Tasting Chaos

The day we adopted a stray kitten, we knew we had opened Pandora’s box, so we named her Chaos.

I have grown up with animals my whole life. Currently, my mother has two dogs, Scruffy and Rascal, and two cats, Cuddles and Furby. These animals had been a part of our family for over a decade living harmoniously.

Then came Chaos, she came to me one chilly spring night. She couldn’t have been more than eight weeks old and must have been surviving on garbage. The way she looked at me with her big green eyes captured my heart instantly.

During the car ride home, she insisted on sitting in either the front or back window, awakardly maneuvering to a new post as she pleased. She was still nameless at this time, so we called her Mini Cat.

After an hour or so of adventuring with my new sidekick, we returned home to enter the dojo. Once inside, she would have to learn to hold her own with the big dogs. (pun slightly intended)

Upon entering the house we were, of course, greeted by two loud, wiggling dogs. The boys were fascinated by the little black fluff ball that was curled up in my arms. They jumped on me sniffing frantically.

We went and sat on the couch and I held Mini Cat while instructing the dogs to calm down. Then it was time for introductions. I placed her on the ground and she curiously explored her new abode while the dog smelled her out, intensely watching her every move.

So far so good, but the real challenge lies ahead. Enter Furby, the Bob Marly of cats. Weighing in at 35 pounds with long grey and white hair, he looks rather raccoon like.

He was resting in the beanbag when Chaos first caught site of him. As she cautiously approached him, he opened one eye and then the other and began to hiss. Still she inched closer, even when the hiss turned to a deep, extended growl but was swatted away as soon as she came too close.

This hilariously continued until my brother came home. As soon as he (or anyone) walks through the door my dogs insist on informing the whole house. The drastic change from a little hissing to thunderous barking must have frightened the poor girl because she darted from the room, and of course, the dogs chased after her.

Not knowing the perimeter, she ran from one room to the next, occasionally sliding on the hardwood floors. Finally she bolted up the stairs and I went after her. I didn’t have to go far because she had been stopped in her tracks by Queen Cuddles.

Up until now, Cuddles had been the only female animal in the house and it was clear she ruled. Making her alpha status known she hissed and gave a blood curdling growl that sent Mini Cat running back down the steps.

“You opened a box,” mom said. “And now we have Chaos.”

To this day, Chaos has lived up to her name, waiting around the corner to playfully pounce on whomever walks by. Even though the other animals weren’t crazy about our new addition, they have all adjusted to the small-but-spunky black cat.

It just goes to show, chaos is what makes life interesting.