Our Kitty Cats

We live with four cats. Yes, that's right. Four. They're wonderful, all of them, with personalities of their own that keep us in stitches, laughing. Below is a little bit of history and background on our kitties. Click on the images to see larger versions.

K.A.Tee (Katie)

Born in March of 1994, or thereabouts month-wise, Katie has been with us the longest. She's moved twice and there is one thing we know for sure. She doesn't tolerate change very well. In fact, moving from one city to another city in the same state she coped real well with. Moving to a different state where she lived with new people and had to deal with a dog, she was hiding a lot, unless I was available and alone. She avoided my husband for a bit too. But, finally, she warmed right up to us. It took her a year to warm up to my brother in law, Vince, and four years before she let my mother in law pet her. Now, Katie ventures through all rooms of the house, the Queen of the house, naturally.  All the cats know she's the boss. Even the dog we had, Shasta, recognized it. (Though I think he was influenced by her attacking him one night when he tried to sniff her.) 

One note: One of the pictures is dated 2004, which is obviously a mistake. It was taken in 2002. Katie's not changed much since she was a kitten. She answers to her name, usually 'talks' back. She's very particular. She sits in certain spots, likes to sleep in a certain area, the litter box has to be changed gradually when we move it.. meaning we move it in steps. She's never bit or clawed anyone out of anger or fear, except for me. And each occasion warranted it. She was startled. She's very gentle, but also very picky. She eats only one type of snacks, and will eat out of my hands, doing tricks. 

My favorite aspect of her, is the white cloud on her gray back. The best picture of that is the one where she's near the fridge in the kitchen. The first one on the left.  We have nicknamed her "Head Butter" because she butts her head against people's legs and arms and whatever else she can reach when showing affection. This action means, more often than not, that she has accepted you and you are free to pet her anytime. And usually, that she'll stop fleeing when you walk into the room.

Wraith

Wraith was born in August of 1998, or so. She was found on a feeder road in Texas, off of one of the main highways near Houston by a co-worker of my husband. She was a filthy thing, to the point where my husband thought the dirt was part of her coloring. Also, there was a metal band attached to her back leg and had grown infected. The skin was actually growing around the band and the vet was certain, once he got it off, that Wraith would never run or jump. At least, not easily. Well, she showed him. She runs fast and likes to jump and is fearless. She has, twice now, run down our upstairs hall, jumped up onto the railing there, then fallen to the ground below, about 12-15 feet, landed hard, shook it off and took off running. 

She's a smallish kitty, all black except for her yellow-green eyes, naturally. She mews for attention, but only when she's ready for it. She's not too fond of being held, often tolerating it for a minute or two before squirming away. She hisses at Bruiser, for reasons I can't figure out. I think, one day, she just decided she'd hiss at him. So, she does. She likes to sleep on my mother in law's bed, or curled up with Katie in a number of places. In fact, Wraith is never far from Katie for too long. 

Wraith's nicknamed "Little Bit" or "Bitsy" because she was so small and skinny when we got her. Even now, she's furry, thicker, but squishes into the tiniest places. 

Socks

Socks was born around December of 1998 or January 1999. We're not sure who his mother is or what litter he came from, just that he was one of the many strays in the neighborhood. He just showed up one day, friendly, nudging, asking for lovin', and how could we refuse? He's our indoor/outdoor kitty. During the summer and bad weather, he's mostly indoor. Over a long period of time, we slowly got him to come in to eat the food we gave him, then got him to stay inside more. Now, he comes and goes as he likes. He comes to us for food at least twice a day, often ending up in our laps or beds. 

What cracks me up about this cat is he's a real wild guy. Seriously. He comes in, he eats, he drinks, he cleans himself, then he plays with Bruiser, who has at least a good 10 pounds on him. Sometimes Bruiser wins, sometimes Socks wins. Sometimes we break it up when they forget they're buddies. It's the male domination thing, nothing new. What cracks me up is how his tail is always up in the air as if he's God, until Katie walks in. Then it drops like a stone. And he's got eyes only for her. He follows her around, driving her nuts. He gets too close, she snips and swipes a paw at him. Then he goes to play with Bruiser again. 

We also call him "Socrates" because, as you can see in his pics, he has a little goatee which makes him look really smart. My favorite thing about him, are his eyes. They're red. Not amber. Not yellow. Not green. Red. How many red tabbies have red eyes? He's the first for me and he's darn cool. 

Bruiser

Bruiser was born to a stray kitty we named Angel in mid-May 1999. Angel looked just like Katie, but instead of solid gray, she was tabby colored. Bruiser was big from birth. Huge, really, with massive strength in his four arms, which is a bit unusual for cats. Still, that made for picking his name that much easier. Bruiser stuck. We knew he'd be big, but we had no idea he'd be almost 20 pounds! But, his mother dried up, and he was so insistent on getting food that he chewed and chewed on Angel until there was nothing to chew from. Poor Angel. We fixed that, especially when we realized that was why 2 of her 4 kittens had died on us. So, I nursed Bruiser and his littermate, Sisser, back to health. 

For many reasons, once Sisser was almost 2 years old, we had to give her away. She started to urinate in any hidey hole she could find and it was encouraging Bruiser to do the same. Luckily, after she left, he went back to using the litterbox. But what strikes me the most about Bruiser is his expressive face. Amber-yellow eyes, a big head, and he looks like he's thinking "Duh" all the time. The funny thing is, he just might be the smartest one we have. Of course, he has a high pitched mew, which makes us laugh, but Bruiser knows that when you're on the couch, you are there so he can sit on you. And when you're asleep, and he wants pets, why, he jumps onto the bed (which dips from his weight because he's huge!) and lies down, sometimes making himself comfy first, then stretches out a paw, to lightly touch your face or neck or whatever with his claws. See, that always jerks me awake. Which, come to think of it, might be why he does it to me. 

He loves to be petted, a lot. In fact, the more the better, just not so much on his stomach. He'll nip at you if you stop, and he's not too picky about where he gets his attention from. And he does have a nickname, one he sometimes responds to, "Puppy" because he's about the size of a Labrador puppy. I'm not sure if you can see how much he's grown in only a few years, but I'm often amazed at it myself. 

The funniest thing about Bruiser is when he gets confused. He will nap along happily, wake up and stroll around, realizing he's alone. So he mews as high as he can, until someone calls back, letting him know he's not alone. It's hilarious. He looks like a kid who realizes he got so into the toys, he forgot to follow his Mom.. only to realize, she's around the corner. 

I will update this page as my cats allow. 

I have to make them pose, after all.

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