They both bring me such joy and it thrills me to know that they are both healthy and happy.

My folks were cat people, and as a child I had cats. I learned kittens do better in pairs and older cats are fine on their own. When I married, after a month or so, we got a dog. Then when we moved into the house a few months later, my love of animals was allowed to blossom. Before we had children, we had two cats, three dogs, and a Mexican red-kneed tarantula named Charlie. Time and children changed the animal household. Animals passed away. Charlie went to the zoo. Having a curious toddler and a tarantula together made me uncomfortable. The Ft. Worth Zoo was happy to have him, as his species had become “threatened.”

For a while, we were down to Greta as our only pet.

As with the ebb and flow of life in general, our menagerie has expanded. First came the guinea pig. His name is simply “Pig.” His love of his cage mate left a friend with an infant, a toddler, two adult and several teenaged guinea pigs. He has a cute little personality and loves spinach.

Next came two little koi fish — after a month of Invisi-Fish as an aquarium “conditioned.”

Now we have a bit of a menagerie.

We have canine, rodent, fish — and now a feline. Today a cat joined our household. His name is Bat and he is beginning to settle into the family. He is a rescue kitty and has spent the last three months in a shelter. He will need to adjust, but will in time. I have faith.

Happy Thursday.