I have two cats living with me. When I was growing up, we had two cats and a dog and it didn't seem like that big of a deal. Of course, I wasn't the one that had to feed them and pick up after them. Now it's different, but I guess I'm still glad I have them - they are great company and both of them together are less trouble than a single dog would be.

In 1995 I finally got my own place and decided that a cat wo good thing to have. I went down to the SPCA in San Diego several times and didn't find any cats that struck my fancy. I was looking for a Tabby, female, with a good personality. Most of the cats there were males, and very few seemed to be glad to be alive, although they seemed to be well cared for. One day I went in and they had a grey, female Tabby that had just been released for adoption and was scared to death. I plopped down $70 and took her home. She had been named "mini", which I thought was a stupid name so I called her "Babs", which everyone tells me is equally stupid. Oh well, too late now. Here she is kicking back in one of her favorite spots (Click the thumbnail image for a full size version) :

After this picture was taken, Babs almost completely lost her stripes with the exception of her tail. She was just about solid grey and people thought she was some exotic breed. She was a very conservative cat and never put a claw into anything. A perfect lady.

After a few months, I started feeling guilty that Babs didn't have another cat to keep her company while I wasn't around (which was most of the time). I decided to get another cat, this time a boy. I decided I wanted an orange tabby, just because I liked the way they looked. I kept an eye on the San Diego SPCA but never found a cat I liked. After moving to Dallas, I went to the local SPCA downtown and immediately found what I was looking for. A cute male orange tabby kitten that was listed as "talkative and playful". Perfect! Except for one thing - he had a twin brother. The two of them were curled up together sleeping and when I picked one up they both started wailing. I really wanted one of them but the thought of splitting them up seemed cruel. I know, I know, they're cats and they would get over it in 5 minutes, but I couldn't do it. The guy that worked there then told me that they had a "buy one get one free" policy on cats, and that settled it. I took them both!

Here's a picture of them basking in the warmth of a halogen desk lamp (Click the thumbnail image for a full size version) :

Their names at the SPCA were "Duncan" and "Connor". I didn't find these names too appealing, but always liked the names of fellow internet junky Jim Kirk's cats, "Twist" and "Shout". After receiving his blessing, I started calling them that. "Shout" is the bigmouth. He talks constantly about everything, and I think he is the firstborn because he's the more aggressive of the two. "Twist" is not really a twisty cat but he is the more handsome of the pair (except for the tail - Shout's is bigger, and that's gotta be everything to a cat. :-] ). Twist is also much more subdued. He's your typical "lap cat". They are both great cats and I'm glad they picked me as their owner.

Here are a couple more pictures of Twist and Shout lounging on the computer desk.

In Sept. '97 I lost Babs to diabetes and associated health problems. I still miss her.