Kono and Kai and the Merrills: Furry Friends Fur-Ever
“My husband Mike and I usually found older strays in our backyard and took them into our home,” Carol says. “When we lost our last cat in January 2025, it was the first time in 27 years that we were without one. We waited for one to come find us, but we couldn’t wait any longer and decided to adopt.
“After viewing the many adoptable kitties available at Furry Friends, we focused on two in particular and arranged to meet them at their foster home. They, however, weren’t ready to leave and hid in the corner. Kono came right up and started ‘making biscuits’ on my leg, so we like to think that she and her sister Kai (formerly Alecia and Autumn) chose us!
“Their adjustment to living with us was immediate since they had each other. Given that we’ve always had older cats, having two kittens in our house has been a change – not only because they’re so active, but because they truly love one another! Our other cats merely tolerated each other as they all showed up at different times. It’s just so sweet to see Kono and Kai snuggling together.
“What a delight it is having kittens here who actually enjoy playing with all of the toys we’ve accumulated over the years. They are finally being used. Our house was too quiet before they showed up and breathed fresh life back into the place. While wrestling with each other seems to be their favorite pastime, they excel at stealing all of the rubber tips from the doorstoppers!
“Both Kono and Kai like curling up on Mike’s lap for naps, for being brushed and for having their necks scratched, but they’re not yet into being hugged. As for their most endearing habits: Kono is a little poser who likes having her picture taken. Kai is the one in the background unless it’s time to eat or to play.
“Since we live in a two-story house, the kittens can sleep wherever they want -- and they do. Then, when it’s time to get up, they’re either on our bed or in our room waiting for the day’s activities to begin. We hope they’ll eventually sleep with us, but it’s their choice.”
—————————————————————————————————————
Furry Friends Fur-Ever Stories are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.
