Pets
Meet Zuko
Crowned Prince of the Fire Nation 🔥
I want you to meet the newest addition to our family: Zuko.
Zuko comes to us from The Dancing Cat rescue. They were tremendously knowledgeable and thorough, and we really appreciate how they guided us through the adoption process. He did have to part from his mom, Candy, which made us incredibly sad—we almost walked away with both of them.
The Dancing Cat does something really smart: they offer a trial adoption period of approximately two weeks to ensure everyone's a good fit. After those two weeks, we knew he was right for us and we were right for him. He transformed from a guest in our home to the prince of the castle (though Bodie remains the undisputed king).
If I had to describe Zuko in three words, they would easily be:
- Sweet – because he loves cuddling and being held
- Fiery – because he definitely has an attitude
- Needy – because he has to be around us or Bodie at all times
He's settled into comfortable routines and gets along wonderfully with Bodie—they can often be found playing together throughout the day. Mallory hasn't warmed up to Zuko quite as much, but that's pretty expected for her; she's always been our independent cat.
When he's not wrestling with Bodie, Zuko can be found exploring every corner of our house, swatting his toys around, or chewing on things he shouldn't (like the zippers on our jackets). He's still a kitten, so he's bursting with energy. We try to give him plenty of outlets for all that enthusiasm. He goes crazy for the laser pointer.
Yesterday marked a milestone: we officially took him outside on a leash for the first time, and he did great. I think he's going to love being an outdoor cat.
We're excited for all the years ahead with Zuko. We can't help but smile at how perfectly his name suits him—fiery spirit 🔥 and all. Like the beloved uncle Iroh who never gave up on his nephew, Bodie demonstrates endless patience as Zuko learns that honor isn't about being the fiercest warrior, but about being the best companion.
"I don't need luck; I don't want it. I've had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am." — Zuko S1E12
Happy Birthday, Bodie🐈
Orange is the sky’s way of smiling before it says goodnight.
Today, Bodie turns a whopping 14 years old. We took him into our home in January 2023 from Taylor’s parents, and these two years have been filled with nothing but love, paw prints on my face at 3 a.m., and many servings of sous-vide fine meats. Today, he’s getting steak tips.
First off, he’s doing great considering his hyperthyroidism. He was diagnosed about two years ago, and typically cats have a life expectancy of 1–3 years after diagnosis. But as you can see from the photos, he’s looking mighty healthy. Just like in everything else he does, I know he’ll far outlive expectations.
These days, he has many hobbies:
- Going outside. He’s loving the California sun — and the blessed lack of mosquitoes. He enjoys it so much that he tries to sneak out now. He succeeded once, and the taste of freedom hooked him. He loves rummaging through bushes, rolling in the dirt, and getting pets from everyone in the neighborhood.
- Sous-vide or pressure-cooked chicken and beef. With hyperthyroidism, he needs an ample supply of food. Cats can’t have seasoning or oils, and while they can eat raw meat, we prefer cooking it to reduce the risk of bacteria in store-bought cuts. That rules out the skillet (too sticky), and while boiling works, would you eat boiled meat? If he’s not getting wet food, he needs all the moisture he can get from what he eats. So now I sous-vide the meats, or Taylor pressure-cooks them.
- ** Heating pads.** It gets cold here at night, so we set out a heating blanket for him on low with a timer. Or he’ll just sleep on one of us — whichever’s closer.
- Cat wheel. We got it for Mallory to exercise on, but neither of them really used it for that. Bodie does love kneading it, though!
- Obsessing over shoes. I’d rather not get into this one...
- Screaming in the middle of the night. He doesn’t want to come to you — he wants you to come to him. Whether he’s bored, hungry, or lonely, you can count on a raspy meow echoing through the darkness.
All in all, he lives a good life, despite the odds. He has arthritis in his paws, so he buckles every now and then. He sits and watches the world with calm detachment, occasionally blessing it with a slow blink. He’s taught me the virtues of patience, the joy of companionship, and the beauty of routines that don’t need any words.
I look forward to many more moments curled up in sunlight, many more screams at the bottom of the stairs for food, and — hopefully — no more surprise escapes.
Happy 14th Birthday, Bodie. 🍊
Birthday May 3rd, 2011
Nicknames Mr. Bodie, Bad Cat, Orange Cat
Bodie came into my life after my partner’s parents retired. They asked if we wanted him, and we said “Of course”.
At first, it was not an easy transition. He didn’t get along with Mallory. He gets upset in the middle of the night and cries. He gets upset in the middle of the day and cries.
But now he is an integral part of this family.
Likes
- Sous-vide meats, chicken, steak, etc.
- Being near people
- Being outside
- Back scratches and cuddles
- Play time with the chaser toys
- Thinking about quantum electrodynamics
Dislikes
- Not getting his way
- Being alone
Favorite Spots
- On blankets
- On the couch, on the arm rest
- In the living room cat tree/perch
Birthday February 3rd, 2019
Nicknames велика свиня, Bubs, Mal, Chunky Monkey, Stench Under The Bench, Fatness BellyQueen
Likes
- Food
- Belly rubs
- Being alone with you
Dislikes
- Not getting food
- Being picked up
- Petting in ears
Favorite Spots
- Under the main bed
- In the main bedroom closet
- Under blankets on the couch/bed