C H O M P

[garote]

We've decided to keep her, and though it took a few weeks, we managed to agree on a name. Say hello to Mira!

Mira : "The amazing one." The only proper-named star in the sky that, for a time, is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It's the brightest of the red class M "long period variables," thousands of which are now known. The star varies from about third magnitude (though sometimes it can reach second) way down to tenth, 40 or so times fainter than the human eye can see alone, and then back again over a 330 day period. It has been observed doing this for over 400 years.

We've taken her to the vet twice more, for de-worming medicine, immunizations, and advice. Since we found her, her ears have finished unfurling, and she has tripled in weight. She's about seven weeks old, which means she's entered the "uncatchable" stage of kittenhood: She tears across the house from end-to-end at full gallop, hops and spins in the air, and climbs everything.

She has also taught us about how kittens see the world. To a kitten, the world is divided into two categories:

• Things to pee on
• Things to murder

And of course, these two categories overlap a great deal.

La has been telling her students about Mira's progress. They're very excited about Mira, so a few days ago we put together a book with pictures, and La brought it to class and read it aloud to them. Here's a web-friendly edition of the book, for anyone who wants to read along!

P.S.: While putting the book together, I learned from La that it's important to show only one picture of the cat per page ... If we'd put two pictures of Mira side-by-side, the four-year-olds would have immediately assumed there were two cats. Aaah, developing minds!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_ofuda_/]

SO. CUTE.

*dies from cute*

I'm jealous! =)

[garote]

Come visit Santa Cruz and pet her, before she gets all growed up!

[maggiedacatt.livejournal.com]

She's so cute!

I love the book. I like it that you include the unpleasantries of caring for a cat (litterbox duty).

[garote]

Apparently that's one of the reasons it was so suitable for four-year-olds ... they looooooove to hear about pooping.

[rudetuesday.livejournal.com]

The book is wonderful. I liked all the different ways you talked about Mira's sleep and the litter pan.

I remember being a little girl and having trouble figuring out that people weren't entirely different people when they stood up, versus when they sat down. This happened when I left the room and returned, for example. Kid brains are strange (new).

[garote]

What a weird memory!! And people think their drug trips are bizarre - they've just forgotten about being a kid ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Ah.....another neck sleeper!