my cat shrine

a monument to all the cats i have known & loved 💖 this page is a wip.

indoor cats

the three evil men who live in my house

biscotti
likes: chew toys, full body cuddles, sniffing inside the freezer
dislikes: thunder, having his back touched
special talent: making vets say "i've never seen that before"

ciabatta
likes: routines, sleeping next to mom's desk, getting his ears smushed
dislikes: pancetta, being observed by more than one person
fun fact: needs full immersion and a three-act structure to play with toys

pancetta
likes: escaping the house to eat grass, being chased, play biting
dislikes: being held, not much else!
charm point: has started sprouting white hairs around his neck

outdoor cats

the rotating cast that shows up on our back porch. most of them have been trapped, neutered, and re-released into our yard. we feed them twice a day.

grayson
likes: walking behind the car when we are about to drive it
dislikes: grayvos, jangling keys
info: our neighbors' (neutered) indoor-outdoor cat, who also eats at our place

grayvos
likes: attention, momo, rolling in dirt
dislikes: grayson, when any other cat receives attention
info: TNR'd. always at our door. expert at bullying other cats out of their food

mama
likes: butt scratches, headbutting other cats
dislikes: sudden noise & movement
info: TNR'd. mother to spritz and martini. recently started to enjoy pets!

momo
likes: grayvos, hunting cicadas in the summertime
dislikes: people (but we're making progress)
info: TNR'd. mother to bacon, egg, and cheese. the prettiest stray i've ever seen

mr. possum
likes: when nobody else is around
dislikes: unknown
info: TNR'd. FIV+, has a very sad face

mimi
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: rare visitor, TNR'd; otherwise, a mystery

big orange
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: rare visitor, big of face

great white
likes: yelling, being pet
dislikes: unknown
info: rare visitor, suspected to be owned by a neighbor, very friendly

the manx
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: rare visitor, has no tail; unclear if this is by birth or injury

"weirdcat"
likes: setting off cat traps
dislikes: responding to stimuli
info: hey wait this is actually an opossum!!!

fostered/surrendered cats

cats we've trapped and fostered, or brought to other foster homes, prior to their permanent adoption.

spritz
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: one of mama's kittens. fostered by another household & successfully adopted

martini
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: one of mama's kittens. fostered by another household & successfully adopted

bacon
likes: having her tongue stuck out all the time for some reason
dislikes: unknown
info: one of momo's kittens. successfully adopted (with cheese). extremely silly

egg
likes: screaming, exploring, being doted on
dislikes: unknown
info: one of momo's kittens. successfully adopted. the most confident of the three

cheese
likes: waiting to play until everyone else is tired
dislikes: unknown
info: one of momo's kittens. successfully adopted (with bacon). the shyest one

others' cats

strays and housecats i have encountered over the years.

jaspers
likes: stretch, getting his ass smacked as hard as you can
dislikes: strangers in the house
info: childhood cat, lives with my mom. absorbed many tears shed by teen oscar

stretch
likes: jaspers, cat treats, loafing on the coffee table
dislikes: being held
info: my mom's other cat. jaspers' younger brother... or boytoy...?

mr. sugar
likes: clawing the underside of furniture
dislikes: being indoors
info: an old neighbor's outdoor-indoor cat. had a love affair with biscotti in their youth

baguette
likes: little cubes of leftover cheese
dislikes: being pet more than 3 seconds
info: sassy guardian of a campus dining hall, unafraid to swipe

stinky
likes: playing with fingers
dislikes: unknown
info: kitten i repeatedly met on my walk to work in 2020, had icky eyes

miss lady
likes: purring, following you, bumping your leg
dislikes: her attention and affection being reciprocated
info: infamously temperamental neighborcat at an old apartment

dearly departed

well-loved kitties who are no longer with us.

coco
likes: attention under very specific circumstances
dislikes: to be beheld
info: childhood cat, always snotty & wet in the eyes, gone too soon

poster
likes: sleeping in the bathroom closet
dislikes: having his paws touched
info: childhood cat, the fattest cat i have ever had the pleasure of knowing

viggo
likes: butter, butt scratches, peeing in plants
dislikes: falling into the pool
info: my wife's childhood cat, lived to 25 years old (!!!)

figgy
likes: rolling on newspaper, her toothbrush
dislikes: being petted too much
info: my wife's childhood cat, an absolute diva

seasons
likes: not me!
dislikes: when her spot on the couch is occupied
info: family friend's pet. the oldest cat i ever met, until viggo

mr. knuckles
likes: kneading you with his many, many toes
dislikes: unknown
info: cat in my grandmother's neighborhood, highly polydactyl

buddy
likes: everything & everyone
dislikes: unknown
info: cat in my grandmother's neighborhood, suspected to be mr knuckles' reincarnation

milo
likes: unknown
dislikes: unknown
info: early childhood cat, there is very little i remember about him

missy
likes: her crocheted blanket, pooping in the indoor plants
dislikes: unknown
info: early childhood cat, infamously stupid