You can’t spell Frantic without Fran… one of our nicknames for Franklin. And boy oh boy do we sometimes get frantic because of our sweet, bratty kitten.
Amongst our many nicknames for Franklin (Fran, Francis, Small Boy, Fluffer Nutter) the most on-point nickname is The Menace from Venice, because even though he isn’t from Venice, he sure can be a big old menace.
In the three months that we have had Franklin, I’ve learned a lot about raising cats, how they are similar and dissimilar to dogs, and I have learned a lot about myself. The good, the bad, and everything in between.
Let’s Get the Big Bad About Fran Out of the Way: Cats Are Nocturnal.
Franklin is up at all hours because he sleeps at all hours. And when he’s hungry, he will meow-scream so that the entire world hears him and his “empty” belly. I’m honestly afraid our neighbors hate us for how loud Franklin gets. And it doesn’t matter how much I try to ignore him, Franklin wakes me up. I don't know how John can sleep through it, I am so jealous. Every day I am so exhausted, and in that exhaustion I’ve unfortunately learned that my sometimes short temper is even shorter than I thought when I’m even more sleep deprived.
Now For the Bad About Me: I Get Frustrated Easily When I Don't Sleep.
Normally, when I get my usual bare minimum sleep of a few hours on and off, I can function just fine. Since having Fran the last few months, I am being woken up every 30-90 minutes for one reason or another. The main two being Franklin wants food, or Franklin has jumped or walked on my face while I’m trying to sleep. I got scratched up pretty badly from some serious zoomies, and it took a week for my face to recover. And it hurt like hell.
In the mornings I get easily frustrated being woken up by a kitten screaming in my ear, walking all over me, and then, once I’ve finally given up and gotten out of bed, trying to climb up my leg or jump onto the counter to get food. Franklin is aware it takes me a minute or two to get his food in the bowl, but recently he has become incredibly impatient.
I try to ignore him and his cries for food or attention when it is not the time to give him either, but honestly it is really hard. The lack of sleep mixed with the utter frustration of feeling like a failure makes me stomp around, slam doors, and yell at a cat who doesn’t understand, let alone speak English. John keeps saying it will get easier with time, and I hope he’s right.
The Great About Fran: Our Meemaw-Son Bond- He’s My Fluffy Scarf!
One of the most incredible things I’ve learned about cats is that they can be very snuggly and loving. It depends on the cat, as each one has a different personality, but being around very sweet cats the last two years has changed my opinion that All Cats Are Mean, an opinion that grew based on bad childhood experiences.
With Franklin, it is clear that we share a very special bond. When I’m home, he follows me from room to room, constantly wants to play and be petted, and when I lay down on the bed Fran wants to be with me— not beside me, but on me. Preferably curled up on my upper chest so that when he falls asleep he stretches out into one long line, his body weight against my chin, transforming into my fluffy scarf. Soon he is going to become too heavy for this, but for now I take it any time I can get it. I love snuggling with him, feeling his purrs against me, watching him fall asleep and the rise and fall of his little chest. It’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever witnessed.
The Truly Amazing: The Brother Bond that Saved Kap.
Before Franklin, Kap was a lazy kitty who didn’t really want anything to do with anyone, cat or human. Sure, he liked to look out a window from time to time, and he’d put up with the occasional head scratches, but for the most part he was sleeping his days away somewhere dark, quiet, and comfy. Then along came Franklin, who opened up Kap’s eyes to the wonders of youth.
Through Franklin, Kap has become more agile, jumping on and off furniture instead of sleeping underneath. He is more playful, allowing Franklin to pick fights and then ending them just as quick as his little brother started them. Kap is a champion fighter. And Kap, who was never one for snuggling, constantly allows his little brother to curl up beside him, and the two will even groom each other! In the two years I’ve known Kap, I have never felt his fur be so soft as it is now. He is taking care of himself because he knows he has a little brother to look out for, and it honesty warms my heart to see this new life in Kap.
The In Between: When All is Said and Done, Franklin is Just a Kitten
There. That’s it. Franklin/Fran/Francis/Small Boy/The Menace from Venice is a sweet kitten who has a lot to learn. He loves playing with toys, snuggling against me watching Gilmore Girls, and yelling to the world that he’s here and he wants attention. There are definitely things I was afraid of coming into play - he jumps up on EVERYTHING now - but on the flip side there is so much I did not expect from a cat: the enjoyment of head scratches, snuggles, play time! These are all traits I thought I could only get from a dog. Nurturing these traits in Franklin gives me the hope that once he does settle down, he will be a sweet boy who follows the rules- or at least mostly follows them. I just really need him to stop jumping on the kitchen counters.
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