Katherine Nicolai

Instead, I found some other ways to entertain all of us over the winter. I'd grown a pot full of catnip on the windowsill in the kitchen, and in the afternoons, when we all needed a pick-me-up, I'd rub a leaf along Marmalade's scratching post and over her tiny toy mice, and Crumb and I would watch her go from sleepy and disinterested to wild attack cat in a flash.

Instead, I found some other ways to entertain all of us over the winter. I'd grown a pot full of catnip on the windowsill in the kitchen, and in the afternoons, when we all needed a pick-me-up, I'd rub a leaf along Marmalade's scratching post and over her tiny toy mice, and Crumb and I would watch her go from sleepy and disinterested to wild attack cat in a flash.

Instead, I found some other ways to entertain all of us over the winter. I'd grown a pot full of catnip on the windowsill in the kitchen, and in the afternoons, when we all needed a pick-me-up, I'd rub a leaf along Marmalade's scratching post and over her tiny toy mice, and Crumb and I would watch her go from sleepy and disinterested to wild attack cat in a flash.

I found out Crumb enjoyed car rides, and once a week or so, we'd head out to do some errands together. He quickly became a favorite customer at several of our stops. He was such a natural ham that he made everyone laugh and fall in love with him.

I found out Crumb enjoyed car rides, and once a week or so, we'd head out to do some errands together. He quickly became a favorite customer at several of our stops. He was such a natural ham that he made everyone laugh and fall in love with him.

I found out Crumb enjoyed car rides, and once a week or so, we'd head out to do some errands together. He quickly became a favorite customer at several of our stops. He was such a natural ham that he made everyone laugh and fall in love with him.

In fact, if I showed up at the hardware store without him, the clerks would peer over the counter and listen for the scrabble of his paws on the linoleum, asking, Where's Crumb? they kept biscuits by the register for him. And those days out had become a long buffet of treats for Crum.

In fact, if I showed up at the hardware store without him, the clerks would peer over the counter and listen for the scrabble of his paws on the linoleum, asking, Where's Crumb? they kept biscuits by the register for him. And those days out had become a long buffet of treats for Crum.

In fact, if I showed up at the hardware store without him, the clerks would peer over the counter and listen for the scrabble of his paws on the linoleum, asking, Where's Crumb? they kept biscuits by the register for him. And those days out had become a long buffet of treats for Crum.

We'd often end at our favorite coffee shop, which had a covered patio with heaters and a walk-up, dog-friendly window. I'd get my matcha with soy, Crumb would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together.

We'd often end at our favorite coffee shop, which had a covered patio with heaters and a walk-up, dog-friendly window. I'd get my matcha with soy, Crumb would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together.

We'd often end at our favorite coffee shop, which had a covered patio with heaters and a walk-up, dog-friendly window. I'd get my matcha with soy, Crumb would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together.

Whenever we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff Crumb, as if to assure herself he hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have, then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep.

Whenever we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff Crumb, as if to assure herself he hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have, then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep.

Whenever we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff Crumb, as if to assure herself he hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have, then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep.

So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months. We'd started without even noticing. to spend every Friday night, all five of us, watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered, or cooking together in the kitchen.

So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months. We'd started without even noticing. to spend every Friday night, all five of us, watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered, or cooking together in the kitchen.

So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months. We'd started without even noticing. to spend every Friday night, all five of us, watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered, or cooking together in the kitchen.

It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart. And now, Bertie had his own bed beside the others, and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb, and I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment.

It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart. And now, Bertie had his own bed beside the others, and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb, and I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment.