Merlin and Coco's baby pics and a Secret. Guaranteed the cutest and surprising thing you'll see today.

Fans of my Siamese siblings, Merlin and Coco know they are getting on in years. I posted their 13th birthday bash in October and other pics on a regular basis. BUT for the first time, I'm posting their kitten pics. Everyone knows how crazy I am about my cats. They lead a pampered existence but it wasn't always that way.

I've never told anyone on Gather about Merlin and Coco's first year. It's not a happy story. They were born on October 2, 1994 to a Sealpoint mom, owned by a breeder. There were five in the litter. Merlin, ever the leader, popped out first. Coco who is the dumb blonde kitties, arrived last, about two hours later. They were joined by two brothers and a sister. The brothers went to one home. The other sister stayed with the mom and Merlin and Coco went to a relative of the breeder. 

From the very beginning, Merlin and Coco bonded. Merlin had the habit of reaching out with his paw to her which he still does. (You'll see it some of these pics.) In those days they had other names and a rocky start. Their owner, a well meaning but unstable person for various reasons couldn't keep them and passed them on to another home. Her plan was to take them back when she could. This happened six times in their first year. They were shunted   back and forth to different homes for entire kittenhood!

When they were nine months old, they were back with the original owner and living in a windowless basement apartment. They weren't spayed or neutered and Coco was separated from Merlin, living in a cage most of the time. At that point, I was with the owner and urged her to get them spayed and neutered. She did and a couple months later on the eve of their first birthday, she moved to a new apartment. 

One day, I got a frantic call from the owner saying her landlord would not allow pets. With no alternative, she brought Merlin and Coco to the Humane Society. She asked if I would adopt them. I readily agreed. They had been there for three days.  Siamese cats hate beeing in enclosed spaces. I'll never forget their skinny faces when they leapt out of their carrier into my living room. The first night they purred so loudly I thought I'd have to get earplugs. They've been purring that way ever since.

TO BE CONTINUED... with the kitty teen pics. 

I'm grateful to have these early photos since I missed their kittenhood. They weren't the best quality but I did my best to photo-edit.

 I suspect Merlin is the one at the top right. He's always lobbyed for the best spot.

Merlin already doing his outstretched arm thing.

 I had a hard time getting the red eye out. Merlin and Coco(on the right)

An armful of kittens. Merlin of course with the arm.

Merlin in the primo position

 Merlin, top and center.

Merlin and Coco.

 "You're mine!" says Merlin!

A kitty blanket.

 Aren't I cute?This is their sister.