As you know, my beloved cat Friday passed away on Sunday, July 21 of this year. As we had spent eighteen wonderful years together it was an incredibly sad day. He will always be in my heart.
A couple of weeks later I visited two rescue Tuxedo Cat brothers who were just adorable but I decided as I still had Pharoah, three cats were too much for me to deal with.
A couple of weeks after that, just for the heck of it, I looked at the website for the City of Los Angeles Animal Services, read about the available Tuxedo Cats, wrote down the names, and drove over there.
Even though I had not really decided I was ready to adopt just one month after Friday’s passing, I took the cat carrier with me just in case.
The city animal shelter in West LA certainly has improved since the last time I was there eighteen years ago. It is like a hotel for dogs, cats and rabbits. There are small rooms where six to eight cats can comingle. I assume they take turns being removed from the cages.
I interviewed four older Tuxedos in the five-year-old range as I had decided I didn’t want a kitten but a more mature cat closer to Pharoah’s age (he is coming up on eight). They were nice cats but none of them really seemed like the right fit. Besides, I wasn’t in a hurry to adopt.
The animal services lady who was helping me kept mentioning this young cat, Romeo. He was ten months old. His owner had recently died, the family couldn’t keep him, and he needed a home right away. But I told her I didn’t want a cat that young.
However, after the other cats failed to impress me, I agreed to take a look at Romeo.
It was love at first sight on Romeo’s part. Or maybe he was just determined to be adopted by whoever would take him home that same day, no questions asked!!!

Freddie may be a high-tech cat but he has respect for the past as he takes a nap on my first personal computer ever… the 1985 KayPro 2 that I use as a foot rest under my desk!
We were put in a private room. I walked back and forth with Romeo following at my heels. I sat down and Romeo immediately jumped on my lap, then started rubbing his head all over my face. Bleaaaaah. He wasn’t interested in playing with toys, just being with me.
How could I say no?
After the proper paperwork was filled out, as he was already fixed, we popped him into the carrier and into the car for the drive home.
Good golly! Friday had a raucous meow but he could not compete with the ear-shattering sounds coming out of this little animal. The whole car was shaking with the lion-like roaring! What had I done?
Fortunately, once we got home all the meowing stopped.
He has been a member of the household for eleven days now. He has settled in so well it could be eleven years. Of course, there was the normal hissing and teeth-baring the first few days between Pharoah and Freddie, but it is mostly over now.
Pharoah doesn’t mind Freddie coming up to him and sniffing him out. He even lets him share his toys.
So now I know I made the right decision adopting another cat only one month after Friday’s departure.
Although I like his original name, Romeo, I renamed him Freddie in honor of Freddie Mercury of Queen. I think there’s a resemblance, don’t you? {:>)

Freddie Mercury – HQ – Freddie Mercury Photo (31872953) – Fanpop
http://www.fanpop.com
Please click on photos for a larger view.
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August 30, 2013 at 11:58 am
Welcome to Freddie Romeo! He’s beautiful!
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August 30, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Thanks Carine, he is the sweetest cat!
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August 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm
He is beautiful. Romeo, you found a nice home!
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August 30, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Thanks Amy. he does seem to be enjoying himself.
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August 30, 2013 at 1:14 pm
He is a delightful looking cat. And adorable too! 😎 Much good luck with him altho I am sure you won’t need it.
(I am very sorry for your loss…18 yrs is a long time :()
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August 30, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Thanks, Bonnie… /][
”””””””””””’/////////////////
Well, Freddie just jumped up on the keyboard to send this message to you… so you are special
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August 31, 2013 at 2:41 am
Oh can I relate! 😃 👍 😻 =^..^=
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August 30, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Freddie is one cool feline! What great markings. And I agree he does bare a striking resemble to Freddie Mercury! Glad the introductory stage went well and you are all settling in. 😀
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August 30, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Hi Jackie, I’m expecting him to break out into “We are the champions” any day now!
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August 31, 2013 at 4:57 am
If he does you better blog it! 😉 I hope you and the kitties have a great weekend.
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August 30, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Definite resemblance! You did the right thing.
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August 30, 2013 at 9:08 pm
LY: I’m happy I made the decision.
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August 31, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Aww he’s beautiful Roslyn. He really looks at home in the photos 🙂
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September 4, 2013 at 2:25 pm
So glad I got to meet Freddie; great pictures!
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September 4, 2013 at 5:54 pm
And he told me he enjoyed showing off for you!
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September 7, 2013 at 2:05 pm
This is a beautiful and warm post. I’m glad for you, it was great meeting Freddie!
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September 7, 2013 at 10:03 pm
Hi Herman: Yes, it has worked out well.
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September 11, 2013 at 10:08 am
He’s much more handsome than Freddie Mercury, but can he sing? 🙂
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September 11, 2013 at 9:21 pm
He sings when it’s time for breakfast!
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September 22, 2013 at 5:25 pm
He is beautiful, and what a nice story about how you and he came together. Oh and Freddie Mercury, wow there will never be another voice like that one. Except that your Freddie does sing for his breakfast, neat!
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October 12, 2013 at 10:36 am
Great story! Hooray for Romeo/Freddie. He did his job, and found himself a perfect home. Everybody wins.
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October 12, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Hard to believe he has been with us less than eight weeks… I can’t imagine a time when he was not living here… he is a little terror but balances that out with a very sweet personality!
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