HELP! 11 cats from house fire need new homes

[Grace]

And then there is Poppeia*, the oldest, maybe as old as 20.. and I will probably wind up with her too.

Lavinia is no spring chicken, or kitten, either.. she's something like 15 to 17.

* I am not sure of the proper spelling. The name is from a figure in ancient Roman history (I have the idea she was associated with Julius Caesar ..?). Originally she (the cat) was the beloved companion of a renowned classics scholar at the University, Kristine's first husband who passed away many years ago.

Poppaea Sabina - the second wife of Nero. info from Wikpedia.

Fascinating how some pets, and people, get their names

[phesina]

Thanks for the history, Gretchen. I remembered the name from long ago but not the exact spelling or history.

I tried to get my sister and her partner to consider adopting Poppaea. They had both been Classics majors at the University. Professor David Shackleton Bailey was well known to them, but they weren't there when he was.

I told Mary Kay (my sister) that Poppaea used to belong to him and of course channels him now. "Just think of the conversations you could have," I said, "in ancient Greek and Latin, no less!" (But they weren't up for another cat .)

A few days ago I asked her if she knew the exact identity or proper spelling of Poppaea, but she didn't remember either. I will pass on the Wikipedia info.

[phesina]

I see Lavinia is also a character from ancient Rome, mythological rather than historical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavinia.