Hello everyone

Hey, cat lovers! 🐱 It’s Caturday—at least here in Phuket, 555! So, what better way to celebrate than by sharing my story in the Steem Pets Lover community about how I went from “Cats? Meh, not really for me” to “Cats—how did I ever live without them?! 555!” 😹

---

_{For those who might be new to it, Caturday is a playful tradition dedicated to celebrating cats every Saturday. It’s a day when people post cute photos, funny stories, and memories of their beloved feline friends. 🐾💖}

---

Unlike my husband, who grew up with both cats and dogs, I’d never really shared my life with these adorable, furry creatures. For me, cats meant: “They shed hair everywhere, they climb the curtains, scratch up the sofa—you’re constantly cleaning the litter to avoid the smells…” 😅 you get the idea! Cats just didn’t seem to fit into my life.

But then one day—although I can’t quite remember how it started (I suspect my husband or maybe even our younger son had something to do with it) 🧐—we ended up visiting a Cat Café. As I’ve shared in previous posts, there are several on Phuket🇹🇭, and we chose the Neko Cat Cafe (which I’ve written about in this post and is now my favorite spot 🐾☕).

It was a revelation. 💡 I loved it so much that once we got home, all I could think about was going back! Soon, I found myself scrolling through endless cat videos on TikTok and YouTube 📱🐱 and joining Thai cat pages on Facebook. Then, as I kept seeing posts about adoptable cats, I finally cracked—I started hinting to my husband. To my surprise, instead of his usual careful consideration, he replied with a quick “Yes, why not?” 🥰

Once we agreed to adopt two cats instead of just one, I began my search for the perfect kittens across various Facebook pages.

I first found a 2-month-old male kitten of 0.7 kg in Phang Nga, about 100 km north of Phuket—not too far, so the little one wouldn’t have to endure a long journey. This way, he’d be less likely to feel sick, have any accidents, or hurt himself during the trip. Conveniently, the kitten’s owner’s husband worked in Phuket as a minivan driver for a tour operator, and he offered to bring the kitten to us. We arranged to meet at a 7-Eleven on the main road near our home.

We named him Salmon, inspired by my younger son’s favorite dish 🍣, and his beautiful orange fur suited the name perfectly! Salmon is a mix of Persian and Thai cat, and the moment I saw him, I was completely smitten. His gentle expression and soft coat made him impossible to resist. 😻

It was a huge surprise for my younger son when he returned from school! 😂 We hadn’t told him a thing, determined to keep it a complete surprise. We’d been so careful not to drop any hints along the way, making sure he wouldn’t suspect a thing.

I also came across a Scottish Fold kitten—a tiny 0.6 kg girl, also 2 months old, and conveniently just 20 minutes from our home. My husband was determined to bring them both home on the same day, hoping it would help them form a special bond despite being from different families. So, we made arrangements to pick her up at 6 p.m. This time, it was only half a surprise for my son, since it was hard to explain why we’d be stepping out when we just had a little furball at home.

When we arrived, it was raining heavily—typical for the rainy season here—and there she was, looking a bit more rebellious and lively than Salmon. The drive home was anything but peaceful, 555! 🐱 With her beautiful white fur, we decided to name her Snow. ❄️ Once we got home, our young son was absolutely over the moon. 😍

At first, Snow and Salmon seemed a bit wary of each other, but it didn’t take long for them to warm up and start playing together. Before we knew it, they were chasing each other around, their little paws padding across the floor in a blur of orange and white fur. 🐾💖

Of course, I’d anticipated their arrival, so that morning, my husband and I went on a serious shopping spree at the pet stores. Instead of holding back, he was just as enthusiastic—maybe even more so! 😂 We stocked up on everything they might need (and probably more!). The only thing missing was a cat condo, which we’d ordered online and were eagerly awaiting.

The cat condo arrived sooner than expected, and to my surprise, my older son—who I thought would be indifferent to having cats around—quickly grew extremely fond of them. 🥰 He eagerly took charge of assembling the condo, which soon became an endless playground for Snow and Salmon. Watching them explore, climb, and play together in their new space was pure joy for all of us.

Then came the time for Snow and Salmon to have their first encounter with our neighbor’s cat, Cookie. Wanting to keep them indoors for at least a year so they’d stay within a safe range of about 3-4 houses in the neighborhood once they ventured outside, we introduced them with only the glass door between them. It was quite the sight—lots of curious glances and hesitant paw taps on the glass, 555! 😸🐾

For the first two months after adopting the kittens, my husband and I took them to the veterinarian weekly for health check-ups, deworming, and vaccinations.

During the initial exam, the vet found that both Snow and Salmon had ear mites and a mild fungal infection. The vet applied an acaricide treatment for the mites on their necks and provided us with antifungal medication, a cream, and a special shampoo for their baths.

After some time, they recovered, and I took on the weekly task of bathing them myself. Let’s just say they’re not exactly fans of bath time, 555! 😹 But despite the drama, they’re growing closer and more affectionate by the day.

🐈🐈‍⬛ Snow and Salmon are growing up beautifully, filling our days with playful energy and sweet moments together. I have to admit, I can’t imagine life without them now! Even just a weekend away from home is enough to remind me how much I miss these two and their loving presence. 💕

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey! 🐾 I hope you enjoyed the story of Snow & Salmon and maybe even felt a bit of the joy they bring to my life. 😻

Until next time—stay curious, stay adventurous, and I’ll see you in the next post!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts! And if you'd like to support my work, a resteem/reblog would be greatly appreciated. 🌸

Sawadee kha! 🙏
@Baiboua-|- 🌸 My Achievement 1 post: Greetings from Phuket 🏝️ Thailand 🇹🇭