

After a couple of days with us, Jeff and I knew there was no way we could let Riley go back to Grandmaw's house. We discussed this with Amelia and she promised to do her part in taking care of this little stinker, who at the time we were calling Shanna because Amelia and I both thought he was a girl. I have to brag on Amelia because, true to her word, she has fed and watered Riley everyday and emptied his litter box with minimal complaint.

Jeff called Grandmaw to let her know we'd be keeping Riley, and she was honestly relieved because she'd just adopted out the last of four kittens she'd bottle-fed back to health after their mother had been hit and killed by a car. Plus, Grandmaw and Pawpaw already have three dogs and two cats of their own and weren't too keen to add to their menagerie.

Once it was determined we'd be keeping the kitten, I loaded up the girls and the cat and headed to the vet for a check-up. This visit was where we discovered Shanna was a boy and Amelia changed his name to Riley. I was proud to learn that, despite having spent a couple of days at least outside scavenging for food, Riley was worm and disease-free, which meant it would be safe to have him around our cat Mojo.

Jeff brought Mojo home to me seven years ago. He was also a stray that showed up at Grandmaw's, from where we also got our dog Daisy (Grandmaw's place has long been a dumping ground for strays.). Mojo has been with us since before we had children so he likes and is very comfortable in his role as alpha male.

I was worried at first over how Mojo would receive Riley because his usual modus operandi with small critters that annoy him is to pounce upon them, break their backs and then play with them for a tortuous while before finally, and I'm sure to them, mercifully, killing them.

Their first encounter resulted in Mojo sniffing Riley with suspicion and then hissing at him. I imagine Mojo was issuing a warning hiss meant to convey, "Hey, kid, you need to know I am in charge around here. Stay outta my way."

Apparently, Riley is too young to understand such messages because he spends a great deal of time trying to get Mojo to play with him, which usually ends with Mojo slapping the fire out of Riley a few times and then scratching him one good time when he refuses to give up. After such episodes, Mojo usually looks at me as if saying, "Why did you bring this tiny devil into my house?"

As for the relationship between Daisy and Riley: it's all copacetic. Daisy is the most-easy-going creature ever. I believe we could bring home a python that she would not only accept, but allow to constrict her and her only response would be a pathetic look toward Jeff as if saying, "Um, excuse me, if it's not too much trouble, when you get a chance, would you mind removing this snake from around my neck? No rush, though. I'll just wait right here."

Currently, Riley is having a divine time playing with the multitude of toys scattered upon the living room floor, sampling the food in Mojo and Daisy's dishes, figuring out how to come and go using the pet door and steering clear of Amelia's grip. She is so enamoured of this kitten that she cannot stop herself from wanting to hold him all the time. However, judging from the bite and scratch marks on her hands, Riley has better things to do than be snuggled in her hands for extended periods.