Spot was a very shy and timid boy when I met him at the shelter in December of 2001.  He had been at the shelter for almost a year.  Prior to that he was abandoned by his original owners and was living under a van in Los Angeles.  While in this sad living condition he was abused by a pack of teenage boys.  When he saw me he shocked the shelter workers by crying out to me and reaching for me through the door or the pet carrier he was in (they were taking him to a foster home so he could have a break from the shelter).  Our eyes met and it was love at first sight.  My dreams of a kitten melted away as this charmer pranced out of the carrier and leapt into my arms and began purring.  I took him home and he jumped up on the sofa like he had always been there and has been my handsome man ever since.  He demands to be told how handsome he is and has to approve of anyone who comes into the house especially if it is a guy who wants to date me.  He has gotten over most of his shyness and truely rules the roost.  He has now gotten a little brother and sister.  He welcomed both of them as soon as they realized who was boss.  He plans on continuing to rule and now is happy because for the last year he has a house and not an apartment, also he seems to agree with the relocation of our family from the mean streets of LA to our quiet little town.  So for an abandoned stray life has definitely become very good.

Six months after Spot moved in with me I was asked to "foster" an orange tabby kitten who had a birth defect.  It is commonly called flat chest, the end of his sternum curves inward and looked like his chest was dented.  They were concerned that other animals or kids may accidently hurt him as a result of his defect.  So he needed an adult home with a calm companion animal.  I said yes soon as I saw him, and needless to say he never left our little family.  He grew up tormenting his older brother and giving me endless delight with his antics.  As aloof and dignified as his brother Spot is Little Bit is every bit the clown.  He has yet to meet a toy that did not need playing with.  His favorite toy is his black and white Beanie Baby cat.  I think it is the only way he can symbolically get even with Spot.  He hates the times we had to move so having his own home now is great.  He now loves watching everything going on outside and when he gets to go into the backyard there are sooo many bugs to chase and things to do.  He now is no longer the baby but still wants my undivided attention for a while and his cuddles and pats.  He still loves to play and now has a playmate in his new sister Reese.  The two of them chase each other through the house and wrestle nonstop.

When the cold weather of February hit, we had a mild winter till that point, Reese decided that being a stray wasn't a good deal.  I came home from work and had been feeding her on my front porch for a while.  She decided that a warm house and steady meals was much more appealing.  She darted in and ran under a bed before I could stop her.  She wouldn't come out until I agreed to let her stay.  So we went to the vet and she got a clean bill of health.  She had been spayed prior to adopting me.  She decided that by the  time spring arrived that life as a house cat was much better than as a stray and she didn't want to leave.  She still likes to go out and play for a while but at dinner time she is home and definitely doesn't want to be out after dark.  She also loves to chase and wrestle her brother Little Bit and will occasionally go to Spot for some quiet cuddling.  She has to sleep with me at night and loves to play tag with me.  She will act as if she doesn't care that I am walking around and then she will wheel around and tap me on the ankle and run away as if to say "Tag, your it"