The ongoing chronicle of Manny.
July 19, 2018: We meet Manny for the first time at the Howard County Animal Shelter. He’s about 12 weeks old, originally named Merv, and we’re the first to see him. He’d been found in Laurel, caught in a cat trap covered in tar and fleas, they tell us. After Bill meets him and deems him a contender, Barb hustles down to the shelter at lunchtime to check him out. We both agree and apply for adoption immediately. Google video of Manny’s first day.
July 20, 2018: The next afternoon we get the green light to bring Manny home. It’s a busy day of taking him to the vet and getting him set up in our bathroom. The guidance from multiple sources is to keep the kitten separated from our other cat, Buster, and give him a safe, quiet space to acclimate. Our bathroom works well, and he quickly decides that our towel heater is the perfect place to be. Manny is named for Manny Machado, who was Allie’s favorite Oriole until he was traded yesterday to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This way a little Manny will stay in Maryland. We establish that Manny was born on Betsy’s birthday, May 18.
July 2018: This chronicle will not be a day-by-day exercise. For the next few days, Bill stays mostly in the bedroom with Manny, putting him back in the bathroom when he (either one) needs some alone time. Fortunately for Bill, the British Open and Tour de France are on TV, so that’s pretty much 24 hours of programming right there. Manny settles in quickly and bonds with Bill, and vice versa. After a few nights, we let him stay in the bedroom at night and slowly introduce him to Buster. After a week or so, we let Manny investigate the rest of the house. Within a couple of weeks, he’s fully at home and in charge.
August 2018: Manny and Busty get to know one another. We move Manny’s food and box down to the basement. Manny visits the vet twice to get his distemper and rabies shots. He charms the folks at the vet, and they say we’ve picked a good one. We agree!
September 2018: Manny survived under the care of Barb in late August – early September while Bill went to Portugal, then survived his first two days on his own while Barb came up to Boston. He did have neighbor Mark come visit and feed him, and they became new friends. We were happy to see him once we got back.
October 2018: We had fun with Manny becoming a lap kitty once it got cooler and there was an appropriate blanket, watching the World Series (with his namesake, Manny), Facetiming with Allie, doing circles on the bed with the cat dancer (a highly anticipated daily exercise ritual for Manny and Bill), hanging out with Busty sometimes, and reluctantly getting dressed up for Halloween. Meanwhile, Google offers movies but can’t quite decide if Manny is a cat or a dog.
November 2018: A pretty quiet month, though Manny had his first dusting of snow and cold toes, and tried on a scarf. Not a fan of either.
December 2018: Manny’s first Christmas! Sharing joy among each family member. Magic blankie. Favorite toy of the moment: blue springy thingy.
January 2019: Manny hung out with Dad, slowly came to terms with the new red blanket (not his favorite), and did not seem to appreciate Dress Up Your Cat Day. In mid-month, we had our first real snow and Manny got a proper initiation. He was not very enthusiastic but cleaned up well afterward.
February – April 2019: Winter turned to Spring, and Manny became grew up a bit more.
Busty watching 
Birdwatching 
Prisoner 
Lots of paws 
Headless 
Wahoowa…UVA Champs!
Summer 2019: Manny makes friends with the barn swallows under the deck, has his first birthday, and generally settles into cathood.
Greeting swallows under deck 
Ha! 
Manny turns one! 
Favorite toy: Springy
Easter! 
Dad and Manny watching Tiger winning Masters
Google makes a collage for us.
More Summer 2019: finding new ways to relax.
Mr. Regal 
New favorite place on top of couch 
Naptime for boys 
Staying vigilant with swallow
We got some fortune cookies which we normally crack and feed to the birds after extracting the fortunes. I had done so with a set of cookies, and came back in to find Manny had proudly captured his very own fortune. Can’t wait…for either.
I got a new camera with zoom lens for our trip to Yellowstone, so Manny was my first test subject. Three shots from same location, about 15 feet away.
Manny was very happy to see us upon our return from Yellowstone in September. One week away was too long. He appreciated his bison buddy, too.
October 2019: Looking regal one evening, and ready for Halloween.
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