Meet Mylo

Sometime in mid-February 3-4 tiny kittens (probably only about 5 weeks old) were dropped off near our house. We heard them but only our nephew Jordan saw the litter. However, I did find and started to care for a teacup-size female that I called MyLO (for "My Little One").

Before long she was coming when I called her to give her food and water. She also was climbing (and coming back down) our huge almond tree and using it as her safe haven. And, we were taking her to the vet and treating her for ear mites and fleas, as well as getting her needed shots and scheduling her to be spayed.

In case that weren't enough, I guess the name should have tipped me off that we weren't just a temporary foster home: she was now part of the family. The true test came when one of our friends and customers was at Ola Lola's and said she wanted to adopt her. I said, "Well, that might work" and John said, "No, you can't give away our kitten."

Turns out he was under the illusion that she might keep the mice and rat population down. The problem with that is that until very recently most mice outweighed her by half. At one point early in her stay, the dogs - who were raised with a cat and think it's just a funny looking puppy - cornered Mylo and she arched her back, puffed out all her fur and her tail, and hissed loudly. She was no more scary than a poofed out Q-tip.

John and I were both under the illusion that she would be an "outdoor" cat. This - particularly for those of you who have seen our house - is truly laughable! We are, in fact, always open to the outside on at least 2 sides of the house (even when it's pouring rain). So, instead we have an "everywhere" cat who now weighs almost 3 lbs. She loves to sleep on the deck by the computer, spring onto the bathroom roof, scale the fish nets we use as railings for the stairways, play high-wire along the window ledges, and climb the trees in the garden. She has also discovered that the outdoors is hers and hers alone when Ola Lola's is open (no dogs allowed). From this vantage she pounces on customers' legs as they go to the bathrooms, darts in and out of my feet as I bring food from the kitchen, and watches the party from treetop level - whichever suits her fancy.

So, I guess it's time that everyone meets Mylo.