Mother and Father acquired me in December of 1990. I say "acquired" because I was the exception to the rule. I was purchased for the sum of $50.00 from a pet store. My humans normally found their cats or adopted them from a shelter, but they had just gone through a very sad experience with a kitten they had adopted and they didn't want to go through that again. Let me digress for a moment, and then I'll continue with my story.

Mother and Father had adopted two kittens from a shelter in the Fall of 1990, whom they named Elf and Nei. They didn't know it at that time, but both little ones had severe respiratory infections. Nei fought valiantly, in and out of the hospital, but he finally lost the battle. Mother and Father still keep one of his medicine bottles. Touching.

So, as I was saying, they purchased me when I was a kitten and brought me home as a companion for Elf (once she was completely well). I must say, those were some trying times for me. Elf and I were both of the same age and were similar in size, but she was a little "hellion", pardon my French! I determined at that point that I needed to get "buff" fast, and I am proud to say that I accomplished that goal, now weighing in at around fourteen pounds. Lest you think otherwise, let me state that I am not fat, but rather large boned, or "rangy" as my Father once said to the veterinarian when he tried to lecture my humans on my weight.

I am the senior male cat in the house and am looked up to by the two younger males, Chirper and Sheba (you might be saying to yourself at this time, a male cat named Sheba? Yes, Sheba's a male. He'll tell you about that later). These two upstarts sometimes try to challenge me, but quickly realize their efforts are, and will remain, fruitless.

All and all, I feel I keep things running smoothly around the homestead, helping Mother and Father where I can. For one thing, I have never had anything seriously wrong with me (they have spent an inordinate amount of money on the others!). But I know they love me and appreciate my efforts. I may have cost $50.00 in the beginning, but I certainly ended up being the "bargain" in this household.