Adopting a Pet

My pet human found this website a few days ago and decided I should be on it. May as well tell you a little about myself.

My full name is Legato L. Gato, but you can call me Legato. I adopted my human on February 29, 2004. We met on February 15, 2004, but silly human she is, she thought she wanted a dog! She had to "think it over" before she let me adopt her.

The rescue group told my pet I was born in May, 2001. I'm not sure what day, but my pet, who spent several years living in Japan, decided that since I'm a boy, and Japan celebrates Boys' Day on May 5th, she'd celebrate my birthday then.

My rescue group gave me another name, but my pet didn't like it. Finally, her sister suggested Legato because I spent my first two weeks training my pet by sitting on her lap and purring whenever she sat down. "Legato" is an Italian word which is used in writing music. It means "calm and peaceful interlude" and sounds like the Spanish word for "cat," "el Gato."

If you're a kitty looking for a pet, here are some suggestions:

1. Make sure your pet understands how to care for you. They can learn by talking to a vet, other cats' pets, checking online in places like this, or reading books or magazines.

2. Train your pet as soon as you can. Humans usually use more sounds to communicate than we do, so this may take a while. When all else fails, try speaking their language.

3. When interviewing a pet, be on your best behavior. If you can, be cute. Whatever you do, don't bite or hiss! That scares pets.

Night Adventures

Last night, I was sleeping next to my pet's legs, protecting her from all sorts of things, like lint and shadows, when all the sudden, the undignified happened!

I fell out of bed, and took the covers with me! I'm SO embarassed! Will you still let me stay on catster?

Need Help Training My Pet

Last night, I was sitting on my pet's lap trying to teach her how to purr, which isn't easy. I've been trying for almost 2 years now, and she still doesn't purr well!

During our purring lesson, the phone rang, and she made me get off her lap to answer it. Then she left, and didn't come back for several hours.

Two training questions:

1. How do you teach a pet to purr properly?

2. How do you teach a pet that when a cat is gracious enough to sit on the pet's lap, the pet shouldn't stand up?

Thank you for all your help!

Wish me luck!

Last night, my pet was talking on the telephone, and she said tomorrow I have to go to the vet. What a way to ruin a weekend!

My pet was talking about how I have to get my blood sugar checked again, and if it still isn't good, I have to start insulin. She said she hoped she didn't need to give me shots. SHOTS?!?!?!? I don't want to get shots!!!!

Wish me luck!

Hurry up, already!

Breakfast is almost 3 hours late, and I'm hungry! My pet keeps talking about getting something called a "fast blood sugar." Well, get the blood sugar, already, and FEED ME!! How anything with "fast" in the name can take so long, I don't know.

From Legato's Pet: Legato doesn't understand that we have a vet appointment this morning. The vet wants to take a fasting blood sugar to decide if Legato needs insulin. I promise, I'll take food with us to the vet and feed Legato as soon as the vet says I can.

I have to take insulin :(

My pet took me to the vet yesterday. I do not like going to the vet. He scares me. Last night, my pet wanted to trim my claws, but I wouldn't let her. After the vet, I needed to relax.

The vet told my pet I need to start getting insulin shots. I don't know what insulin is, but I know what shots are, and I don't like them. My pet seems nervous. She says I start taking insulin on Wednesday. She said she has to take me to the vet before she goes to work so he can teach her how to shoot me. Here I thought I was getting A shot, not getting shot! I know I was mean yesterday, but isn't that a little extreme?

From Legato's Pet

Legato seems a little confused. He is NOT getting shot. He will be getting shots (injections) of insulin. Silly cat! I think I have to stop letting him watch crime dramas, if he's starting to learn about guns!

From Legato's Pet

Legato started insulin this morning - and neither of us required medical attention afterwards! (I was afraid I'd make a mistake and hurt him, or end up needing stitches myself.) Maybe this will work.

Insulin

Well, my pet has ruined four perfectly good mornings so far by giving me shots! I can't understand why she does this to me, but I can tell, she doesn't like doing it. She tries hard not to hurt me, and gives me lots of treats. She's mentioned something about blood glucose testing my ear. Does that hurt?

Games my pet plays

Maybe this whole injection thing isn't so bad after all. It has my pet feeling really guilty, which turns out to be a good thing!

My pet bought these balls. She puts my food in them, and then I have to roll them around to get the food out. It's an okay game - a little easy for me, but it makes her laugh. I love hearing her laugh!

A couple of days ago, she found my laser pointer!!! My favorite thing in the world, other than her! I love chasing that little red light!

Then, too, are the treats. I've noticed that as soon as the shot is over, I get some treats. I haven't had treats since that mean vet put me on a diet in November. (My pet needs to learn not to listen to him!)