Happy Gotcha Day Virgil!!

Today is Virgil's 2nd Gotcha Day! It is hard to believe that the tiny little tuxie who came home with us grew up into the handsome mancat we know today.


This is still the picture that greets me every morning when I start my computer at work. It is the first picture of Virgil when we brought him home.

Virgil is quite a character. He was the first of the "new generation" at our house. I had gone to the vets with Floyd and he was there and needed a home. He was so small and had such a crappy start in life and so just perfectly cute - how could I resist! And in our new house we had room, so of course I had to have him. I knew instantly he had to be Virgil.


Sleepy boy

He moved in and wasn't too afraid of the big cats - which was good. He couldn't even make it to the couch - he was too little. This was good because he couldn't make it up the stairs either, but I set up small boxes he could use like steps to get on both the couch and the bed.


Virgil steps - the box, then the base of the couch, then the couch cushion - a big journey for a little guy!

Virgil was pretty brave - he started to eat with the big cats right away, and had no problem butting in to take their food - he especially enjoyed trying to play with Lola - she was not interested at all.


Stealing his sister's food - Lola got the ladybug when we used the plastic plates still. I kept one of each plate because I am a sentimental crazy person

Virgil grew fast, and at the time he seemed to get huge quickly (but of course, comparing him to Barney and now Gus and Stella, he was probably about normal). He was just a sweetheart too - he would never do anything to be mean. Well, except chase his sister. Which honestly, I don't think it is to be mean, I think he knows she is the only one he might win a fight with (he really won't).


No reall point with this one - it is just cute!


Also just cute - waiting for Trick or Treaters!

Being young, he would occasionally get into trouble, like when he decided to rub up against the newly painted living room wall.


If you look close you can see the paint on his butt, hence his nickname for a while, paintybutt

So, things went along nomally for a while. He grew, he played, he had fun. Then, the invasion started. Virgil was now not just a little brother, he was a big brother!


Wow, look at the size difference there!

Things would never be the same after that. I thought that it would be great because Virgil would have someone closer to his age to play with. But Virgil is a lonercat - he plays on his terms and snuggles on his terms. And that is how it will always be.

Barney would catch up with Virgil, and even end up being a lot bigger - Virgil is the smallest of the group (not counting Gus and Stella - they are still growing). He is our most mischevious - he is the one that first went on the kitchen counters, and the one to climb in the cabinets, and the one that loves to knock stuff off the table/counter/whatever. He plays fetch and is very smart.


Fetching the ball to bring back - it was on top of the bike bag, which he loves to sit on.


Virgil and Barney now - Barney has surpassed him for sure!

Now we have new kittens in the house and Virgil is in the older group (still a big gap, but if you go with 3 and 3 he is in the oldest 3). Stella adores him and follows him around - she thinks he is a cutie too!


Super Cutie

But no matter what, Virgil will always be my baby. Happy Gotcha Day Virgil - we are all so glad that you are a part of the family! We love you so much!