On November 14, 2009, we brought home a cat that would be both the best and worst adoption decision we ever made. Of course, I’m talking about Chris. He turned our house upside down for years but he also has been the most loving and affectionate pet we ever had. The funny thing is, we took more time deciding to adopt Chris than some people take to decide to adopt a human child.
I first encountered Chris on September 24th or 25th of that year when I was a volunteer for a local cat rescue organization. He was up for adoption at Petsmart and I was cleaning the cages there that morning. I let out every cat on the top row and as I was cleaning the cages Chris jumped on my back and proceeded to climb onto my shoulders. Once there, he started licking and biting my ear and my nose.
We already had four cats at the time (Abbey, Alex, Tigger and Flash) and didn’t need another one. There was also another cat at the shelter, Kinsey, who was also a shoulder climber and one my wife and I both liked, but we had a belief at the time that gold cats made exceptionally good pets.
The organization that had Chris was called Sav-R-Cats and they rotated with two other shelters at the Myrtle Beach Petsmart. I think each organization got two weeks there. Chris was back at their shelter on October 3rd when I brought my wife, Rose, to see him.
Chris at adoption center with Rose.
They hit it off very well but we were not ready to adopt another cat at that time, especially since we had to go back to Tampa for a week-long cruise that I booked when we lived there. I picked a Tampa cruise so we wouldn’t have to drive far.
Another six weeks would pass before we would decide to take Chris home. At one point, either before or after my first encounter with him, someone adopted Chris and returned him the next day because he annoyed them all night by biting them. If they hadn’t brought him back, I would probably not be blogging today.
To celebrate Chris’s Gotcha Day, I made his ebook, “Bad Cat Chris; The Baddest Cat You’ll Ever Love” free for three days, starting today. This book is a condensed version of this blog with some added material. It chronicles the ups and downs of our life with Chris from the beginning until the middle of 2013. It was a very difficult and rewarding time for us. Thankfully, or not, Chris has mellowed some since then but we still can’t let him sleep with us because he is still a biter.
If you do read his book, I would love it if you would write a review on Amazon.
Bad Cat Chris 
Happy Gotcha Day Chris! You had to wait a long time for that forever home but you did get it and have been biting your way through life ever since! Way to go my friend…….
Hugs, Teddy
He is lucky we found him. I don’t know many people who would have put up with him. 🙂
What a brave kitty you were, C. You gave your new place a pretty thorough once over. Way to lay claim…
Love and licks,
Cupcake
There didn’t seem to be an alpha there when I got there so I took the job.
Chris was definitely meant to be your boy. Happy Gotcha Day Chris!
I think so too. Thanks.
Happy Gotcha Day to Chris! We’re happy you were able to adopt him and the rest as they say…is history!
Thanks. We are happy to. I don’t know what we would do without him.
Happy gotcha day, Chris! You’ve had quite an adventure, having him in your life.
Thanks, Summer. Chris was the cure for boredom. 🙂
dood….sendin best fishez fora total lee awesum lee mega kewl 8th !! heerz ta 88 mor; heerz ta perch pizza pie two day with a side oh donuts; heerz two a yeer a head filled with happeez N healtheez N thanx ta dad for offerin yur storee….we due knot haza dee vize ta store e bookz but we say thanx any way for de give a way ~~~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 🙂
Thanks guys. You don’t need a kindle, you can read on your phone with a kindle app or just read on the computer.
Happy Happy 8th Gotcha Day Chris!!!!!!!! So happy you were “gotted!” We loved seeing photos of your Mama too, she is just adorable!!!!!
Thank you, Caren.
Nice post about how you got Chris. About the giveaway, What is it?, What’s the link for the giveaway and how do I enter? Read post 2x and didn’t see it. Please let me know.
The giveaway is that Chris”s ebook is free through tomorrow. I’m sorry if I mean that confusing.
It was a little confusing. Can you enter me?
You don’t need to be entered. Just click on the link for the book and you can download it for free but today is the last day.
I clicked on a link but it took me to kindle for free. didn’t see a down load link. please send it to me.
Just make sure the price says $0.00 and click “buy now.”
What do I do when it says $9.99 a month. So click on buy now with 1 click? I won’t be charged anything after the fact?
You don’t want to sign up for Kindle unlimited. My screen is different since I already own the book but you should be able to just Click by now. Just be careful you don’t sign up for a free trial of anything unless you want to.
As much as I want this book I don’t see where to download it.
where’s your screen?
Just click buy now. That should work but do that before the end of the day.
Happy belated Gotcha Day, Chris ! Purrs
Thank you. 😀