I fell in love at Petsmart yesterday.

[MIButterfly]

I went there to buy a new cat bowl and some catnip for Holly. I went to the adoption area and saw a beautiful calico cat less than a year old. I was immediately smitten. Oh, how I wanted to take her home! But I live in a condo and we're only allowed two pets, plus I think at their advanced age, it would be too much for Martini and Holly to have to live with such a younger cat. I think Martini might be able to handle it because she's a kitten at heart, but Holly never would. She doesn't even like Martini. She pretty much ignores her now, but in their younger days, she would hiss at Martini; refuse to play with her (and Martini kept trying); push her away from the food; try to steal her treats; and smack her on the head whenever she walked by. As I've mentioned before, it took her several years to warm up to me (and she still looks at me askance from time to time!).

[SheltieLover]

1. What a shame you couldn't adopt the kit...

Sounds as if the Cat Distribution System is working on you...

[Bayard]

2. You obviously need to move

[MIButterfly]

4. LOL!

People would ask me why I moved and I'd say "because I wanted more than two cats!"

I bought this place because my realtor told me to! She said "Oh my God, it's just like a little house; you should buy it" so I did! It wasn't even my first choice on the day I first saw it. But it did turn out to be a good choice.

[3catwoman3]

3. Oh, can I ever relate. Several years ago, I had a nearly identical experience...

...at Petco.

An adorable little calico kitten, about 10 weeks old at most, and on the diminutive side. Absolutely precious. One black ear, and one orange ear - rather like the harlequin suit court jesters wore. I immediately thought that Harlequin would be a good name for her, with the nickname of Harley/Harleigh.

I told myself I'd better leave immediately or I'd be taking her home. We had either 3 or 4 cats at the time, and I figured my husband would object. If I weren't married, she definitely would have been going home with me.

[MIButterfly]

5. She sounds absolutely adorable. And such a cute name!

Oh, the ones that got away........

[3catwoman3]

8. She is one of two I will always regret not taking.

I've never had a calico. I plan to remedy that someday.

We have 4 right now. 2 unrelated 13 yr olds - a 14 lb back and brown male tabby, and an 8 lb female tuxie. The other 2 are a brother-sister pair of Siamese mix - 11 lb blue point male, and 8 lb seal point female. The sister has absolutely stunning almost turquoise eyes that I could look at all day. Her brother's eyes are more of a gray blue. If they'd been painted by impressionist painters, she'd be a Van Gogh and he'd be a Monet.

I think the big jump is from 2 to 3. After 3, it's just like, "Hey, what's one more?" We have had 5, and I don't recall it being any more work than 4.

[JMCKUSICK]

6. Just to offer a counter argument,

Getting the third cat might make both the others happier, first because Holly would be left alone after communicating her dislike lol, ut Martini might just enjoy the revitalized energy.

When we added Shadow, I was worried about Petunia as she's fifteen and not interested in additional company but boy was I surprised when she's done the exact opposite.
She now hangs out with Cuddles and Shadow because they chase each other and not her. Now she is comfortable with. Oth in the same space.
What a pleasant surprise that was.

[MIButterfly]

7. I'm so glad to hear it worked out so well with your cats.

But as for me, it's also the issue of only being allowed to have two pets. If I adopted another cat and somehow the HOA found out about it, it would kill me to have to give one of them up. Once a cat is mine, it's mine for life, either theirs or mine.

I remember when I first got Holly, I'd tell people at work how fearful she was of me and how she'd run away at the sight of me and they would tell me to give her back. I'd say "What do you mean, give her back? She's my cat." It took a long time, but she finally warmed up to me and we're both glad I didn't give her back. At least, I hope she's glad. I know I am!