The perfect kitten arrived yesterday.

We were quite keyed up about meeting the little critter we’ve been watching grow by email for so long now – but there wasn’t QUITE the sense of adventure that had swirled around our first meeting with Jack. I guess it’s second baby syndrome. The upside is, you can relax and enjoy the ride.

Mei Mei’s flight from Tasmania was a little late, so we scoffed a cup of airport coffee and fell into our default conversation pattern – the Great Cat Name Debate of 2007.

“Gizmo” was Irish’s preference – after all, Cornish Rexes are pretty famous for looking (and acting) like little gremlins.

But I didn’t want to set the little tyke up for life, you know? My vote was for something oriental-sounding to go with her Siamese colouring. I’d made the name up myself and was terribly proud of it: “Mooski” (with a short “oo” as in “book”). Mooski Mooski Mooski! How cute is that?

Too cute, apparently. Irish was horrified and babbled nonsensically about his dead body and such. “How about Jill?” He suggested, when he’d calmed down. “You know – Jack and Jill?”

Madness.

I pressed on. “How about Mei Mei? It’s a Chinese word, so we get the oriental thing, and they use it all the time on Firefly, so it’s also a fanboy thing.”

Irish paused to consider. “I’m not against it,” he admitted.

Mei Mei, as I understand it, means “little sister” but is a term of endearment that also kind of means “pretty one” or “beautiful”. So we crossed our fingers that Mei Mei (pronounced “May May”) would be prettier than her photographs suggested. So far the friends who’d seen them had been nominating names like “Ugly Betty” and “Smeagol”.

I have mean friends.

Mei Mei’s crate was waiting for us when we arrived back at the pickup office. Irish peeked through the cover and burst out “Oh my God! She IS pretty after all!”

And so she was.

Bringing Mei Mei home was a much more streamlined process than picking up Jack. She seemed quite calm so we felt the best thing for her was to get her home without stopping. Her box had been thoughtfully covered by the breeder, so she travelled without a peep.

We’d set aside my office as “Mei Mei’s room” and when we set her down she started to mew in an imperious little voice. Then she emerged from the box, took one look at us, and disappeared under the cupboard.

So we pulled out a toy we’d bought the day before and enticed her out. Within twenty minutes, this is what was happening:

I have to admit that, twenty-four hours later, I’m a little shell-shocked. Her activity levels, and neediness, are so high that I can’t get on with my work because there’s a kitten pouncing on my mouse, stomping across my keyboard and wrapping herself around my head.

She is noisy and demanding and at this stage has no idea what the word “no” means. But she is also affectionate, friendly, and wouldn’t dream of putting a claw into a human being. So this is me, today:

I do recall similar mixed feeling the first few days after Jack first arrived. Buried under all the happiness there was this vague sense of “Oh My God What Have I Done”. But within five days I couldn’t imagine life without him. I’m sure the perfect kitten will settle down and fit right in soon, too.

The things we learned about picking up a kitten from the airport:

• Keep the crate covered so she won’t be scared of all the unfamiliar sights and sounds.
• Send a toy down a few weeks earlier so she’ll have time to get “imprinted” to your scent. We sent Mei Mei a soft toy that we’d tucked into our bed for a few nights, and then given to Jack for a few nights. When she arrived, she was wrapped around it.
• Make sure she’s strong and fully immunised against disease.
• Keep her in a quiet “safe room” for the first few days until she finds her feet. The idea is not just that she relaxes – you want her to bond to her territory.
• Use the same food and kitty litter that your breeder did, so she’ll know where to go straight away and won’t have an upset stomach.
• Give her a clock to sleep with on the first night – an oldie but still a goodie! The ticking clock really DOES seem to settle a kitten straight down. Mei Mei got a hot water bottle as well, but that’s just because she’s a Cornie.
• Give her lots of pats and lots of love. She’s just been separated from her Mum, so give all the comfort you can to your new little pusskins.