I love getting to 're-know' everyone's cats! It is like falling for them the first time again. What wonderful stories, and truly remarkable people who have put aside personal adversity to cats (Soledad), undergone physical suffering (Ms. Edwina), great expense (Miss Meow), and opened their homes to alot of kitties no one 'wanted' (lots of us), all to have been the better for it. We got the better end of the deal by a long shot.

My six, in their adoptive order:



Tex:
Is soon to be 12, and the alpha cat by far. He came from a shelter in Massachusetts, and from the first day, has brought me laughter. He has recently been dx with hyperthyroidism, but, has made some remarkable change with medication. He is a very playful boy, loves the yowl in the night, shares my dinner nightly, and will eat almost anything I eat, and is very interested in Ms. Ritzy girl. This is one of my favorite pictures of Tex- enjoying a hot summer day in Cincinnati. We go outside on supervised excursions, He NEVER wanders, and loves to watch me garden.

Next up is Georgia:



Georgia was dropped off at my former vet's office, caught in running in a field. She was not even 3 pounds! She had/developed a hernia, and it was kind of scary to do the repair cause of her size. And, we had her spayed, then, too, because of the risks associated with going under twice! She recovered better than fine. In fact, it didn't even slow her down a mite. She was to be Tex's playmate, and those two took to eat other like white on rice. Georgia is the ONLY kitty that can eat from Tex's bowl at the same time. Strangely, she is the only one he 'stalks'. Georgia is a little skitterish. She is now about 6 yrs old, and still prefers to be friendly only when you are laying down. But, she is friendly. Her tail always forms a question mark as she waltzs around. She likes to play mainly by herself, and she stays to herself somewhat. This is her fave sleeping place in the world! Georgia (or Georgie-peorgie) doesn't really meow. She has this funny half meow, like "hey, pets, please, pets". She hates to be held, but I do it anyhow!!

Next is Tennessee:


This is not the most flattering picture of Tenny. But, it totally represents his laid back attitude. He is absolutely nothing but 100% love. He purrs if I LOOK at him. He was rescued from my mom's (Lillycat) school yard, kids were picking on him. He is now 6. When mom found him, he fit under her chin. He also fit in a tissue box! He now tips the scales at 16+. He was starved when we found him, and would lay down at the bowl to eat, and eat, and eat. He also had a nasty huge abcess on his back . Today, though, he is one big, beautiful love bug. He must be in the bed at bedtime, sometimes under the covers, but he gets so hot. He has a really babyish cry, loves his brudda Dakky, and has big feelings for Jen Luckenbach. Tenny's paws could stop a freight train, too! When he drinks water or plays with it, his paws absorb as much water as two jumbo cottonballs! (So, watch out when they flick it).

Next came Alabama and Dakota. :

ALLIE:



BRATTYIST cat I have ever known. Allsters and Dakky were from a litter of a stray my friend picked up. These two have been, literally, hand raised, and it shows. They turn 3 this August. Allie is into everything, doesn't no a stranger, loves dogs, and life in general. She is the funniest/comical, strangest, destructive, active cat I have ever known. (If anyone is wondering, I love her more than life itself, she is just BAD). She jumps on me everyday after I shower, and rests on my head, with her paws on my shoulders, and we get ready. She plays with these things I call 'mousies' and carries them in her mouth. The funny part is the toy is nearly bigger than her head, and she still meows with it in her mouth. It is sooo muffled and funny, that I always know when she is playing with it. She is a bit of a loner as to the other cats, and while her and Dakky were inseparable for a long time, she prefers to sleep alone.

DAKKY (on the Right)



Dakky is a junior Tenny. Looks, temperment, whinyness, weight, etc. He tips the scales at 14+, and still thinks he is a little kitten. He and Tenny are inseparable, and play fight every morning. Dakky loves to kiss at bedtime, and will sleep in my arms like a baby. He doesn't 'walk' across the bed, but for some reason hops like a bunny. This usually upsets the delicately balanced apple cart, sending all cats flying off the bed. He, of course, is very happy to have me to himself. (I think he hops because my bed is sooooo poofy that he can't walk without falling). He whines every single morning, while laying on the kitchen table with his head hanging over the edge. I let him lick the foam off of my protein shake just to get him to hush! He is the only kitty that still growls at strange noises (my other ones seemed to grow out of it), and the only kitty that stalks Minnie. .

Minnesota:




Minnie is my semi-feral rescue. I have had her since July, and I would guess she will be 2 this spring. What can I say about Minnie? We are making progress. She lived in the basement from July to November. I couldn't really say why she changed locations in November, other than maybe the basement was getting too cold. She relocated to under my bed. This worked not to well, cause I lost my ability to close her off from the other cats, so, we moved her into the other room, where she is now. I can pet Minnie now, while she is in the closet (her hidey hole), and she is very agreeable to the pets. She purrs and drools, and moves into my hand, so, I know she is liking it. She has shown her face outside the closet several times, but, will hide again immediately. We hope to progress more, get her out of the closet, but, for now, Minnie has a safe, healthy, loving (even if she doesn't want it) enviroment to call her forever home. Despite her semi-feral status, Minnie has NEVER attempted to bite me.