I've actually been wrapped up in my dogs so much lately (plus I have had two VERY unsocial cats for years) that I had become pretty comfortable with not having cats around a lot. So, I was hesitant to even consider keeping a kitten. Add to that, the fact that one of my dog suffers anxiety issues and one of her anxieties is cats. Are you getting the message that I really didn't want another cat?
Even if I did want another cat, it would have to be one with a big purr. I had to euthanize my cat of 11 years several years ago...kidney failure. One of the many things I loved about her was her loud purr. Then when I was diagnosed with asthma, she would lay on my chest when I was having trouble and purr. As weird as it may sound, that was probably the most comforting thing that I have ever had done for my asthma. It actually soothed the symptoms. This factor generally meant that my daughter and I weren't attracted to the same cats. She went for gray ones (her favorite color) and I looked for the big purr.
This image was taken just a few weeks after she was rescued and before we decided to keep her. However, my daughter had an instant connection with this one. She was so adorable. But, then again, so were the others.
As if the above wasn't enough cuteness to win me over, she starts doing things like this. She liked to lay in my daughter's lap and sleep on her back. Yes, with the signature tongue out. :)
It was at this point that I was losing my power to say no.
Then we had a little issue with their overnight accommodations which made it necessary for the three to get a bath. And I get hit with this look.
After that it was pretty much over. She made herself right at home in my daughter's bedroom.
After an indoor trial period, I could see that she was right where she belonged. (Yes, she even has the big purr!!)
How did she get her name?
So, there was now the issue of a name. Names are somewhat of a big thing to us. We like names. We'd given each of the kittens nicknames when they arrived. (This one was "precious.") But, if she was going to stay, she had to be given a proper Boles name. Our pets have full names...first, middle and our last name. They are family.
When I told my daughter that the kitten could stay, we started thinking on names. After thinking on it for several days, I decided that we needed to make a choice. I worked that morning gathering together names that I liked, names that fit the kitten's personality and names that I thought my daughter would like.
I wrote the names on scraps of paper and took them to my daughter. We sat in her room with the kitten and went through each name, sorting in "yes" "no" "maybe" piles. The "no" scraps were put away. The "maybes" were then either kept or moved to the "yes" pile. Then the "yes" names were each considered. In the end, it came down to a choice of three names. One was quickly rejected. Two were serious contenders...but one easily won..."Tinker!" From there it was easy to choose a middle name, the only question was the spelling..."Belle" was selected. So, she's Tinker Belle...Named after Tinker Bell from Peter Pan and Belle from Beauty and the Beast...Tink for short. :)
Oh, and did you notice the little crown I made her for this picture.
I figure a little princess like her deserves a crown, right? :)
We ♥ our little Tinker Belle!!
