A Cat Page For Mingus and Mahler

by SarahMA, USA

I've only had these boys for about two months but I'm already in love with them. I adopted them from the shelter I volunteer at and it was more them choosing me than the other way around. I had seen a picture on our website the night before but when I got there that kitten was already adopted. I figured I'd look around anyways because the personality always mattered more to me than what they looked like and I found M&M.

They were part of a littler of five and the only two boys. When I opened their cage Mingus flopped right onto his back and demanded a belly rub. Mahler was a little shyer at first but he let me pick him up and started purring. When I picked them both up they immediately fell asleep in my arms and that was that.

The shelter didn't have any information on them but they were both so thin I was a little worried. However, it didn't take long for them to fix that and at this point Mahler (who started out the smaller one) is four pounds heavier and almost bigger than his brother.

Since then they have developed two very different personalities. Mahler has grown brave. He loves climbing just about everything (including me!) and knows he's the one who's really in charge. Mingus acts more like a puppy than any cat I've ever known. He follows me around and cries when I'm behind a closed door. When I come home (or out from behind the closed door) he cuddles up to my leg until I pick him up. He'll touch his nose to mine and then give it a little lick before settling down. When I pick up his brother next, Mahler will try to out-do him and give my nose a whole bath.

Both of these boys are impressive acrobats. When I get on of their teaser's out they go wild, but politely take turns jumping for it, managing backflips and twisting around in mid-air. I'm going to have to buy them one of those 6' cat trees pretty soon. Although they don't seem to feel the need yet to climb higher than my counters just yet even though I know they can get all the way on top of my cabinets already!

They both still love falling asleep in my arms, preferably on their backs. I actually had to wait to type this because Mahler was asleep on me and then Mingus jumped up and fell asleep on top of him. ;) I bought them a lovely cat bed which they ignore. They do love to sleep either on my computer chair, my spot on the couch, my bed or an old fleece of mine I put out for them. Do you see a pattern there?