The Real Rulers of the Household
We've been adopted over the years by many cats. They just show up when it's time for us to open our hearts, home, and wallets to them. The amazing thing is that they all get along, more or less, without a lot of histrionics or enmity.
Kiddo
Kiddo was my boy, my Lil' Guy, my hunka hunka purrin' love from September 1993 to January 2010.
Old age was not kind to him, but I know he's at peace. I will miss him always.
Gracie
Gracie found us in late 2004. She was skinny and starving after apparently having been dumped near our rural property. She is the most loving, most stubborn, and most interesting kitty I've ever had the pleasure to be owned by. She is very much a one-person cat, and I am That One Person. Gracie doesn't have any teeth left, so her tongue will poke out when she gets distracted or fixated on something prey-like.
Gizmo & Pippen
In December 2006, we were once again found by kitties in need of a good home. While Alan and I were on a winter afternoon walk to the mailbox and back, two kittens came tumbling out of a field to greet us. We said hi, petted them a bit, then continued on our way home. Guess who came along? They really did follow us home (actually, Gizmo led the way, looking back over her shoulder at us frequently as if to say "Hurry up! It's cold and you need to feed us! Are we home yet? Where is home, anyway?!")
Gizmo (orange tabby) is assertive, affectionate, and she loves to have her tummy rubbed. Pippen (tortoiseshell) is....well, she's interesting. She's very curious, very independent, and honestly, kinda klutzy. She's very good at clearing a table by jumping up and pulling down all the magazines she can grab at. Or she skates across all the magazines to the other side..... either way, the table is now clear. Then she yells at me like it's my fault.
Mao
After Kiddo passed on in January 2010, there was a vacancy in the house. And of course, a few short months later, the universe obliged by providing another kitty to fill the hole. Mao is a huge kitty, easily twice as large as the other cats. He has beautiful blue eyes, huge paws, and a medium-length, fine-textured coat. I think he must be part Ragdoll. As for the rest? Eminently-Entitled Royalty, if you ask him.