A week ago, my daughter, Amanda bought a kitten. His name is Russell (pictured above and
at the bottom of this issue), after Russell the Wilderness Explorer from the movie Up, and the name suits him perfectly. He is adventurous, curious, energetic, and always on the move. Russell is a Lynx Point Balinese, and from the moment Amanda saw him in an online video, she was completely smitten.
A few days later, we set
off on an adventure of our own. Amanda and I drove from Wisconsin to Missouri to bring him home. Rather than making the trip in one long drive, we turned it into a mini getaway, spending time exploring both Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri, along the way. The return trip was a different story. With Russell safely riding home with us, we made our way back in a single day...about an 8 hour drive.
Since Amanda is taking a gap year before applying to graduate school, she is currently living at home with Joe and me. That means Russell lives with all of us, too.
What I didn't fully appreciate before he arrived was how much organizing is involved when a
kitten becomes part of the household. When adults move into a home, they generally understand which things belong to them and which things they should leave alone. Kittens do not.
The arrival of Russell has caused us to look at our house from an entirely different perspective.
Suddenly, everyday objects that have sat in the same place for years seem like potential hazards. That decorative glass bowl on a shelf? A future target. The charging cord hanging off the end table? A tempting toy. The plant sitting near the window...it's not toxic...he hasn't found it so far. The stack of
papers left on the desk? An invitation for exploration.
Within days, we found ourselves evaluating every room and asking two questions:
Could this hurt Russell? Could Russell
hurt this?
Those questions became our new organizing guide.
Research Helps, But Every Pet Is Different
Before Russell came home, Amanda did what most responsible pet owners do. She spent time researching. She watched videos, read articles, and learned about caring for a kitten. Research is important, and I would never discourage anyone from doing it.
At the same time, no amount of research completely prepares you for bringing home a new pet. Every animal has its own personality, habits, likes, dislikes, and quirks. Books and websites can tell you what kittens generally do, but they cannot tell you what your kitten will do.
Russell has already
surprised us more than once. Some things we worried about haven't interested him at all. Other things that never crossed our minds immediately captured his attention.
That's part of the learning process. You can prepare as much as possible, but once your new pet arrives, you quickly discover that you're learning
together.
Organizing for Safety
One thing we've learned very quickly is that keeping Russell safe requires more than simply putting away breakable items. For example, we are being especially careful whenever we use the sliding glass door
that leads to our deck. Every time that door opens, someone is paying attention.
Russell is curious about everything, and we certainly don't want him darting outside. What was once a door we opened without a second thought has become something we consciously
monitor throughout the day.
We've also discovered that walking through the house requires a little more attention than it used to.
Russell is tiny, incredibly fast, and surprisingly quiet. More than once, he has appeared out of nowhere and darted across
the room in front of us.
We've all become more aware of where we're stepping because the last thing anyone wants is to accidentally trip over him or step on a tiny paw.
It's funny how
quickly a kitten can change the way an entire household operates.
Temporary Changes Are Still Good Changes
One lesson I've learned over the years is that organizing doesn't always mean creating a permanent system. Sometimes it means making
temporary adjustments to fit a particular season of life.
Right now, we have moved certain items to higher shelves. Breakable decor has been packed away. Small objects that could be swallowed have been relocated. A few cherished keepsakes are spending some time in drawers and cabinets until Russell is older.
None of these changes are forever. They're simply practical solutions for this stage of life.
Sometimes organizing is about making your space work for the people who live there. Other times it's about
making your space work for the pets who live there.
Finding Homes for New Supplies
A kitten arrives with more belongings than you might expect. Food dishes, water bowls, toys, scratching posts, treats, litter supplies, grooming tools, and
pet carriers all need a place to live. The easiest way to manage the influx is to create designated homes from the beginning.
We have already discovered that toys seem to multiply overnight. A small basket helps keep them contained when Russell isn't using them.
Pet supplies stay together rather than being scattered throughout the house. Litter supplies are stored nearby so they're easy to access when needed.
When every item has a home,
cleanup becomes much easier. The same organizing principles that work for people work for pets, too.
Accepting a Little Bit of Chaos
Of course, no amount of organizing completely prepares you for life with a kitten. Russell can move from
one end of the house to the other in what feels like seconds. He climbs, explores, chases imaginary creatures, and somehow manages to be everywhere at once. There are moments when it feels like we're constantly putting things away, moving things higher, or redirecting his attention.
But that's part of the
experience.
Sometimes we focus so much on maintaining perfect order that we forget homes are meant to be lived in. A perfectly organized house that never changes isn't realistic. Life changes, families change, and sometimes a tiny kitten arrives and changes everything.
That's not a problem to solve.
It's simply life happening.
The Best
Kind of Organizing
You've heard me say it before...organizing isn't about having perfectly arranged shelves or spotless countertops. It's about creating a home that supports the people, and pets, you love.
For now, that means a few less
decorations on display. It means being more careful about where cords are left. It means putting certain items away until Russell is older and wiser.
Those small adjustments are a worthwhile tradeoff.
After all, the goal isn't to have a museum. The goal is
to have a home.
And if that home occasionally includes a mischievous kitten named Russell racing through the living room at full speed, climbing onto furniture, and keeping everyone entertained, that's a pretty wonderful thing.
Looking back, the miles we traveled to bring Russell home seem like a small thing now. What started with a video, a road trip, and a determined daughter has quickly turned into a new chapter for our family.
Yes, there are more toys to pick up, more things to put away, and more organizing adjustments to make.
But there is also more laughter, more entertainment, and a lot more love in our home.
It has only been a week, but one thing
is already certain: Russell has brought a lot of energy into our house, a little extra work, and a great deal of joy. He has become a part of our family and our hearts.
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