Happy Birthday Brulee!

Today is Brulee's 5th birthday! Our cute and quirky little girl has grown into a beautiful ladycat.

Graphic courtesy Zoolatry

Mom Paula: I told you the story a few days ago of Truffle's little brother, Beignet, leaving for the bridge at 11 weeks of age. I was so depressed. I'd been on an emotional roller coaster for the past 6 months: Sweet Praline's diagnosis of cancer, losing her one month later, making the decision to bring two new kittens in my life, having Truffle and Beignet choose me, the anxiety of waiting for the new furchildren, and then losing Beignet one week before he was scheduled to come live with me. Even though it was a sad time, God knew what he was doing because little Brulee was born 4 days later and would eventually choose to come live with Truffle and me.

Photo courtesy Terri Rogers
August 27, 2011

Brulee was in a litter of 4 silver shaded kittens who were born to Mikayla. Mikayla is a beautiful golden shaded Persian, which is in the same color classification of shaded Persians with the silver shaded Persians. Brulee had the same daddy cat as Truffle, so they are half siblings. I think it's so amazing that the silver shaded Persians are born looking like little tabbies.

Photo courtesy Terri Rogers
Brulee - 3 weeks old

To be honest, I still wasn't quite sure I was going to get a second kitten. I think I was so afraid of losing another one that I hesitated. Terri was very patient with me and told me that I had first choice and we could decide by the time they were 6 weeks old. I received Brulee's first glamour photo at 3 weeks of age. Her darker coat was beginning to lighten and she had that Persian pout.

Photo courtesy Terri Rogers
Brulee- 5 weeks

Brulee's glamour photo at 5 weeks was a big surprise for me. I hadn't seen a photo of her in a couple of weeks and I couldn't believe how much she'd grown. Her fur was gorgeous, she had the round face of a Persian, and she had the cutest little brick red nose (which is standard for the silver shaded Persians).

Photo courtesy Terri Rogers
Brulee - 6 weeks

By the time Brulee was 6 weeks old, I finally told Terri that I did want a second kitten. When I went down to visit, Brulee really wasn't my first choice. I didn't take any photos of the kittens that day because it was the first day they'd been out in the front of the house after going to their first vet appointment. I was the first person (besides the vet) who'd been around the kittens except for Terri's family. I played with another female kitten who looked very similar to Truffle and had Truffle's personality and the little male kitten, who was adorable. I stayed about 3 hours with the kittens and towards the end of my visit, I told Terri I had no idea which kitten would come home with me. However, Brulee did something about 10 minutes before I left to make an impression on me.

Mom Paula and Brulee - October 21, 2011

There was a little kitten who was off to the side sleeping the entire time I was visiting. Towards the end of the visit, she walked over to where we were sitting on the floor and rolled over and let Terri rub her belly. I commented to Terri that she looked different from the others and Terri said she had a flatter face. I reached over to tickle Brulee's little belly and she reached over with her paw and tapped me on the arm. I said, "you want to make sure I remember you, don't you?" I told Terri I had no clue and she stressed that a decision needed to be made soon because other people were waiting to choose their new fur children. I told Terri I would let her know within a couple of days.

It was a two hour drive back home that day. The whole way back while I was thinking about the kittens, Brulee kept popping into my mind. Little did I know, but she had already chosen me as her mom with that tap on the arm. I poured over the photos of all the kittens once I got home and I kept going back to Brulee's photo. Two days later, I emailed Terri that I'd chosen kitten #2. Let me rephrase that, Kitten #2 chose me!

Brulee - 5 years old

Brulee has the cutest personality and can make me laugh with her little quirkiness. She grew into a beautiful silver shaded Persian who is a challenge to keep groomed because of her cottony-soft fur and big eyes that drain all the time. She gets along with Truffle about like you'd expect sisters to do. At times I think they tolerate each other because both love me. They aren't real cuddlers to each other, but they do seem to enjoy each other's company and tend to stay near me. Brulee is becoming more of a love bug this past year, but on her terms. I'm so happy she chose to be part of our little family.