I can literally feel my heart expanding in such a good way that’s probably normal where ginger boys are concerned but also maybe I should call my doctor?

in Random Crap

Y’ALL.

Okay, so I have been in a very deep depression lately so I had an emergency ketamine session and I’ve been following all of my normal tools and they’ve helped but I was still struggling a little and finally I admitted that this house is just too sad after the loss of my two geriatric heart kitties who decided to leave me in a single week. I’ve been putting off looking at cats because grief is hard, but also I was thinking that maybe I could foster a kitten and that would give me a sweet distraction so Victor called a shop that has rescue cats and asked if they had any orange kittens available to foster and the guy was like, “I don’t know what breed they are” and Victor was like, “I don’t think orange is a breed?” and the guy was like, “Oh” and Victor said, “Soooo…could you go check?” and then you could hear the guy yell, “BRO WHAT BREED ARE THOSE KITTENS?” and after some mumbling he came back and said, “They’re a mangled mix” and Victor was like, “THEY’RE MANGLED?” and the guy said, “Yes, sir. They’re a mangled mix” and Victor was like, “I’m just checking again…did you say they’re mangled?” and the guy sighed in frustration and said, “It’s a mangled mix. They’re not full-blooded mangled” like he was letting us down that they were only partially mangled and I whispered “Do people want mangled kittens?” and Victor just shook his head and the pet store guy said, “I don’t know what else to tell you, bro” and then he hung up and we just stood there looking at the phone.

Then Hailey walked in and asked what was happening and I explained and Hailey said that maybe the kittens were “bengal-mixes” and that makes more sense but it still felt questionable. We went to an adoption drive and I held a few babies but none of them felt like they wanted to come home with me. But then Victor was on our neighborhood discussion board and a lady had rescued some very hungry, very flea-ridden feral kittens behind a trash can at a horse farm but couldn’t keep them…and one happened to be an orange boy who needed socializing. And I said no because my heart hurt a little but then the next day she posted again that the orange boy had purred for a few seconds and really needed a home and so…

We went over and I loved on him but he wouldn’t purr for me, which seemed like a sign, and so I said that I’d foster him and socialize him and get him all his shots and then find a good home for him. And he snuggled up in a towel and slept every second other than when he was getting shots and dewormed and checked out by the vet who gave him a clean bill of health other than lots of fleas and a prescription of lots of rest.

He slept in a nest of towels I made in my shower and made tiny hisses when we came near, but then at 3am he settled down and purred so loud I literally cried.

And within about a day this happened:

And now I have a kitty.

But I do not have a name, which is not surprising since every animal I’ve ever had has had multiple names until one fit. (Dorothy Barker was named “Knives” for two full weeks.) We’ve had many fantastic suggestions, including:

The Big Le-meowski

Will Feral

Orange Julius

Olipurr Twist

Wilfur Brimley

Claw-nopin (because he was so laid back when he first arrived we thought he was sedated)

Catrick Swayze

Norman Meowler

Truman Catpote

Freddy Purrcury

Hissy Bordon

Meowrice Sendak

George Purr-nard Claw

Bananas Foster

Lando Catrissian

Catpurrnicus

Mewlius Ceaser

Fur-cules (rhymes with Hercules)

Winston Purr-chill

Atticus Finch

William Shakespurr

But currently we are testing out these top contenders:

Pierre Pawgust Renoir (because Pierre August Renoir was famous for painting with a cat on his lap, so much so that many of his later paintings were identified because of the cat fur mixed into the paint.)

Tanuki (Because tanuki are known in Japanese lore as being mischief makers and also because Victor wants to buy a tanuki statue and so when he said “If you get this cat then I get the tanuki” and I was like, “Deal” but then I was like, “I could just call him ‘Tanuki’ and then you don’t even need the statue.” He disagreed, which is fair.

But the leading favorite is Percy. Because I love a good nickname and Percy can be Purr-cy Bysshe Shelley, or Persimmon because he’s so orange, or Perseus because he has tiny bites on his nose that look like a constellation, or Omicron Persei 8 because Futurama.

Suggestions still accepted.

PS. When I started this post I had to stop a dozen times because Purrsy was furious at the state of my writing desk and decided to clean it by just knocking shit off and eating stray papers I needed:

Deeply disappointed in me.

But then he flopped into my lap and is currently purring so loudly and demanding so much attention that I can’t even finish this properly or go back to fix all the typos.

I mean…

Come on.

Discovered what petting was 48 hours ago. Now cannot stop demanding it.

PS. This is your sign if you are heartsick about a beloved pet who has passed that you may have more room in your grieving heart than you know. I didn’t think I was ready, but this is the best medicine.

199 thoughts on “I can literally feel my heart expanding in such a good way that’s probably normal where ginger boys are concerned but also maybe I should call my doctor?”

Read comments below or add one.

  1. Love this post. When my beloved pit bull Lucy died in 2017, I was shattered. I felt like looking at another dog too soon would be an insult to her. But I also was being crushed by the emptiness of my house without her. So a couple weeks after Lucy’s death, I met a pup from a local rescue. She barked at me the first time we met, but I was SMITTEN. And while Marley never took the place of Lucy, she found her own spot in my heart and is now the very furry, irreplaceable apple of my eye. I wish Percy (or whoever he ends up being) all the mischief and catnip in the world.

  2. He is so cute! Now you’ve got me thinking about adding another cat to our one cat household, and my current cat disapproves.

  4. Percy is an awesome name. 😉 It was barely two weeks after we lost our sweet orange boy that our new rescue kitty came into our lives. She desperately needed a home and we had that and a whole bunch of love. They always come into our lives at exactly the purrfect time. Congratulations!

  7. Miss Picasso was with me for 21 years. A month after she passed, I got a call from my best friend. She wanted me to adopt her three-month-old semi-feral who looked soooo much like your new guy. “He’s mean as shit. Do you want him?” What a sales pitch. And yep, I took him. Perfect guy at the perfect time.

  9. So fucking happy for you both!!!!! Perfect delivery from the CDS. And Purrcy sounds like a most appropriate moniker <3

  11. Congratulations on finding your new love! Gingers are the best! He looks very happy to have found his new home, and he definitely looks like a Percy to me.

  12. This just speaks volumes to me. When my dog passed, (It was August 2024) told my daughter that I was going to wait until the following summer to even entertain the idea of adopting another dog. That lasted two weeks. Itty Bitty Betty is the love of my life.

  13. I’m so happy for Percy, that the Human Distribution System gave him you and Victor, and Hailey when they’re home! He’ll be spoiled rotten and adored, just as he should be, and he’ll take care of your hearts, just as he’s supposed to (and clear your desk with all the disapproving kitten meows). Congratulations to all of you! Hopefully the other furballs in your household adjust, too. 🙂

  17. Just before Easter I unexpectedly lost my collie within 12 hours of the vet telling me what good health she was in – she literally laid down and died. The gaping hole will last, but there’s now a Doberman puppy bringing a very different but welcomed energy to my life. There are always more lives that need a safe place to land. Giving love is healing and I’m glad you’ve found a new being who needs your love.

  19. I lost a beloved calico and didn’t think my heart was ready for another. Then another calico came through the garden and marched up to the door when she saw the sign above our door that only cats can read. It says SUCKERS. Or maybe GOOD EATS.

  20. so our very beloved 18 year old cat died around the same time you lost your kitties. he was the best cat ever…and his name was percy. this little dude seems like a perfect candidate for the next of his name. 💜

  21. You will know when you know (as you know)! For us, we cover it by using first, middle & last names. When we adopted our orange girl (only 20 – 30% of oranges are girls, & they tend to be both feisty & personable) we used our usual practice of giving a first, middle, & last name. So we named her Jinjur (“Jinjur & her All-Girl Army” from the second Oz book), Jeep (from the mysterious strange animal in the Popeye comics) A’ka’ule (Hawaiian for “red shadow”). Like you need any advice on naming!

  23. So glad you found room for this precious baby. And hurrah for emergency ketamine! I just had a small burst of treatment to break the despair. 🫶

  25. I love Percy Persimmon! He’s clearly exactly what you needed, and he needed you right back, you’ve found each other at just the right time. The fates always bring us a new furry friend when we are ready and willing.
    I hope his furry siblings are accepting of him? Sometimes it takes a while to warm up to a feisty new youngster while they’re still mourning their dear departed elderly siblings, but they’ll adapt in time.
    Virtual hugs to the new family member.

  26. The same thing happened when I lost a beloved little girl I raised and bottle-fed to cancer.

    I had my niece and nephew for the summer and all the kids wanted to go to the animal shelter to pet the kitties and puppies; I made my husband take them because I knew that I would fall in love with one and I felt it was too soon. The next day, while he was at work, they begged to go back.

    So, I took them and my daughter wanted to show me a boy that was in a windowed room with a bunch of other male cats. As I stood next to a cat tree, a big white boi jumped up on it and stretched out his arms to me like he was a toddler who wanted to be picked up. I picked him up and he hugged me with one arm on each side of my neck and I was gone. He was coming home with me. I named him Valentine.

  28. You needed each other and this is what happy tales (tails?) are made of.

  30. Because this worked out so well w/Purrcee, your blog has made my heart happy today. ❤️

  32. Awwwww, hi Percy! May your humans give you many snuggles and may you give them many stories. The internet loves you already. <3

  33. I was absolutely devastated when I lost my Willow but I had literally never not had a dog except for like 2 months between the death of the dog my parents had before I was born and the one we got after him. So 2 months later, Willow made sure my Ella came my way and now I don’t know what I would do without her. I totally get how you felt without your kitties and I so glad Purr-cy found his way to you. And that name is the absolute best. 🙂

  34. Our son named his orange boy kitty “Helios” after a Greek sun god. It just fits him. Orange boys have attitudes

  35. SQUEEE!! I have so much love for everything about this. My last purr baby passed away in Feb and it hit me HARD (cause I have no people anymore). I’ve started “window shopping” at my local shelters but I haven’t found The One (or two 😺) yet. I’ve also been drawn to the gingers and I’ve somehow never had one yet.
    I thought Purrcy must be a Weasley, no?
    I’m Harry Potter obsessed and
    I just saw a new litter of kittens being listed online and so far they’re named Harry, Ron, and Neville 😺😁
    Between that clear sign and your P.S., I think I will follow your advice..
    waiting hopefully for some girls from that litter 😻⚡️

  36. Oh! You have been chosen! The Cat Distribution System has worked EXACTLY as it’s meant to!

  39. Kitty Loggins

    We had an Eartha Kitty for a year before she passed. She was 15 years old when she stumbled into our yard.

  40. I did senior/special needs/hospice for many years. The 1 thing I took away from precious soul deaths is that the wound they left in my heart always wept a little and let a new spot for love develop.
    I’m so glad that this spot grew enough for you to accept a new lovely soul in it.

    I’m terrible at naming, but on Bluesky, you might really enjoy Patrick Skinner, who is ruled by MeanCat, an orange tabby, two feral street gangs: the Eastside Orangeys and the Westside Sweeties, plus the orange indoor cats and other lucky felines who found the Skinners’ welcoming home.

    Patrick has a unique naming scheme. You two would make for a very interesting conversation.

    Best to you and the little purr machine!

  41. Ohhh, he definitely looks like a Percy! Congratulations on your little orange.

  42. We unexpectedly lost our little Floof on Monday. She was a feral kitty who literally meowed her way into our home after a rainy weekend a year and a half ago. Seeing your orange Purr-cy has been more comforting than you realize. <3

  45. Purrcy is purrfect but you have to spell it correctly (like the sound he’s just learned to make). Congratulations!!

  46. Just going to drop this idea here- I have 2 taxidermy tanukis that I found on Ebay. They are wearing little tanuki costumes. Victor may deserve one of these. Statues are boring. <3

  48. Joined Foster failure club- love it. I’m a member too. Orange tabbies are the best . He Looks like such a sweetheart

  49. He’s a sweetheart trouble maker. I realike the catrick Swayze name.

  50. My orange boy was named Rory. It means Red King or Red Ruler. It fit him. I think Percy is a wonderful name. But Mangle would be funny, too.

  51. I think Purrcy is a purrfect name! So many applications! He can even be from Percy Jackson. He had the classic markings with the winged eyeliner and the Mother Mary “M” at the top of his head. Soon he’ll be trying to climb the windows to play with Squirreley Jackson. I’m so happy for you, Jenny. Losing furbabies is the suckiest. The sorrow is so deep. Even with my two bundles of Chucklehead Hooligans, I desperately miss my Samwise.

    Enjoy your orange chaos!

  52. Everyone needs to be owned by at least one black cat and one orange cat in their lives. How lucky to experience it more than once. I’m so sorry for your losses, especially during what should be such a happy time for you, but so happy that you found room for this little guy.

    I assume Atticus Finch is supposed to be Catticus Finch, and I would like to throw Purrlock Holmes into the ring. But he’s probably a Percy/Purrcy. Either way, enjoy your time together. As you know, it goes so fast. Too damn fast. They make them cute for a reason at that age, so why not get a friend for him while we’re here…😆😻 Love to you both. 🧡

  55. My Percy was the product of an eviction in my last apartment; as a lean main little teenager he wandered around hustling quite successfully for food until I took him in. Until I left he would still have first breakfast with me and then second breakfast about 2 hours later with his second mother. I like the name of the British Kings for the orange stripey boys as the Kings have often been gingers.. enjoy!

  57. Julius Cheeser is one of my orange boys (they are the best). The other is Cheesus Christ Supurrstar.

  58. Percy (or Purrcy!) I love him. We adopted our baby cat after he had been abandoned at 4 weeks. He was literally still drinking “cat milk” and we had to move him to solid food. He literally fit in the palm of my hand. Now he’s a big chonk at 13 pounds.

  59. Oh Jenny — the Cat Distribution System brought Purrcy to help heal your heart. ❤️‍🩹
    Orange boys are the best! I’m so happy for you!

  60. That sounded like a resounding “YES” to me 😻

    I’ve wanted an orange kitten for several years now, myself. But I did adopt 2 sisters last year, so no rush

  61. Purrseus. But you have to say his name with the rolling Rs like Catwoman. Purrrrseus. Also, he is ADORABLE!!! ~Jaimie~

  62. I love Percy! (The name AND the feisty baby!) I’m so glad for both you and him!

    We lost our dear sweet 6-year-old boxer pup to cancer just after Christmas and were devastated. My heart was not open to another dog, but my son was leaving to go back to college and I knew that we just needed to rip off the Bandaid and get another dog before he went back to school–I wanted our son to have a say in the choice, and I also knew I would be doubly sad once my son left. Our two rescue pitbulls we got about 2 weeks after our boxer passed cannot ever replace our boxer, but they have brought such silliness, lightness, and joy to our home–especially after the dread and anxiety of the year of cancer treatments before he passed. I hope you experience similar lightness and fun!

  63. There are several breeds of domestic cats that are orange stripes on an orange background, the short haired version in America is either an orange tabby American Shorthair which have a stocky muscular build, or the orange tabby Domestic Shorthair which have a less stocky build (which isn’t really noticeable until they’re fully grown.)
    There also is the Persian, the Maine Coon, the UK Van Cat, Bengal cats, British Shorthair, Abyssinian, Scottish Fold, Munchkin, Cornish Rex, Manx, Angora, Somali, Devon Rex, American Bobtail, and some mixed breeds.
    Orange cats are usually male, females are much rarer.

  64. I am so happy for you Jenny! I love seeing the updates and when you asked him if he wanted to be your cat he meowed! 😻

    Our 19-year-old son rents an apartment from us and lives on his own, he’s a little lonely and we finally agreed to let him have a cat. So going tonight to pick out a fur-ever friend.

  65. Pawston Powers or Pawston Purrers.

    Also like Walt Whiskers.

  66. Katamine “Special K” Furrlikker. The third. Goes by his street name, Chocko.

  67. OMG Purrsy (you *know* that is his name now) looks just like my late Tam Lin!!

    I totally understand the kitty grief thing. We lost our heart cat last summer, and thought we weren’t ready but then our new neighbor needed someone to take in her two for a few months while she is overseas, and Guest Cats Charles & Gary have made our lives 1000% better. She is coming home soon and we will be sad to send them back to their real mom, but now we know exactly what kind of cats to look for at the local rescues.

  69. He looks like a Percy/Purrsey! And it makes me hear the line from the Tom(cat) Waits song, “Mercy, mercy, Mr. Percy!”

  70. Purrsy is so damned cute! Love the post and I’m so Happy for you.♥️

  72. I lost my soul dog, Cormac McBarky, in August of 2023 at age 5 to cancer. Both my older corgi (Humphrey Bonegart – Bogie) and I were devastated. Bogie went from 25 lbs to 19 lbs without ever missing a meal. So I got him another corgi. Enter Beep the Meep – my red headed tri colored, murder muppet, king of chaos, panic monster, SQUIRRELL! He painted in poop – I called him Poocasso and Jackson Pooplock for a while. He started out as the bravest puppy in the world and suddenly decided he was going to be the most neurotic, afraid of everything dog on the planet. We’re working on him being braver – but its hard. He’s been difficult, but I didn’t give up on him and he’s becoming the good boy I know he can be.

  73. I lost my dog in November of 2020. Had him 13.5 years. Two months go by (holidays and all) and I decided I needed a face to come home to so I started looking at the shelter. One day, they had one available that could have passed as his littermate, and the shelter name was Leroy. The same name of the dog I’d just lost. Fate stepped up, Preacher (new name) moved in. Apropos of nothing – I’d look at who were Hunter S. Thompson’s friends and see any of those names hit right.

  74. We recently adopted an orange guy (adult) and named him Pumpkin. I call him Pumpkin Pie because he is so sweet. Also a bit of a cannibal – he loves to eat canned pumpkin.

  75. Was reading Broken on a very full train from London to Bournemouth and got to the chapter about the dumb stuff people do by accident, I started with a little snigger but as I kept reading it evolved into a crying, snorting, eye wiping, explosive laughter fest and the more I tried to keep it in the more I laughed and I had to put book down to contain myself but now I had people staring at my blotchy cry / silly grin face. Thk you Jenny & people for giving me the train ride home

  77. Your precious seniors definitely sent him to you. Our babies that leave know how much love you gave them, and wanted this little guy to feel that. Believe it.

  79. I like Purrci or Willpurr — but he’ll let you know what name he likes. I went through a dozen with my orange boy brothers, and now I have a Trace and Tater Tot. XD (Clearly they had very different purrsonalities…)

  80. The Kitten Distribution System does not make mistakes. Congratulations on being chosen worthy of His Gingerness🧡

  81. The Duke of Marmelade – Apricot Jam – Aperol Spritz – Sir Walter Scott bred dogs and named them after their coat colour. He liked to gift them to writer friends. Wordsworth received ‘Pepper’!

  85. I’m so happy for your Jenny! And for Percy. Yes please, such a good name. You brought tears to my eyes. Again!

  87. I’m so happy for you both. There’s so much pain when we lose our beloved fur babies that the joy seems far away. And oh, the love and joy they bring!

  88. I’m so happy for you and Purrsy. Our orange tabby is Elvis Pussley. He joined Billie Howliday and Momma Cats.

  89. OMG, A couple of my suggestions made the list!
    But Purrcey is Puuuuuuuurfect!

  90. This made my heart so happy for all of you. What a love the little luv bean is. He clearly went from feral to adorable about as quick as can be.

  91. I’m not crying, you’re crying. I’m so happy for you and Purrsey. He’s purrfect! ♥️

  92. I’ve suggested naming him after Douglas Adams. Douglas Catdams? Or maybe Pawglas Catdams? You’re definitely better at naming animals than I am.

  93. I’ve had the most awful day and your post, especially your IG story, just made me cry the happiest ugly tears. When the CDS (Cat Distribution System) decides it’s time, it’s time – no matter what our brains think. And – having had a few – rebound pets are sometimes the most dear of all. I’m so glad for you both finding each other.

    And I vote for Percy because:
    1) He can obviously be a little prat when he wants to (his first moments) but will always come home to mom, just like his HP namesake

    2) I have my own “accidental kitten” I ended up with over the holidays (when my daughter’s friend couldn’t keep the kitten she found, and I’m actually glad about because she went cray cray and the kitty is the sweetest) – and my kitten’s name is Clementine. Persimmon is another perfect small orange fruit name.

    3) Because look at him!! He’s a Percy, Percypuss, Percy McPurrPot, Sir Per/Purrs-A-Lot, PerPer, Percy Poo, and 1000 more – through and through. It’s perfect.

    (And even if you go with something else, he’ll always be Percy in my heart while I watch him grow up on your blog too 💜)

  95. My snake is Sir Percival Snakeney, Baronet.
    Percy is clearly an excellent name for a kitty.

  96. Have no idea why this popped into my head after being filed away in my brain sometime in the 1960s:

    Knock-knock.

    Who’s there?

    Banana.

    Banana who?

    Knock-knock.

    Who’s there?

    Banana.

    Banana who?

    Knock-knock.

    Who’s there?

    Banana.

    Banana who?

    Knock-knock.

    Who’s there?

    Orange.

    Orange who?

    Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

    P.S. Happy for you and your new buddy

  97. He is sooooo adorable! Kittens are the best medicine. A stray cat had kittens in our yard right after we moved to our current home six years ago, and they kept us sane through all the pandemic craziness. We still have two of them and 12 others, and I can’t even think about kittens or one (or more) will show up needing a home. The mama cat who started it all (that we so creatively named Mama) passed just this last Saturday. She was the best mama cat ever and I’m glad she got to spend her last years with her babies.

    Anyway, I am so happy you found the perfect kitten, and Percy sounds like the perfect name for him!

  98. this makes me so happy. I lost my soul cat last year and I felt so broken, then my vet texted me a pic of this tiny little black kitten. I adopted her and it really does help to have something to pour you love into.

  99. I’ve been fostering for over 20 years (omg I’m old). I love it and I love orange boys! (I have an orange girl, a tortie and a grey one for my personal animals). My current batch is one month old, a tortie mom, a tortie girl, black girl with one white spot on her belly and two buff boys.
    (I post pics on my IG – muggletrixie – in case you need more kittens!)

  100. I’m gonna vote for Bananas Foster. The Oranges are known for being slightly deranged. It also feels like a pun could be made with orange. All I can think of is Puss of Orange. I’m really not good with puns.

  101. So true. I list my beloved kitler 7 years ago and 2 weeks later a friend reached out and said ” I know it’s too soon, but I had to ask” and sent me a picture of a beautiful tuxedo boy named Walter. I said he was adorable, but it was too soon. 2 months later, I was still thinking about him. I went to meet him. He was still living outside (he was about 2 and they had been feeding him for a year). She put him in my lap and he started purring and making biscuits in the air. I was a goner. He came home 5 days later and walked right out of the carrier to sit next to me and hasn’t left my side since.

  104. I lost my beloved dog girl, Coda 4 years ago. I just started seriously looking for another dog like her, but do you know how hard it is to find a dog who is 60 lbs, and black but looked much larger because she had a long double coat that was as soft as silk and made her look twice as big. She was a Smooth Coated Retreiver mixed with black Lab. She had a set of bloomers on her so fancy. I can’t find smooth coated retriever’s very often at all. So now I’m looking for a Great Pyrenees mix and just applied for any of 4 girls from the same litter. Wish me luck and congratulation on Percival!!!

  106. The loss of a pet is a heartache like no other. Committing to getting a pet is the only relationship we openly go into knowing it will end in heartbreak, but it is always ALWAYS worth it. Rescuing an animal is definitely worth it, hard as it is, it’s worth it and HeWhomIsYetToBeNamed is adorable!

  107. My Percy recently crossed the rainbow bridge. He was originally named Percy Jackson by my youngest daughter who had an obsession but as he grew and became massive he renamed himself Percimus Maximus. I know this because he whispered it in my ear. He also had a very loud purr. Our house is very quiet without him. We have two 4-year-old cats with very quiet purrs.

  108. NOT TANUKI. Those things you think are feet (on carved tanuki, etc) ARE GIANT TESTICLES

  110. I’m sure someone has already said this so I’ll reiterate — he CAN NOT be “Tanuki” because a distinguishing characteristic of the tanuki is BIG BALLS…. and I’m betting your are a responsible kitty owner and will have Purrsy neutered.

    So, really, it would be doing him a disfavor to name him after something that cherishes something he no longer has. LOL LOL LOL <3

  111. Congratulations on joining the world of Foster Failing, the very best kind of failing! And congratulations on being Obtained by an orange cat – I know you know their energy is unmatched. I’m sure the right name will float to the surface for him eventually.

  112. BAWLING, especially at the PS because HOW DID YOU KNOW??? Purr-cy. We love you. Welcome home.

  113. Enthusiastic votes for Orange Julius or Bananas Foster but if the voting is closed, then Tanuki is my favorite! So happy for y’all but also for him, he doesn’t know yet that he just won the Cat Distribution System lottery!

  114. OK I just read all the Tanuki posts and I retract my vote… 😜🟠🟠

  116. I have lived through the passing of too many cats to count, all well-loved…well, expect maybe one of them who I still think was demonically possessed….anyway, I’ve always believed that the unused lives of the cats that passed on would be bequeathed to those who remained; how else to explain them suddenly acting like the cat who had died? So, I would expect that this little guy is going to inherit the remaining, unused lives of Ferris and Hunter. And for what it’s worth, I think Perseus/Purr-seous really fits him. Poor Rolly….let the kitten chaos begin! Maybe go back and get one of his litter mates?? Kittens are better in pairs, though twice as destructive. At any rate, I’m glad you’re giving this adorable little guy a home; he will be well-loved. And let Victor buy his statue.

  118. I can’t get over Renoir, Pierre Pawgust Renoir! But he’s your baby, so name him what your heart desires.
    It’s a long story on how Leroy came into my life last December, but I will tell you this. Having had old gentlemen for years, a kitten is SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Especially a kitten who may need to learn some manners and what teeth are and are not for.

  119. Oh the joys and energy of a kitten! He will reorganize that desk for sure.
    How lovely you and family have another Ginger cat in the house. His name will make itself known in time. I like Freddy Purrcury, or Purrsy or Persy Tanuki.

  120. I can completely relate. My senior kitty passed away last year and two weeks later I found myself in a shelter taking home a kitten we named Bandit

    For your new kitty I’m partial to Purcules because he may be small now but he will become big and mighty

  121. I lost my beloved Ninja kitty last month, after her second bout of cancer proved too much. I was (am) gutted. But just this Saturday I brought home a tiny kitten, and he’s proving to be just what I needed. Now if only his sister would stop hissing and accept her baby bro…

  122. Love him!! I think you should name him Orange You Glad I’m Your Cat. Just think of all the fun you’ll have when he’s outside and you call him or when he’s at the vet and they yell that out! You’re welcome!

  123. My partner and I helped his 18-year-old male orange kitty across the rainbow bridge just this morning. His name was Shiloh. I can’t make a good cat pun out of it, but he was a very good boy. I’m glad you have a new kitty to love!

  125. Freddie Purrcury! 🥰

    My sweet kitty passed at the end of January and it broke me. I miss her every day. I told her that I would help other kitties….so,
    I recently started volunteering at a cat rescue nonprofit in the holding area and I’ve met so many kitties. It’s helped me b/c I feel like I’m helping them by caring for them and socializing them. I feel like I am part of their journey. I want to adopt again, and am close to becoming a foster but grief creeps in sometimes. I did meet a couple orange cats and a sweet creamsicle girl today. So…who knows. 🐈
    Your new little orange guy gives me hope. I’m so glad he has you now. 🧡

  126. I really enjoy Will Ferral. If they ever met, Will Ferrell could turn it into a really funny bit.

  127. I had a cat named Tanuki! She had rings around her eyes so kind of looked like a raccoon. My daughter was teaching English in Japan at the time so Tanuki really fit. I love it that you were considering that name!

  128. OMG, he is just adorable! I posted earlier that my aging cat’s health was not good. Sadly, he passed away on May 16th. Our house is so very quiet. We had him nearly half of our 41 years of marriage. I suspect that another cat is in our very near future.

    My sister passed away unexpectedly in 2005. Her childhood pet was Percival (aka Percy), a marmalade tabby. He was full of personality and loved everyone. Percy is a quirky name for a quirky breed. Hope you decide to keep that as his name.

  130. My orange bastard was named Bill, after the cat from the Bloom County comic strip. He thought he was a panther, and was all predator-like until I created a lap for him to sit in. He died in 2024 but my wifi password still uses his name. And our Google home is still the Panther Den.

  131. I immediately called FOSTER FAIL when the IDEA of fostering was presented earlier this week, and I was right! I have never been so delighted to have been correct. This little guy can never take Ferris’ or Hunter’s place, but he will fit purrfectly in the cracks of your broken heart, Jenny. I’m so happy you found each other.❤️😻

  132. Congratulations! The universe knew you and this little guy needed each other.

  133. I agree 100 percent maybe your seniors cats who are in cats heaven and yes I believe there is Cats haven people who disagree are not animals lover so your cats in Heaven sent you Percy so enjoy him he needs you you need him ! He seems to love to mio a lot maybe is a catrouxso like carouso the opéra tenor oh in French roux mean orange hairs

  137. I lost my beloved 19 year old Manny in 2024. My son went the next weekend on a road trip to get 2 sibling kittens Stella Luna and Sam I Am from his friend. They saved me.

  139. Congrats, Jenny and fam! I like Will Feral and Catamine 🙂; but Purrsy makes sense, too

  140. I really needed to read this post tonight. I love this. I am drawn to the name Purrcy or else Will Feral cuz well, yeah. anyway, thanks for making my heart feel full.

  142. I’m fond of Freddie Purrcury. You can still call him Purrsy or Purrc or PurrC

    Freddie was well known for his love of cats. Plus: “ I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky
    Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity
    I’m a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva
    I’m gonna go, go, go there’s no stopping me
    I’m burning through the sky, yeah
    Two hundred degrees, that’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
    I’m travelling at the speed of light
    I wanna make a supersonic man outta you
    Don’t stop me now
    I’m having such a good time, I’m having a ball!”

    It’s probably his theme song.

  143. Will Feral is inspired. Also, my fantasy hockey team was named the Hattrick Swazeys, so that’s sort of near to my heart.

    But whatever you choose will be great! Looking forward to kitty shenanigans in the blog!

  144. Olipurr Twist is GREAT!! Or I think Orange Julicat would work too. Congrats on the new member of your family. A house is not a home without lots of fur babies. Enjoy! His purr is contagious!

  145. What a fine kitty! (though I see his face in that desk pic and think maybe he is a reincarnation of Ekwensu, the trickster war god of the Igbo. watch out!)

    Congrats!!!

  146. So glad you found love and orange kitty for a home. We lost both our pups within a month. We had them for over 15 years. Not ready yet.

  147. I’m so happy for you and Percy. I teared up a bit at work (in a good way for once) reading this post.

  148. Cats are magical. I come from a cat lovers family and when I was diagnosed with severe depression or whatever shit it was, my mother suggested that I needed a cat, I was living alone at that time. So my mother and I we went to a shelter an a tabby, 2 months old, adopted me. I repeat, cats are magical creatures.

  149. Firstly, Im sorry for your losses. And so happy that your resolve in not getting a new cat this year crumbled so quickly🥰

    It reminds me of my neighbours. A lovely couple who’ve always had dogs, always rescues. Often big, imposing mutts they they poured all their love into. But one day when mum saw the neighbour he was heartbroken and in tears,
    both their dogs had died in quite close succession. He said they wouldn’t be getting any more, it just hurt _too_ much when you lose them.

    A few weeks later mum saw him and he was beaming, and delighted he told her they had gotten a new dog!
    He said that after the dogs died he and his equally heartbroken husband had said to each other No. More. Dogs. They promised each other that if one of them wavered, the other would stop him, and remind him of the hurt and pain. They were in complete agreement.

    But after a few weeks of a quiet, empty house his resolve was gone, and he had tentatively said to his husband that maybe they should get a new dog. And his husband had immediately gone YEEEEEEESS.

  151. Ginger Baker (would he make a mess while you tried to bake something? Of course he would)
    Ginger Ninja (if he’s nimble)
    If you go with Percy, please know that I will always think of him as Lord Percy Percy from Blackadder II, in the best way possible.
    SO happy for you to have found a new kitten!

  152. My boyfriend told me I had to start looking for a new dog after my beloved mutt passed away after 17 great years together because I named a spider living over my desk and wouldn’t let him take the spider outside. When it’s time, it’s time.

  153. One of the best love stories I have read in a long while! I have never been owned by a ginger cat, but have loved on those who have been kind enough to bless the humans I know with their presence…I do have two sisters one long hair and one short hair who were the first kittens I ever adopted after life long adult/aged rescues…I now am far too old to do kittens as they are like light in a vacuum and I lose them in heart stopping frequency…now that my girls are a stately 3 years old they only really lose their minds when I come in with some of this years finest volunteer catnip to spread around the place…or when I forget, walk in the catnip patch and then my shoes and socks are fair game and I must surrender them to Moira and Mercy for licking and rubbing on and then curling around to sleep in natural drugged bliss. Enjoy that GingerBreadPurr boy!

  156. I think Percy/Purrsey is the winner. Purrcifer? The Editor also comes to mind and then he found be Eddie.

  157. Ginger cat….male….you are in trouble. Nothing but crazy coming your way.

  158. He is so flipping adorable!!!!!! I always loved cats but most of my family is allergic so I just have to appreciate the ones my friends have. Thank you so much for sharing this. I just begun reading your blogs a few months back and they are so enjoyable to read and I look forward to them. It’s been a rough year with my mother in law in hospice and I learned last week that a colleague who I adored passed away and was only 48 years old. Most days I’m a little sad which I have a ton of resources to help me through it but reading your blogs takes my mind off of my sadness for a few minutes. Thank you again for sharing your life and being so honest. I admire you so much.

  160. Many (many) years ago I adopted an orange boy who had been rescued from a dumpster. His favorite way to wake me at breakfast time (5 a.m.) was to knock something off my dresser. Preferably a heavy book. Lacking a book, he would stick his nose in my ear and purr loudly. Both methods were effective. His name was Harry because my mother had seen a movie with an orange cat by that name. Much later I discovered that the movie was “:Harry and Tonto” and that that the movie cat was Tonto, not Harry. I hope your orange baby brings as much joy to your life as my Harry brought to mine.

  161. Jasper Raisintoast ( from James Marshall’s book Speedboat) or Francis Fishpaw

  162. We used to have a cat named Purr C. He was given to us by someone I worked with and road home with me on public transit, safely and quietly hidden in my backpack because I didn’t have a cat carrier. That night my husband and I had fish and chips for dinner. In the living room so we could watch something on TV.

    The wee kitty was intrigued and climbed up the front of the couch so he could check out what was on my plate. I gently put him back on floor. He climbed up again. I put him on the floor again. We repeated this all through dinner until my husband burst out laughing and said, “He’s awfully persistent, isn’t he?”. We considered calling him Persistence, but it was too big a name for the tiny boy. So he became Purr C. He was known for giving really dirty looks if you didn’t share food with him, so he was often referred to as The Evil Purr C. 😄❤️

  163. I absolutely love this post. Sometimes I think that the best way to deal with the loss of a pet is to get a new one ASAP. The new one doesn’t replace the old one—nothing can—but it allows for the empty place left behind to fill again.

  164. Drools Verne… or Drooly Andrews. Yes, he’s a boy, but you don’t know how he identifies.

  165. Please name him Redneckitty ( pronounced Rednekkidy). It will honor his trashcan roots as well as his color.

  166. I was going to suggest some variation on E.M. (Edward Morgan) Forster–maybe Teddy Foster?–but I’m liking Purrcy right now. Shelley, Weasley, Jackson, Persimmon…whatever. Purrcy (or Purrsy) he is, and Purrcy/Purrsy he should remain!

  167. I vote for Purrceus Jackson. Then again Purrito Supreme has a nice ring too. And he’d be adorable in a tortilla blanket

  170. I like Will Feral the best. Otherwise, Purrcy Hiss Shelley has a pretty good ring to it. Congrats on the new furbaby!

  171. I have no ideas about names (Percy is great!) but am so happy that he picked you. The more we love, the more we can love. Our hearts only expand.

  172. He looks like a Farley Meowat to me. Whatever his name, he’s adorable. Congratulations to him on landing a great home, and I’m glad the love he brings is helping.

  174. Aw man now I just saw that was already on your list. I feel silly. …or is it a sign…?

  175. And now I see I accidentally replied as Anonymous. I feel like this is a Jenny moment. Which is often a Nikki (me) moment. 🤦🏻‍♀️

  176. I was contemplating his name and then I saw that you liked Percy. That is totally his name. Like, I don’t think you have a choice.

  178. Love everything about this. Percy is the opposite of depression. Love thinking of your heart swelling!

  179. Will Feral made my depression face happy. It preserves his wild kitty roots.

  180. Congratulations on the new fur baby! You should take a picture of Purrsey fighting the tanuki atatue when Victor gets it

  181. When I adopted my orange boy, I also thought he had bite marks on his nose. And then I found out that orange cats can have freckles.

  183. So happy your new orange boy chose you. He really looks like a Purrcy to me!

  184. Our ginger is named Scampi, due to both color and activity; shrimp scampi and how he races around the house and yard. Love that motorboat purr yours has. Glad he found you.

  185. Please, this is your chance to have the President we’ve been waiting for since *Furiously Happy*

    (I suspect I won’t be able to call a cat “The President” until after the current one is gone because just saying those words makes my stomach hurt lately. 🙂 ~ Jenny)

  186. This made me so happy. Like ridiculously, over-the-top delighted.

    Also? Catrick Swayze and Freddy Purrcury are too good!

  187. The love of an orange boy kitty is so indescribably wonderful. Congrats.

  190. Biggest mistake was my waiting six whole months after losing my beloved Pippa Posey Peanut Butter Pants to adopt a new furry. What was I thinking! Such a depressing time that was immediately relieved when Margaret Rose finally bounced into my life. Congrats on the new baby boy and I love ALL the proposed names! Camille in NH.

  191. Welcome to a loving household, Purrsy. You got a good one! I’m glad you found each other, Jenny. ❤️🐈

  192. so many fantastic cat names – thanks for the smiles and laughs
    hang in there

  193. Jenny-
    So happy for you. Thanks for sharing. It means so much more than you can know.

  194. Ginger Beer. Because the best cat I ever had was a big tough tabby named Ginger who owned the neighborhood when I was a kid.

  195. Jenny, hey! Long time audiobook listener and huge fan of yours. I am a social worker in St. Louis, MO and I serve unhoused clients. I have a client in a deep depression right now and I told him about you and your books and he said you sounded awesome. Anyway, I was wondering if you would like to donate a book to him, doesn’t matter which one. I think it would really help him a lot and make him feel special. He’s currently in the process of getting into an apartment, that’s what I’m helping with. If you’d like to help, please let me know! And congratulations on your new fur baby, he’s stinking adorable!!!!

    (Check your email. ~ Jenny)

  197. Can you write an updated blog about Percy? I had to have my beloved
    kitty euthanized two and a half weeks ago and I still can’t stop crying.
    Seeing you with Percy does me so much good.

  199. Oh man, I love EVERYTHING about this post. I suspect Percy will bring equal amounts of love and chaos into your lives (and we can all use more love and chaos). Congrats!

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