Before the baby arrived, the Armisteads went and did something even more unsettling—they moved everyone to a new house across the state! The new place had voles and moles and lots of lizards, none of which tasted good to Shelley, but which she hunted anyway on principal, as they were in her yard.

Baby Katie arrived in October. Shelley found her fascinating, and tried to spend as much time near her as possible. She smelled good and liked to nap as often as a cat. Since Katie was often occupying Shelley's accustomed place in Cynthia's lap, it's a good thing Shelley decided to just cuddle up along with them.

Unfortunately, Maggie went on to her next incarnation in November, leaving Shelley without a feline companion. She has trained Katie to be as cat-like as possible.

Katie became Shelley's special human. She watched over her, and in fact fought many fierce battles during the invasion of the field mice period until Wayne finally listened to Shelley explaining how the rodents were coming in. As Katie grew more mobile, she grabbed for Shelley and even teethed on her tail and ears at times, but Shelley put up with all of it. When she'd had too much indignity to bear, she would jump up on top of the bookcases so Katie couldn't reach her and take a nap—but she never, ever scratched Katie, or even let her claws come out.

The dogs, being too aggressive to play with baby humans and very bored as pets, went to live on a working farm and were much happier. Shelley was also relieved, as their absence greatly reduced her supervisory duties.