I just want to say that no pet of mine has ever been "replaced". They have been and are all originals, just like people - no two are alike. They all have unique personalities. That said, after Neko passed, our remaining three cats, especially Buster, who was Neko's bud, were depressed. They knew something had happened to Neko, and that he was gone. Buster especially, who was trailed and harassed every night, in a brotherly way, by Neko, was lonely and sad.
So we hied ourselves to the local Humane Society, which, in Broward County, FL is a beautiful brand new facility, complete with gift shop.
My husband and I went the rounds of the kittens to see who was available for adoption. Of course, I can't go there without shedding tears for the older cats who are there. My heart was comforted when, while waiting to see some kittens, a teenage girl fell in love with an older cat. We watched as she cajoled her mother into letting her take that cat home. Thank You, Lord, for one more creature in a loving home. I was impressed with the girl, long hair to her waist, as she worked on her mother. They appeared to almost be sisters and the young one looked to me like a girl who owns horses. She just had that coltish, loves-the-outdoors, natural look. Perhaps I just have a good imagination - she got her cat.
Meanwhile, we looked at two sets of black and white kittens. Why black and white? In Neko's honor, perhaps - Mr. Tuxedo himself, as Neko always was. The first set was skittish and too scared. The second set was it. They were playful and full of energy. When the girl asked us which one we wanted, we couldn't decide because they were litter brothers and identical. After I worked on my poor husband a bit ("we'll have FIVE cats - that's way over the official allowed number"), we decided to take them both.
It was the right decision. They are inseparable and they have conquered our grown cats. Buster was adapted immediately, almost glad for the young energy. Squeebles was the tough one. He hissed and growled for over a week. Now he plays with them, running all over the house making funny Maine Coon barking noises and butting heads with them. He lets them steal his food. Junior Beans is tolerating them as a necessary nuisance, and, as long as he has his favorite spots available, he is happy. Albeit, sometimes he has to "reserve" those spaces early, by sitting in them way before the kittens think of it, and by this method, making sure he has his favorite resting places when he wants them.
Here are some pictures of the little darlings. They are nothing like Neko in personality. No angst, no Goth, no playing dice or trips for cigarettes. They are wholesome family kitties, brothers, and very angst free.
One of them appears to have more white on their front paws and the other less white, so, for a while, that was their names. We called them LW and MW, for short. We have decided the Less White one is the less dominant one, and so I have christened him "Little Crow". The dominant one is, "Jet", perhaps. We are still figuring out the more dominant one's name.
Are they not adorable? They brought light into our lives after the darkness left by Neko's suffering.