Mine is my Mishi ... another ORANGE boy. He was rescued from death row and I fell in love with him the minute I set eyes on his pathetic picture on PetFinder. Animalsavers did not post his best pic; they took a picture of him as he was found, with a nasty URI, infected, goopy eyes and matted fur and I fell in love with the big lug. He's been my heart-cat ever since that snarling mass of shaved orange fur came to live with us. Yes, he was one, angry P.O'd shaved mass of skinny Maine Coon when I adopted him; a mere 12 lbs. on his big-boned frame.

When I adopted him, he had been nursed back to health from his URI, his eyes had cleared up and his matts had been shaved. He kinda had a kitty-mohawk and was NOT happy about being transported from Sacramento to Berkeley where I picked him up from the Animalsavers transport person.

Later that evening this huge love-bug emerged from my bathroom, giving me head butts and rubbies and purring non-stop - it was a completely different cat than the one I'd brought home and he's been my love-bug ever since. He's big and clumsy and not-too-smart (hence the name Mishigaas which is the Yiddish word for insane kitty ).

I didn't know Maine Coons were talkers but I sure do now. He is my singing cat, greeting me with the silliest sounds every day. I awaken almost every morning to 16 lbs. of orange fur parked right next to me, softly purring. I love my big goon!

Mitzi is special too, but in a softer, quieter, sweeter way. Mishi just tugs at my heart.