Cameron

i grew up with dogs. never had a cat. so i never knew just what my life was missing without a frisky feline in it.

i did live with a cat for a few years, but never had one that picked me…

until one day, an awesome little cat came into my life and showed me exactly what i was missing out on.

like my dog Tichka, Cameron also found me on the streets…albeit this time it was in the less exotic location of downtown Toronto.

in fall of 2006, my friend and i were coming out of a concert at Cameron house on Cameron street…i think where her name comes from is now pretty obvious (i was also heavily into the tv show House at the time. if she was a boy i would have called her Hugh).

anyway, we were walking to my car and this scruffy little ginger kitty jumped out from the bushes and instantly began purring and rubbing up against my legs (little did i know at the time that i was being marked)! we guessed her age to be around 6 months old and from her appearance (and stench) we also assumed that she was a stray.

now even though i was not 100% comfortable around cats, i love all animals and my heart was absolutely melting that this adorable little kitty wanted to hang with me.

just as my friend was warning me, “don’t pick her up. you’ll get too attach…”, i swooped her up in my arms where she continued to snuggle and purr into my neck. instant true love! she had claimed me!

so it was settled right then and there…this poor girlie needed a home. so she went for her first car ride to the east end.

now, for those of you getting outraged…”you may have stolen someone else’s kitty!”, settle down…i had those thoughts too. her lack of hygiene (and lack of collar) were a good sign that she didn’t have anyone to care for her, but just to be on the safe side, the next morning i did the right thing and brought her to Toronto Animal Services. if nobody claimed her after a certain amount of days (and her health check-up came back clean) i made sure that i was first on the list to adopt her.

i went to visit her a few times during her incarceration. the second i walked in the room, she stood up in her cage and let out the loudest meow that i have ever heard. i remember the tech saying, “boy, she sure knows who YOU are!”, which made me laugh. she still is a very vocal girl.

once her ‘jail time’ was up and nobody claimed her, she came home to live with us. i was pleasantly surprised how quickly she got along with tichka (okay truth be told…they still really just tolerate each other)…but much better than i thought cats and dogs could get along. once Little Dude came along a year later, she found a true friend in him.

now i think Cameron is pretty darn hilarious. not just your regular stand-offish, snobby cat. to me she has many dog-like characteristics…she comes when called, has her own set of tricks, loves affection, is always social and playful with everyone she meets and even greets everyone that visits the house with her cute little chirps. she has charmed many of my friends and dare i say that they tell me in secret that she’s their favourite.

her hi-jinks continually crack me up and she has quite the passion for exploring. she enjoys wrapping herself around my neck like a stole while i work, hiding in the dresser drawers, climbing onto the kitchen roof from my office window, hanging out on the roof of the shed, stalking the squirrels in the backyard trees, making friends with the neighbourhood cats, walking the fence line, staring out every window in the house when she’s indoors (or begging me to let her out)…even in winter.

i love my silly kitty cat Cammy Cam. i couldn’t imagine my household of critters without her.

UPDATE: Summer of 2010 Archie came into our lives and even though it was a rocky start with Cameron, i am happy to report they are now pals.

 

Cameron at 6 months(ish)

Cameron at 4 years old (today)

Peek-a-Boo

she freaked me out the first time i caught her on the roof, but it’s her happy hangout now.

at least she protects the house from the squirrels!

my tree climber.

and fence climber.

she even enjoys the snow!

she’s always itchin’ to get outside and explore.

always…

her favourite indoor places to hang are the bathroom sink…

my bed…

any empty box she can find…

the laundry hamper…

and my recycle bin (CAUGHT!).

she’s my loving beauty with heaps of patience…my Cammy Cam.