Cats are Precious!

Our oldest cat is Gary, a grey tabby. He's mouthy, a bit temperamental, and lives to eat!  

He came to us as a stray kitten, with a huge head and scrawny body. We didn't know if he'd grow into that noggin', but he's turned out to be nicely proportioned.

He is named after SpongeBob's pet snail.  

He loves to make escape attempts, and moves amazingly fast for a portly kitty.  We finally discovered that his only goal was to make it as far as our apricot tree, and eat some grass when he does get out. Ever since I've brought grass in, which seems to curtail his need to flee. 

  He wants petting and love when he wants it, and if he doesn't he let's you know in no uncertain terms!    

Gary has hated every cat we have brought home. No actual damage done, but he scares them good! After a few months
he finally decides to live with it. And so he does, sometimes even sweetly!  

Mookie was a different kind of rescue. Someone posted on the local Freecycle group that he (at a tender 6 months old) had an appointment to be put to sleep if he did not go to a new home in mere days! We just couldn't let that happen.
 

Mook is a lap cat through and through. He's also my bathroom attendant. If he sees me moving in that direction, he comes running! He has a fascination with the toilet- especially when it flushes.

  He is the direct opposite of Gary socially, loving all other cats the second he sees them. He appointed himself caretaker of the kittens as soon as they came into the house, and is still very much their Uncle Moo. He's also double jointed, or seems that way. He sleeps in very bizarre positions, even for a cat. 

The story of the kittens could be a sad one, but actually ended up being quite wonderful for all.

One night we were on our back porch and heard a rumbly truck go down our alley. Immediately afterward there was an odd noise... It took me a few minutes to realize it was kittens mewing in distress- multiple kittens in different spots along the alley. (Yes, some poor excuse for a human THREW these babies out of a moving truck!!!)

The kids grabbed flashlights and slipped out, hunting down all three of the babies. They were tiny, unweaned, and scared!

Thus began Project Kitten! We bottle fed, potty trained, and ensured these critters would survive.  

Hiro is everything sweet and wonderful rolled into a fuzzy orange package.

He is a big bundle of sweetness. It makes you happy just to look at him.

Hiro believes that sinks are built-in kitty beds, though he cannot fathom why anyone would have WATER in a BED!

As soon as he hears the bedroom door open in the morning, he runs in for Super Fun Purring Cuddle Time! It's a great way to be awakened...

Hiro is named for the character on the show Heroes, Hiro Nakamura.

Lolly is my desk buddy. If I'm working, she's there with me, either on the desk or under it.

She is a terrific catch! Throw a ball at her and she gets it every time.

She gets into mouthy moods where she sings her heart out. She has a tiny, little voice so it's very cute.

Dizzy was the one we'd adopted out, and came back to us. That's a story too infuriating to tell. She's such a doll.

She LOVES cuddling, and purrs as soon as you touch her. 
She's the only kitten so far brave enough to play with Gary. He tolerates her. 

Her name comes from the British sitcom Spaced. The character Tyres says, "You'd wanna get up off your arse and get yourself a job Dizzy! Or whatever your name isn't!"