That is to say, TB adopted kittens. (Either way, better kittens than a cow.)
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Alpha is in back in each of these pictures; Beta is in front. Alpha was so christened because he seemed to be the alpha kitty, hissing whenever TB or another human approached him. When TB told me he had named one kitten Alpha, I suggested he call the other one Romeo; alas, Beta had already received his appellation.
Alpha likes to hiss. At everyone. And everything. Apparently, he hisses simply on principle. As a result, I have begun referring to him as Alger Hiss. All that hissing is a bluff; Alpha doesn’t scratch or bite. He likes to be scratched under the chin and will occasionally give in to some very loud purring. Alpha also likes to lick and nibble the fingers of the human that’s petting him. And chew on fingernails. I’m thinking Alpha will eventually pursue a career as a manicurist.
Beta loves to be scratched and petted and, most of all, enjoys sitting on his brother and bogarting all the attention. Beta begins purring almost immediately when someone starts petting him. Beta is a pretty mellow kitty; nothing seems to bother him. I predict he will grow up to be a lounge lizard or a mouse potato.
When not lounging on the windowsill in TB’s bathroom, the boys hang out behind the toilet. ( I know … eww!)
So, I guess Alpha and Beta are my … step-kitties? God-kitties? Kitties once removed? Whatever else they may be, they’re completely adorable.