Em – Ragdoll of the Week

Bamboozled.  This is the only word I can use to describe my first meeting with my Em, my four yr old rag doll.  His name is M&M, but somehow, it’s Em to me now. Oh and the occasional “Emzee” will suffice when I’m calling him to come to the kitchen for treats!!

In the summer of 2011, in the midst of a move, I walked into a relative’s house.  My daughter was there and said she had a surprise for me.  Really?  You got ME something?  My gift was a beautiful male rag doll kitten who happened to be sleeping behind the couch with his pretty sister Lily.  I was smitten, with a handsome kitten. I fell in love. This adorable feline with his beautiful markings and thick fur would be worshiped by his new mommy and snubbed by his tuxedo cat brother, Honey, who couldn’t fathom sharing me with another!!

For some reason and I certainly don’t know why, Em and his sister who went with my daughters father, were very timid and aloof. Very lovely but whenever they heard a noise, bam, they would run. I recall coming home to my apt and looking for Em and becoming worried til I looked at my bed that was made and seeing a lump under the covers.  Poor Em got scared and hid.  He was smart.  He knew no one would see him.  And he was right. He still does this but not as often as he knows his mom is there to protect him.

My Em loves to put on a show for me. When I come home from work, I will sit down on couch and he comes up next to me and rolls around and god forbid I’m not paying enough attention to him.  He cries and says, put that mail down. Don’t you know who I am?  Such a joy and a treat to witness fierce loyalty from my rag doll.  I could be having the worst day and when I walk in the door, my cats admire their Queen.

My dear Em must have fought for his food with the other kittens in early life because when he got to my house, he was unable to eat without me by his side. I no longer do this as I knew wasn’t healthy nor feasible for me to always be there.    Em loves his fish. Anything to do with the sea, he finishes every last drop.  When I give him wet food, which is a treat, he runs into the kitchen faster than any Boston marathoner could.

And when it comes to playtime, forget expensive toys.  This cat fancies yarn and an empty box for some serious frolicking.  It’s amazing what some purple string can do to bring out the crazy and funny in felines.  This is when Em becomes very vocal. Well, he’s the most vocal at night when he’s crying out to his ancestors for no reason at 3 am…but I digress.  Em can be so talkative and I swear he understands me.  If I start meowing and I do, and my daughter thinks I’ve lost my mind, Em will meow back to me and it’s hilarious.  Because I must really sound like a cat.  Thank god he doesn’t expect me to use the cat litter box!!

And if I’m really lucky and have my phone handy, I’ll catch Em and Honey playfully duking it out. You can see them in one of the pictures.  They don’t always see eye to eye but they know they are both my boys.

Before Em, I had never heard of a “Ragdoll” cat. At first I thought he was Siamese.  I’ve come to love and admire the perfection that Em is.  When I look at him, I smile, not only because I saved him, but because in many ways, he saved this crazy cat lady too.

It is with great sadness that Ms. Lily passed away yesterday.  Four years young. I am so grateful I have her brother to cherish.  I am grateful and proud to be a rag doll owner.

Bamboozled? For sure. But forever blessed? Most definitely.