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THE ARCHIVES: Opie/Hunky/Dorie - April 20, 2004 - March 15, 2005 On August 14, 2004, a pair of kittens were introduced to their new home and the Opie Project. Five months after losing c.c., we had been offered another cat, and we debated whether Opie was ready to accept another feline. In the course of our debate, the feline had found another home. But we realized we were ready for another cat and had missed the opportunity. The Wife was drawn to two kittens (littermates) from a shelter (a local pet store was having adopt-a-pet week), but hesitated. When she returned a week later they were still there, and she hesitated no further. The shelter had named them Piggy and Bobbi, but they were henceforth known as Hunky and Dorie. They had their shots, they had been spayed/neutered and they had had an ID chip inserted. They were ready. But were we? EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES: .....................................Opie's Notes...2004-2005 .....................................Wife's Notes...2004-2005 .....................................Husband Notes2004-2005 Hunky and Dorie, Day 1 There was an adoption process to be completed. The shelter even contacted our vet to assure we were a suitable household, and we had to agree verbally that they would not be declawed before the shelter would approve us. Upon arrival at their new home, the new kittens were turned loose in the living room, and immediately began exploring all the curious spaces. At one point Opie wandered in and cautiously observed the intruders. Dorie was first to spot Opie, but only as a reflection in the tv screen. When she figured out she was behind her, she ran over to him, assuming he was the parent cat to whom all nuturing was due. But Opie hissed them back, and they obeyed without question. Hunky and Dorie spent the next week living in the Wife's craft room while we were at work, being allowed the run of the house only when we were present. The Husband kept Opie amused and attended to while the Wife entertained the kittens. Hunky and Dorie got into everything with the driving curiosity peculiar to kittens. But they learned not to bother Opie. And Opie, being the perfect cat, observed their playfulness with his own elder-statesman curiosity. Eventually, Opie would allow the kittens more access to his personal space, of which Hunky and Dorie cautiously took advantage ...         ... and because of their overwhelming but gradual curiosity, after a few trial incursions, they were soon accepted into Opie's world. Opie had accepted c.c. in the same way. But we were a little concerned about how well he might accept a couple rambunctious kittens. But all turned out well. Opie was, after all, the Perfect Cat. The kittens first month was spent exploring life and all the things that go with it. Because they had never lived in the wild nor learned any survival skills, Hunky and Dorie were confined to the indoors. Which was fine with them. After spending months in cages, they were thrilled to have an entire house to explore. On two levels too. And they didn't lack for exercise. The period following breakfast was their happy hour, which they used for high-speed chases around the house, their own brand of kitten tag, and wrestling. One of their more curious discoveries was running water. Turn on the bathroom faucet and they were there. .........Dorie ... ... was the more curious and adventurous of the two. The world was hers to explore. But there was a price to pay for adventure - surgery, after she swallowed 5 feet (1.6m) of craft ribbon. The price was ours - $2000 USD. But she recovered fully. Once Opie permitted close contact, Dorie didn't hesitate ... ... and Opie, being the Perfect Cat, tolerated her intrusions. Dorie, as c.c. had done, was close to Opie whenever possible, relying on him for proper housecat training. We eventually referred to her as the c.c. cat. ..........Hunky ... ... was a bit more cautious than Dorie. Like Opie, he sought approval for his actions, and liked the company of humans. He, too, looked to Opie for guidance, but did so more gradually. We eventually referred to him as the Opie cat. ... Dorie controls claw usage. Hunky does not ... Hunky and Dorie's first Christmas was a challenge. The Wife had a collection of delicate and fragile tree ornaments that remained stored away ... ... in their place were styrofoam balls and large fabric bows as the sole ornamentation. The balls were ultimately found in all parts of the house ... ... while Dorie could ultimately be found in the tree. It wasn't 'til their fourth Christmas that some of the original (and more sturdy) ornaments found their way back to the tree. One big happy cat family Once again, Opie had allowed two more felines into his life and took on a new responsibility, late in his fourteenth year. As he had mentored c.c., we saw the same indications for Hunky and Dorie. Unfortunately, Opie died of kidney failure before their first birthday. Another of the great feline relationships of all time was not to see fulfillment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Opie Project before Hunky and Dorie? See Phase I ...or Phase II ------------------ Hunky and Dorie continue their adventures as the successors to Opie and c.c. Updates, including photos, can be found on Dorie's Facebook page. .