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Happy Birthday, Delilah!

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IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE! One of the most exciting days the world has ever experienced – DELILAH’S BIRTHDAY! This time three years ago, a little colorful ball of love was born. And I am forever grateful for that. To celebrate, I thought I would share Deli’s story…

Though Delilah was born in November, it wasn’t until January that my husband and I adopted her. She was actually a Christmas gift from my husband (then fiancé) and his parents. Christmas 2011, I opened the best Christmas card I’ve ever gotten…

You can click the photo to biggify and read the message, but it says, “Our gift to you will be to give you one of your biggest wishes… a kitten!!!”

There was no kitten included with the card though. I got to go pick one out myself!
It was a couple of weeks before we had the opportunity to go to a PetSmart adoption weekend and look at all of the cats adoptable through Circle of Friends Animal Society. But when we walked in that cat adoption room, we knew almost instantly which one was coming home with us. 

Here is a collage of photos from the very first day we adopted Delilah, one of the best days ever. 

Photo: Delilah's First Day

Delilah’s Adoption Day

  
Photo: Delilah with her blanket

Delilah and her blankie
Right from the start, Delilah was nothing but love. I was finishing up my last year of college at the time, and whenever I would head to class in the morning, I would leave Delilah curled up in one of my fleecy blankets. And when I got home in the afternoon, she would be exactly where I left her. She still has that same fleecy blanket, and to this day, she loves to cuddle up on it. I can put that blanket anywhere in the house, and Delilah will find it and sleep on it.

Though she would spend her days cuddled in her blankie, she spent her nights curled up on my chest, cuddled into my neck. That was how I went to sleep every night. Now that she is much bigger, she has graduated to sleeping above my head on my pillow, with one of her paws in my hand. 
Another one of Deli’s favorite spots is on mine or Bobby’s shoulders – she will ride on our shoulders like a parrot. Being on our shoulders is her way of participating in whatever it is we are doing. When Bobby is practicing guitar, when I am on the computer, when either one of us are in the kitchen – she is right there with us, on our shoulders or at least as close as she can be. She is the best supervisor 🙂 And one of the sweetest, for sure. 
Photo: Delilah, Shoulder Kitty

Once a shoulder kitty, always a shoulder kitty

Delilah was our first cat – the first one I had ever had on my own as an adult, at least (I grew up with three cats). She remained our only cat for a while, and she liked it that way. I did everything with her. I would even bring her with me when I would go visit my parents. After Bobby and I got married, however, we decided that it was time for another kitty! So in May of 2012, we went back to PetSmart and adopted another cat from Circle of Friends — Sampson. 

Delilah was miffed at us for a few weeks, but she immediately fell in love with Sampson. Right from the start, those two were inseparable (even though Delilah was mad at us… go figure!). If they weren’t cuddling together, they were wrestling or giving each other baths. There was never one without the other. You wouldn’t believe how many photos I have of those two cuddling together. I could fill an entire post with them! And they are still that way. Though their attentions are now spread more with all of the other kitties in the house, those two still share a very special bond. 

As everyone knows, life has it’s ups and downs. Unfortunately, a big down came in January of 2012 when Delilah was only a year old. We started to notice that she would sometimes limp. Over the next couple weeks her limp began to worsen, and it got to the point that she would be walking and then suddenly collapse and start crying. We of course took her to the vet, and it was discovered that she has luxating patellas in her hind legs, or “floating knee caps.” Her knee caps don’t stay in place – they sometimes pop out temporarily, and then pop back in, which explains why she would be limping one minute and then be fine the next. 

I am planning on going into more detail about all of this in a later post, but the short story is that we had a corrective surgery done on Deli’s right back leg, as it was worse than her left one. The recovery period was rough – three weeks of keeping her from jumping. Any cat owner knows that is a near impossible task. Well, at this point in time, we had only had Sophie for a couple of months. Delilah tolerated Sophie, but she certainly didn’t go out of her way to play or be sweet with her. It was during Delilah’s three week recovery period that she and Sophie bonded. While Delilah would spend her days sleeping on our bed, Sophie would be right there beside her, keeping her company and comforting her. 

Photo: Delilah and Sophie after surgery

Delilah and Sophie after Deli’s knee surgery

A blessing in disguise 🙂

[For those who are wondering, Delilah’s knees are doing okay. The surgery wasn’t 100% effective, so she still struggles sometimes (though not early as much as she did before surgery), and she has some arthritis, but we manage it with different supplements.]

Sassy was the next addition, but Delilah and Sassy have never met each other since Sassy has to be kept separate from everyone (she doesn’t like other cats). I have a feeling that when they do meet, Sassy will give Delilah a run for her money in the diva department… 😉

So the next family addition that Delilah has seen is… Caster. The two of them have an interesting dynamic. Caster LOVES to antagonize Big Sister Deli. And Big Sister Deli makes herself an easy target. I think she not-so-secretly enjoys it. I’ve caught her sneaking up on Caster, whacking him with her paw, and then running away. This naturally causes Caster to chase her, which is one of her favorite games. So while I don’t have any sweet cuddly photos of Delilah and Caster, I have plenty of photos of them in mid “battle.” 

Photo: Delilah and Caster

The classic Delilah-Caster Stare Down

Now while Delilah may let Caster chase her and antagonize her, she never lets him win. She will never relinquish her throne as Queen of the House!
Photo: Delilah and her favorite toys

Queen Delilah and her favorite toys

Well, that’s our Deli. Everyone’s Deli – the lover, the cuddler, the doting big sister, the antagonizer, and the sweetest little girl. She is our Queen. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. 
So Happy Birthday, Delilah. From all of us. 
We love you to the moon and back. 
Love, 
Mommy, Daddy, Sampy, Sophie, Caster, and even Sassy
Now let’s go celebrate!
Help yourself, everyone!
Picture

Niptinis
Picture

Popcorn – Delilah’s favorite
Picture

A birthday cake fit for a Queen
Picture

Crown Party Favors – Everyone gets to be Queen today! Or King 😉
Delilah would like to thank her friends Dezi, Lexi, and Mom Audra from Deziz World for this beautiful birthday card. Thank you girls for thinking of her.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Tamago says

    Happy birthday, Delilah! She looks so sweet and comfy on her favorite fleecy blanket. And looks confident and comfy on your shoulders 🙂
    I’m sorry she had to have knee surgery. But glad her knees are doing ok. And it’s wonderful she and Sophie bonded during her recovery. How sweet of Sophie to comfort and be with her. Sounds like Caster and Delilah have lots of fun play time together. I hope Sassy will be able to join them some day 🙂
    Have a wonderful birthday weekend!!

    Reply

  5. Cat Scout Charles says

    ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Happy Birthday Queen Delilah ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪. Wishing you many more happy years pretty girl.
    From Cat Scout Charles

    Reply

  6. Nerissa's Life says

    Oh no! I’m late! I’m a whole day late with this birthday greetin’. Awww… MOUSES!
    But better late than never so…
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DELILAH!!! May your YEAR be filled with love & cuddles and treats & nip. Lots & lots & LOTS of the nip.
    Purrs,
    Nissy

    Reply

  10. LP says

    Happy Birthday Delilah! We can see what a precious and loved family member you are. You were a sweet looking kitten and you are still very sweet looking. Here’s to many more years of happiness for you 🙂
    the critters in the cottage xo

    Reply

  12. Dezi and Lexi says

    Happy Meowday Delilah!!! Hope yous psecial day is da bestest evew. Meez celebwatin’ meez Meowday too, cuz weez celebwate all mumff, so lets hav a zoomiefest. 🙂 Fanks fur invitin’ to da pawty.
    Luv ya’
    Dezi and Lexi
    Purrlease join us tomowwo fur Blest Sunday by postin’ yous blessings.

    Reply

  14. Ellen Pilch says

    Happy Birthday Delilah!!! I have never heard of floating knee caps, poor kitty. It sounds like you have a very loving bunch of kitties. Please visit us for a giveaway.

    Reply

  15. Kitties Blue says

    We hate that our mommy is such a slacker and didn’t get a card made for the lovely Delilah. Purrlease forgive us, Delilah. Will it help if we sing? Meowy Birthday to you, Meowy birthday to you. Meowy Birthday sweetest and adorable Delilah, Meowy Birthday to you. We loved hearing your story. You are definitely a gorgeous girl with lots of purrsonality. Hope you got bushels of love and treats today. Mom and all of us kitties are sending love to all of you. Astrid is sending Sampy so many kisses, she has lost count. Hope you will join us for our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop tomorrow. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    Reply

  17. Sammy says

    Happy Birthday Delilah! What a wonderful family you have – we think it’s brilliant that you like to get a ride around on your Mom and Dad’s shoulders….it’s NICE up high isn’t it???? It’s also nice and WARM there……we think you’re adorable and we’re so happy we’ve gotten to know Sampson through Cat Scouts!! Have a BRILLIANT birthday young lady.
    Love, Sammy

    Reply

  18. Fur Everywhere says

    We are a bit late, but we want to wish Delilah a Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing her story. A kitten for Christmas was a beautiful gift for you, and I’m so glad that Delilah found her way into your home and your heart 🙂

    Reply

  19. meowmeowmans says

    Happy belated birthday, Delilah! We love how you came to live in your happy, loving home. 🙂
    We have some other kitty pals with floating kneecaps. We are glad your surgery was successful.

    Reply

  20. Ravem says

    Happy Birthday Delilah. What a lucky kitten you were to find such a wonderful forever home that gives you so much love and even throws you birthday parties.

    Reply

  23. Clooney says

    Happy Belated Birthday sweet Delilah! And many more…I’z got my jazz paws going for ya full force and hope that your B-Day was awesome! We really enjoyed learning all about you and your relationship with everyone in your family, what an amazing kitty you are, we are so happy you ended up in the loving family you did!
    xoxo
    Clooney & Neytiri

    Reply

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