Berta - A Cat Story

Berta

We know that friends come in all shapes, sizes, and even species; but let me take a moment to tell you about the last year with our newest fur friend, Berta, a Calico Maine Coon.

When we got Berta, she was this little peanut of a kitten. She was barely 3 lbs, could be picked up with one hand, and could be tucked into our sweaters. Since her arrival, I swear she has become nearly the size of a toddler.

Berta was lucky enough to spend 12 weeks with her family before coming home to us. All too often, animals leave their parents far too soon. While she wasn’t fitting into a teacup when we got her, she was so well trained for life it made up for it.

She was one of 6 kittens and the second to leave her litter. Her papa (in the photo above, with her brothers) and mama (who was off on an adventure) were gorgeous. She took after her papa a bit more as her mama was nearly all grey and white. Berta was the only calico (or “lucky cat” as some may say) of the group. She was one of only 2 females.

To celebrate our one year anniversary with Berta, I’m here to tell you a little more about our little fur friend.

Berta loves the balcony

She loves plants and trees and herbs. She’s basically a wild animal that we homed.

• Her favorite thing was to jump onto the neighbor’s awning, which they very much did NOT appreciate. Solution? We added a half fence. Did it work? No. Of course not. Instead, she slowly burrowed underneath and fell onto the child’s wooden play toy one story below our apartment.

• Contrary to the vet belief: Berta had her first emergency vet visit. She was fine, but limped for a while and had her own daily dose of pain killers.

We have since added the second half of the fence and secured the bottom.

She will respond to discipline; but with certain things, like the balcony, it’s hard to “punish” her for just being a cat. For instance, when we got her spayed, she managed to bend her cone in such a way that she could bite her stitches. So for now, Berta gets chaperoned when on the balcony and as for the cone, we made our own plan haha

Berta has babysitters

...and takes her own vacations, when we have ours.

For almost 4 weeks, Berta had 2 in-home babysitters/roommates. We were nervous she wouldn’t remember us. But she did! We have found that she always remembers us, which is an excellent sign for a cat!

For short trips, less than 4 days, she stays by herself and we watch her (almost constantly…like helicopter parents) via video camera. Needless to say, Berta is MORE than happy to see us when we return. She even responds to our voices over the camera and will go to her toys, when we say, “Berta! Where are your toys?”. (Don’t worry, someone nearby is always on call for emergencies)

For longer trips, she packs her things and goes on sleepovers. After three different homestays, she is quite the little house guest!

Berta’s potential size

It made us both nervous and psyched. Maine Coons are the largest housecats. What did we get ourselves into? Not much, honestly! We don’t even notice her size until we come across other cats, which all look like kittens to us now!

• Berta is just shy of 12 lbs at this point and is very very long, when stretched out.
• She makes herself small at home, but large when she is around other animals or strange places. It’s funny and interesting to watch her “grow at will.”

Berta loves naps

• She prefers our company during naps. She very much prefers to nap in view of us, if not next to us.

• If one of us is napping, she will stop what she’s doing and nap too!

Berta has her preferences:

At 1:30pm, she will begin to groom herself. By 2pm, she will be fast asleep. At 5:30pm, she wakes up to join us for dinner.

When the morning alarm goes off, Berta MUST have attention. She MUST have food added to her bowl, even if there is still some in there…you know, just in case ;)

If we are cooking, Berta must know what is going on. She either needs to be picked up to look around OR she will get to sit on the stool to watch what we are doing. Of course she often gets a little taste or sample too.

In the car, which she loathes, her carrier rests on the middle console and the entrance flap is opened. She doesn’t exit until we arrive at our destination, but she appreciates the ability to flee if needed. If the flap is not down, she drools, cries, and pants.

When the ice machine is used, Berta gets an ice cube. She both eats it and plays with it. More often than not, she loses it before she gets much time with it.

Berta loves her beard being brushed…and by “beard” I mean the luscious white fur covering her chest. Speaking of fur, she is as soft as a bunny and sheds as much as sheep dog.

Berta loves to be petted when she eats. She will come get us, by meowing, and lead us to her food bowl, where we are expected to vigorously pet her while she purrs and eats.

Berta talks A LOT. In fact, after a friend watched her for a week that was the first thing she said about her time with Berta. She trills and makes a noise that sounds like, “burp burp” as she plays or watches bugs. She even has different meows for different things:

• Wanting a taste of food we prepare.
• Not wanting to get into her transport box.
• When we tell her she can’t do something.
• When she wants us “to eat” with her.
• When she has missed us.
• When we pick her up vs. When we pick her up as she tries to sleep.

Forever a part of the family

After a year with our kitty, she is a crucial part of the family. Everyone asks about Berta and everyone loves her crazy antics. She’s a calm kitty that doesn’t like much commotion. She loves her humans, salmon skin, cooked pumpkin pieces, and licks of egg from the bowl. She knows her name and that she is very important to us…She knows she’s our first baby, no matter how many siblings come her way :)

Are you looking for an addition to your life?

If you’re in the market, we can highly suggest getting a Maine Coon. They are loving, gentle, patient, obedient, and loyal. It’s almost like a dog you don’t have to walk (unless you try, like we do sometimes).

We wouldn’t trade our little fur baby for anything else!