On the lighter side, last year my mom took in four younger kittens from a street litter. Now at five months, they have a lot of energy. Raising them by hand from 5 weeks has been an interesting experience. Each one already shows a markedly unique disposition. Here follows entertaining biographical sketches of each.
. . .
Pippa
Pipa here. I’m black and white spotted all over. I’m the smallest of the cats…a wee-wee cat, just like an elf. I’m very shy. You wouldn’t think it, but my serene face masks my true personality. It’s true, I’m the most ferocious of the cats – just like a Wolverine! I may be small but I pack a big punch for my size and even Teddy thinks I’m pretty tough when we play. He actually gets scared of me sometimes.
Everyone always underestimates me. I don’t really care about showing them wrong though, I just like to have a good time!
Even though I can be so wild and savage, I’m actually a vveeerrry laid-back cat at heart. I let everyone go first since they’re bigger than me, but I’ll be just behind them. I don’t concern myself with the big cat stuff or cat politics, or being important. Why do that when you can play all day? I just like to be myself and have fun. Oh, and I don’t like being cold. I’d rather sit inside a warm house all day, even if it’s just by myself.
Pipa’s life dream: A small, warm, house and other cats my age to play with all day.
. . .
Chloe
Chloe is my name. What’s that? No, I don’t look at cameras. Posing for photographs is just not my thing.
My complexion is the hallmark of my fame. I’m white in front and the back of me is purrrrfectly black. I have light gray and black tiger stripes on my sides. My nose is chocolate black. I’m so regal.
I’m always careful to sit with correct posture, front paws folded carefully under themselves and back paws directly under my stomach. I play nicely, always. I’m really a princess – just nobody knows it! That’s a shame, but you always have to take life in stride and make the best of life’s challenges.
Challenges only make one a better and more noble cat. I seek to make sure everyone is well trained and reaches the potential they were born to. I want to help out my fellow cats but they are totally incorrigible; it tries my patience! Did I mention how everyone’s manners are so terrible? Yes, it’s true. I’m living with such simpleton’s! Always in a hurry to gulp down their food, barely chewing it, and then fighting over what’s left. So gross! Sometimes, I leave the food bowl early and come back after everyone else is done, so I can eat in peace. Sic vita est invicta.
Chloe’s life dream: To travel to Egypt. I’m particularly fond of it, as I read in Herodotus that they greatly respect cats there.
. . .
Tackie
My name is Tac-man, short for Tactical man. Everyone calls me “Tackie”, though, for simplicity. I am tiger striped all the down to the tip of my tail. Even though I’m a girl, I’m the best hunter of the pack because I have the best tactics and the best camouflage. Rats fear me. Mice shake and turn blue to the tip of their tails. Not afraid to get my paws dirty. Nothing ever gets past me, even though I studiously take no notice. I like to stay hidden in a dark corner, just waiting for an unsuspecting cat to pass by so I can leap out with my paws and ambush them. Sometimes I have to wait a long time, but it’s always worth it to shock-and-awe other cats. It’s such fun!
I’m a complicated cat. I can be grumpy at times but I make up for it by being very intelligent. I’m a strategy expert and my favorite book was, of course, The Art of War written by Sun Tsu followed by Patterns of Conflict by John Boyd. When I play, I love to catch things and carry them off to dark corner growling as I go to let other cats know I have something valuable in hopes that they will try to chase me. It works sometimes.
Tackie’s life dream: Tackie is forever in search of the perfect dark cubby hole of her dreams, where she can suddenly leap out on unsuspecting animals (particularly cats). She has still to find the niche.
. . .
Teddie
Hello I’m Teddie! It’s short for Theodore. I’m white everywhere except for two small black patches on the top of my head and handsome black and gray rings on my tail.
I’m such an awesome Tomcat! [swipes paw at reporter] You should see my claws! They’re so sharp! Five claws on each of my paws. I love to show people how sharp my claws are by grabbing things with my paws! Oh, and my teeth! My teeth are very sharp – I bite all kinds of things just to show everyone how sharp my teeth are and how brave I am.
The world is so full of adventure. I try out new things all the time – that is, when I’m not sleeping or playing with the other cats. Playing is so much fun [multiple paw swipes].
I’m really tough, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: at the end of the day, I really am just a big baby. I love to curl up around people and am very sociable just being there, hanging out around people. I impress people SO much. I’m the life of the party! I can’t imagine how anyone would think anything bad about me, ever.
Teddie’s life dream: A house with a wide, sunny window that I can sleep near all day.
. . .
Editor’s note: At publishing time, Chloe has discovered that Ostrich feathers are so much fun. Meanwhile, Teddie is enthusiastically chewing on a living room rug with a half-crazed far-away gleam in his eyes. Pippa is alternately chasing both of them while Tackie is lying serenely on a chair pretending to ignore everyone. The Lord God made them all.
