The first time I met Grizzle, formerly Shadow, my mother had pointed the little black ball of fluff out to me. He was huddled in the back of a cage filled with other kittens. He didn’t seem too concerned about anything other than the fact that we’d just woke him up from a nap. He seemed so small to me, my first kitten, and after a few minutes with him I knew that we were going to take him home.
Grizzle came home with us to help fill a hole in our household. We had recently lost our cat, Molly, who had been with us for thirteen years. It soon became obvious to each of us how large that hole really was, after a few weeks without her. After bringing Grizzle home for the first time, each of us was excited to go visit him in the room we’d secluded him to for the first two weeks (mind you this was necessary due to the fact that he was sick with an upper respiratory infection and we had another cat in the household). It was fun to go and sit with him, have him crawl all over you and explore his surroundings before settling on your lap to sleep like the dead, showing us just how much of a kitten he was and still is. (He’s actually sleeping on me right now, as I’m writing this. Little goof-nut complains every time I move too much.)
The name Grizzle comes from the color of his fur. When we first met him he was a little black fluff, but some silver/grey tips peeking out here and there. So logically, our first thought was a silver tipped grizzly bear. Well Dad’s first thought was Killer, but we nixed that. So, Grizzle it was, and the name is only reinforced now that certain parts of his fur have been overtaken by grey. This leaves him with a grey butt and underside of his tail, a bit of it crawling up his back, and the strangest little tuft just above his nose.
I’d have to say the funniest quirk he has is his love of playing fetch. Yes, fetch. I wasn’t actually convinced he was a cat at first. After my mother had changed out her shoelaces one day, he got ahold of one of the discarded laces and started dragging it around. We only discovered his adoration for the sport when he dropped the string in front of us and looked up with the same eyes a playful puppy would have. We play the game constantly now, his energy seemingly endless, ours… not so much. All of us enjoy it though, it’s funny to see him trot towards you trailing that shoelace, with that same eager step as a puppy bringing their master a ball.
He’s still quite the cuddler, despite the fact he has the whole house to explore now and another cat to play with. Oh, I haven’t mentioned Aspen yet, have I? The two of them didn’t get along all that great at first, Aspen smelling all the foreign animal smell from the shelter on one little kitten. I can understand his confusion, but after a while of being around our family, the smells faded and Aspen finally decided to join Grizzle in play. They roar up and down the hall, chasing each other. The two get along pretty well now, though Grizzle needs to learn when enough is enough during their wrestling matches.
Grizzle and Dad (who’s now retired) get along like the softies they both are. It’s not uncommon to come home and find our little black kitten sprawled out across Dad’s chest, both napping while the TV blares on in the background. Dad enjoys playing with Grizzle too, he’s home the most so he usually gets stuck with trying to wear the little tyke out. And Dad is the official morning cat-feeder, so that of course makes him popular with the short and fuzzy set. Surprisingly enough it was Dad that decided it was time to get a new kitten before I even got a chance to say anything, quote: “I missed having someone to greet me when I got home.”
Kasi (my live-in girlfriend) took a bit longer to warm up to the little fuzz ball, more worried about his treatment of her cat Aspen, who is a very timid cat, than anything. I’ve seen her playing with him recently though, smiling as she plays fetch and giggling as he complains at her for ‘bothering his rest’. It’s good to see her warming up to him finally and I think she likes him more than she lets on. Now if only he’d quit trying to steal Aspen’s food….
Mother and the kitten- oh, wait, she wants to do this one herself:
Grizzle was the perfect answer to liven things up around here. Usually the center of attention; “Where’s’ Grizzle, who’s got the kid, what’s he doing now?”, he is constantly entertaining. He just brings so much fun to the household. We haven’t had a kitten for a very long time, so it’s been a riot. We were prepared for the usual (small) amount of damage that tiny claws can bring, but the love and fun more than makes up for a few snagged spots on the couch and quilt. (Okay, maybe more than a few, but whatever.) Every morning when I open the bedroom door, he’s standing RIGHT outside the door, waiting to get in, with Aspen close behind. They will never let you forget when it’s time for breakfast, and morning cuddles!
When we first brought him home, his favorite spot to sleep on me was on my chest, right under my chin. He still curls up there at times, and I often need to push him down a bit so I can breathe! But mostly he just sprawls out wherever it’s comfortable, on or beside my lap, with little regard to anyone’s need for room besides his own. It quickly became clear that NO ONE would get any sleep if we let him into the bedroom at night, as any stray movement under the covers was reason to pounce. Not so good for sleeping. Consequently, he’s relegated to my daughter’s room, until he gets booted out of there for the same reason.
It’s so much fun to watch him grow, and see his personality develop. What a character! He’s learning all the rules of the house pretty quickly, too. A smart cookie, that one! We are trying to keep his nails trimmed, so we don’t have to declaw him. So far mostly so good, we’ll just wait till he’s done with the kitten years before we attempt to get new furniture. Might as well use the old stuff up, right? The love makes it all good, and there’s lots of it with this little guy. Back to Crystal…

I personally adore the little brat. Brat used in the most affectionate way possible mind you. He’s my lap warmer at night, showing me what I should be doing when I’m up at ungodly hours in the morning playing video games or watching TV. He likes to interrup- he’s la ying on mry hnds right now- oh he moved. He likes to interrupt me when I’m gaming by blocking my view or laying on my arms or hands as he just did. I truly don’t mind all that much though, I love the little fuzz-ball to pieces, really I do. I play fetch with him at 3:00 AM, what other pet will do that with you? He lectures me if I stay up too late, eventually giving up though and going to his own bed when I ignore him and stay up even later. Grizzle ‘helps’ me tie my shoes when I leave for work, stalking away in a huff when I finally stand up to go. When I come home he demands to be picked up, stretching up my leg and shouting insults until I comply. Then immediately wants down after I pick him up. Fickle cat. Aren’t they all? That’s why we love them though.
All in all Grizzle has found his forever home, one full of love and food and lots of toys. Oh, looks like it’s time for fetch, do excuse me.