The Tabbies

Rascal was my very first cat, and will always hold a special place in my heart. I rescued her from the Seattle Animal Shelter, where there were dozens of cats and kittens in cages, but Rascal stole my heart. Once I saw her, I knew I found the right cat for me. She was by far the most entertaining and intelligent cat I have ever known, and she will live on in my memory forever.

 

Another shot of Rascal on top of my piano. There was no doubt whose cat she was; even with other cats and other humans, she always stuck by my side. Heaven would not be complete without my Rascal there to greet me.
 

 

Fred was a very "special" cat. What do I mean by special? Well...he just wasn't tremendously gifted in the brains department, or for that matter in his coordination. He defied the conventional wisdom of all cats landing on their feet — he landed on his back every time. He couldn't jump at all, and would try to laboriously climb up the couch. All of the little things you take for granted with cats you couldn't take for granted with Fred. I once planted some catnip for the cats — the rest of the cats rolled around in it and went crazy, but not Fred. He simply lay on top of it and refused to move until he killed it. He may not have been the brightest, but he was as loving a cat as you could ever want.
 

 

Michelin was so named because she was found on the highway and nearly got run over many times (thus the "Michelin" tire name). Although just a kitten when I got her, she was terrified of everything. It took a full of year of careful nurturing before she would finally sit by my side and let me pet her without running away. Despite her fears, she had the sweetest dispositon and she taught me the patience necessary to truly befriend a cat.
 

 

 
I found Scamp as a kitten on a cold winter day huddled in the laundry room, trying to keep warm next to the driers. Once I brought him in, Scamp tried to prove his worth as a hunter — for one four-week period he brought me home a bird every day and even a couple of squirrels. My favorite memory of Scamp is when a bear was in my backyard. Scamp was huddled between my legs watching the bear, and the moment the bear disappeared into the woods he ran out and hissed and pawed the air as if he had scared the bear off. Yeah, right!

 

Michelin adored Scamp, and the two were together almost constantly. Here the two of them hide out in the rhubarb patch by a shed in the backyard. Scamp may have been the bird-killing king, but Michelin specialized in dragonflies, laying them out neatly on my back porch for my approval.
 

 

 

Also see:

Taming the Wild Kitty: The Story of Jantsy

and

The Abigale Clare Fan Club Page

and

The Geezer Meezers: Daffy and Kimi

or return to

Kelly's Corner Home Page