One day in the past I heard mewing outside my back door and I found a pretty little calico kitten out on the porch.  It was delicately  built and not a baby kitten, more of an 'adolescent' I would say.  I checked around the neighborhood and could not find an owner.  I wasn't looking to adopt a kitten at the time.  I had a Sheltie already, but I began to consider keeping her.  I could tell that she was very bright and her markings were stunning and she seemed very friendly to me.

So I decided to introduce her to my dog.  I knew he would be fine with the kitten once he got used to her.  I sat on the couch in the living room and held Buster in my lap and the kitten began to slowly approach us.  He was excited and started squirming a bit, but showed no signs of aggression that alarmed me and the kitten was obviously unafraid.  In fact, she seemed determined to meet Buster and was totally focused on him as she confidently approached.  She stopped right in front of us and as Buster lowered his head to greet her, psssst!!!  It was as fast as cobra strike.  I saw one glistening drop of blood forming on Buster's nose.

I ran him to a back room and shut him in there.  We were both stunned at the ferocity of the kitten.  I was so grateful that it hadn't gotten an eye.  A dark cloud had moved over the whole situation.  This was obviously a very dominant little kitten.  She was taking over the household.  I was afraid.  Would she scratch me if I got out of line? Could I ever trust her with Buster?  Would Buster resent her after this attack?

I didn't feel hopeful about finding her another home, either.  I knew the statistics.  Even though she was very pretty, there were so many other pretty kittens needing homes, and if she could not be trusted with other animals that wouldn't help.  I wasn't sure about children, either.  I didn't feel it would be impossible to find her a good home, but now it looked like a heavy burden was upon my shoulders.

She had an appointment for a health check at my veterinarian's office later that afternoon, and when we saw him I told him the kitten's sad tale, finishing with the attack upon my dog.  "Guess it is going to be really difficult to place a kitten like this," I said.

Now things got really strange.  My vet's facial expression got progressively more tense and his voice more loud  as he repeated three times, "Do you know what you've got here?....Do you KNOW what you've got here?!!!...DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE!!!!!!"

Ummm...obviously I did not know and shook my head dumbly and said, "Is there something really wrong with her?"

He started shaking his head back at me so vigorously that I was afraid he was in the beginning stages of a seizure.  His expression seemed to be angry and disdainful, almost deranged.  I was flabbergasted as I watched the show.  His voice was truly shrill as he responded, "This is the PERFECT CALICO SHOW CAT!  Her markings are exquisite!!!  I have been looking for a cat like this ALL MY LIFE!!!"  And then he glared at me and finished his diatrabe with, "And you, YOU, just waltz in here having found a kitten like this.  She just.....walked....right....up....to your door..."  His voice had become quiet again when uttering his last sentence and he looked sad and spent.

BINGO!  I had a mark on the hook.  Instinctively I knew how to play him.  I looked down at my little treasure on the exam table and said, "Oh my, I had no idea!  She does have gorgeous markings, though."  Then I picked her up and cradled her possessively a bit as if I were changing my mind and said, "Well, I do like her very much, but I still don't know if she would ever get along with my dog."

The vet took his opportunity as I hoped he would and said ever so politely and plaintively, "Would you, ('you' had a whole new respectful ring to it now), would you consider giving her to me?"  I was silent for a minute and stroked the kitten as if I were pondering his request and muttered, "I guess she could not end up in a better home...I do fear her scratching Buster's eyes. (And mine!)  O. K.  That would be great if you would care for her."

The vet already had eager arms stretched out for the kitten and was saying, "Thank you, thank you..."  When he had possession of the kitten, (who seemed to like the vet, too), he immediately headed toward the door.  Before he disappeared with the coveted kitten carefully cradled in his arms, he gave me once quick glance that seemed a mixture of guilt and pity.  Then he quickly darted through the door.

I listened to his rapid footsteps heading down the hallway and when a back office door snapped shut, I knew the coast was clear.  That is when I rushed down the corridor in the opposite direction, quickly paid the 'exam' bill and peeled away in my car.  My vet and I had outwitted each other and a very lucky kitten had found the perfect home.

Thanks, Klondike, for a great story. And thanks also to all those who post pet anecdotes.