Tag Archives: Cigo

Six months with Cedar

Posted on by

6

Our little orange kitten has become a champion barn cat, a much-loved family member and so much fun.

Cedar has been with us for six months. You may recall we adopted him and his brother Maple at the same time as the chickens and turkeys arrived in the spring.

We kept the kittens confined in the coop for several weeks so we could get to know each other and get through their neuter surgeries. (The birds were still in their brooders in the house.) After we let Cedar and Maple out to have free range, Maple disappeared just a couple of days later. We’ve never found any sign of Maple, but Cedar has stayed safe and stayed home.

He is a very social little cat and loves to be with us.

He’s usually waiting outside the mudroom door for Cigo and me in the morning and then runs to the barn for his breakfast. If we’re inside and he feels left out, he will sit on the steps outside the living room door or on the kitchen windowsill and meow. He hasn’t figured out how to break through the screen on the kitchen window, but he keeps trying.

Occasionally he comes into the mudroom if the door is open and one rainy night he made it as far as the living room until he decided he was ready to go back outside.

He’s gone on the trampoline, the saucer swing and the treehouse, loves belly rubs and tolerates being carried around by Ellie. He’s accompanied us down the driveway to the school bus and gone with Cigo for a walk to the back field.

The biggest adjustment has been Cigo. Cigo has always been super excited by cats, so it took a while for him to get used to Cedar. He chased Cedar several times and got dragged back to the house for a timeout. Cedar learned climbing trees was a good escape–a good lesson for predators beyond Cigo.

But Cedar is an easy going, tolerant, confident cat. So he kept venturing out of the barn even though he knew Cigo was around. We kept doing supervised visits with Cigo and Cedar and lots of treats for everyone. Eventually, they got used to each other and now we all–including the chickens–can be together with no issues.

Cedar can sprint past Cigo or walk through Cigo’s legs, and Cigo doesn’t blink. In fact, sometimes he seems to say, “Little dude, can you give me a break?” They occasionally try to play together, but haven’t figured out how to manage the size difference yet.

Beyond the fun, Cedar is also doing his job. He is a prolific hunter, and we find dead bodies in the barn and on the lawn regularly.

For winter, we’ve added a cat house full of straw outside the mudroom door. He also has the barn with lots of straw filled spots.

Cedar has added to the love and joy in our little family, and I’m very glad he’s with us.

Two years with Cigo

Posted on by

4

Today marks two years since we adopted Cigo. As I did last year, I’m writing him a letter, inspired by Tracey at love lives on.

Dear Cigo,

Thank you for another great year (porcupine notwithstanding). You bring so much to our family. Energy, silliness, fun, patience, gentleness, enthusiasm, love.

When we’re out, people often ask what kind of dog you are. I usually reply that you are a “who-knows.” As they’re nodding solemnly because yes, of course they’ve heard of that breed, I usually follow up with you’re a “good-dog.” Because that’s the best descriptor of you (although Grandma calls you an exceptional dog).

I watch Ellie trying to teach you to “twirl,” a treat clutched in her little hand. But her arm is too short and you are too big. You give her your best sit and then windmill your head around as she whirls her arm around you. You try to figure out what she wants you to do, and when she finally gives up and tosses the treat across the room, you dash after it and then come back to try again.

I am so grateful for your patience and calm. And I laugh as I watch the two of you together.

I enjoy that I am your person. Your enthusiasm when I come home from work or your glances over your shoulder as we’re hiking or how you lay beside me as I work show me your love. I’m also grateful that moving your bed into my room has stopped the early morning crying outside my door.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not giving you enough or I don’t love you enough. In this season of my life, the minutes feel particular full, so I don’t sit and pet you very much. There are days when a walk down the driveway is all we do. As I spread my attention around to all the people and things that need it, you get what is left over, which sometimes doesn’t feel like very much. But while the minutes are full and my attention is small, the place you hold in my life is large.

Thank you for bringing so much to our lives. It’s hard to believe it’s been only two years. You are such an important part of our family, it seems like you’ve always been here.

Love, Julia

I used to write for ThatMutt.com. Its former owner wrote a thoughtful essay on The ‘Other’ Dogs. This quote fit in with some of what I was thinking about as I wrote this letter to Cigo.

“Dogs do not ask us to be the best version of ourselves. They just love us for being ourselves.”

One year with Cigo

Posted on by

7

When we adopted Baxter, I began a tradition of writing a letter to him on the anniversary of his gotcha day (inspired by Tracey at love lives on). Cigo’s gotcha day was yesterday, so I decided to resume the tradition.

Dear Cigo,

Thank you for joining our family a year ago. When we met you, the adoptions coordinator explained that deciding which family would adopt you was your choice as well as ours. I’m very glad that you chose us.

Ellie and I remember our first visit. I think about seeing you on the computer for the first time, sending in our application and all of the feelings I had–excitement, uncertainty, hope. When we brought you home, I think you felt some of those yourself. We all adjusted. You joined our circle of love and joy.

You have brought a lot to my life. Your company, our hikes. Most of all watching you with Ellie and her with you. Your love of people, your patience with children, your happy, sensitive nature are very special. Whatever we are doing, you’re up for it. In fact, you’d prefer not to be left out.

This year has been full of adventures–cottages, road trips, picnics, playgrounds, boats, a ferry, canoes, sleds and tents. We’ve also made our own routine with hikes, swims, bonfires, car rides and the farm.

Along the way, we’re remaking our own family. We don’t know each other’s history. You don’t know Matt or Baxter. I don’t know your other family. We’ve found our way together, and we keep moving forward, enjoying each day.

Tracey, who originally inspired me to begin writing letters like this wrote, “joy is not ignoring reality, it’s about making the best of it.” I feel this so strongly. You help us make the best of it, every day.

The wonderful thing about love and joy is that they grow. Our lives are better because you’re here. Thank you.

Love,
Julia

Six months with Cigo

Posted on by

2

This weekend marked six months since Cigo came home with us.

He has been a great fit for our family, and it’s hard to remember life without him. I feel like he’s always been here.

In honour of his six-months, here are six things about Cigo:

1. His head is heavy. One of the very first things we learned about Cigo is that his head weighs a lot and he frequently has to set it down. On the bed, on the couch, on the chair, on your lap. He does not have furniture privileges (though it appears he used to), and by resting his head on the couch and gazing up at us pathetically, he lets us know how terrible it is to have to stay on the floor.

This is his go-to sad puppy pose. He rested his head on the diving board at Matt’s parents’ house when he wasn’t allowed in the pool. Which brings us to number two…

2. He loves to swim. As soon as the ice thawed on the pond, Cigo was in the water. Now he runs there any time he wants to cool off. We went to a cottage last month, and he swam so much he had some withdrawal when we came home.

3. He’s a people person. Cigo is happiest when he’s with people, so the cottage week with my extended family was his definition of a good time. He even gave me a little space sometimes (he is very attached to me and doesn’t let me go far). I can’t complain too much. Having him beside me at night as I work is a good feeling. Plus it’s entertaining because…

4. He likes to sleep on his back. Seeing Cigo sprawled out all four feet in the air makes me laugh every time.

5. He’s great off leash. (Except for that one day that we won’t talk about.) Cigo has free run of the farm, which is exactly what I want for him. Baxter and I worked very hard at off leash, and he still wasn’t always reliable. But from the start Cigo has been great (we’re still working at making him great on leash). I’ve loved going hiking again, and it’s a great feeling to have confidence in my dog.

6. Kids are his superpower. Ellie was my biggest consideration when we adopted Cigo. The adoption coordinator at the SPCA picked him for us in part because of how good he was with her. Cigo is the most patient accommodating dog when it comes to children. He wears the necklaces she makes for him, admires the pictures she shows him, tolerates her sitting in his bed, and goes along with the games she plays.

Cigo goes pretty much everywhere with us, so that means lots of playgrounds. When kids come to see him, he continues laying where he was and lets them pet him. If kids are uncertain around dogs, he stays stoic and calm while they work themselves out. It’s magic to see.

I made the decision to adopt Cigo very quickly. But I was thoughtful about what was most important to us. I wanted a dog who could be part of our family–who would fit in with our life and what we like to do. Cigo has been that in more ways that I ever hoped.

I wrote some blog posts a long time ago for That Mutt that feel relevant to share:

Adding to our family

Posted on by

4

One of the functions the mudroom was designed for is being fulfilled. A row of hooks is now holding leashes, collars and old towels.

Last week, Ellie and I added Cigo to our family.

I was not looking for a dog. But something made me click onto the SPCA website. There I saw an easy-going 3 year old boxer lab. That all sounded very familiar, and we had an amazing experience last time.

Without giving myself time to think, I put in an application. A few days later we went to meet him. Ellie liked him and he was good with her–my most important criteria. The next day, we heard from the adoptions coordinator that we were approved and he could come home with us.

Cigo (See-Go) has been a nice addition to our family. We’re all still adjusting, and it’s definitely a juggle. But seeing Ellie with him is incredibly special and having him with me as I write at night is comforting.

His overall disposition is awesome. He’s good with people, children and dogs, and doesn’t bother with our food or Ellie’s toys. He doesn’t have a lot of training, so we’re working on basics like not pulling on the leash, stay and our house rules.

He loves the farm and likes rolling in the snow, checking out the smells when we go snowshoeing and running around the driveway with Ellie.

A week in, he’s starting relax and know what’s expected. And we’re getting to know him and what he needs. It feels good to share the love and joy of our family.