Aliases: None. Just Olive.

Age: ~3 years.

Residence: The Tree House, Arcata, CA (also known to many as Cozy Corners).

Coat/Build: Short-hair, plump and petite. Most known for her tiny paws to bountiful belly ratio.

Meow Type: Cricket chirps with a question mark at the end.

Back Story: Kristina had a rat problem. “A serious rat problem,” she says. “So I went to the pound looking for a ratter and the lady working there suggested Olive. Although Olive has not caught a rat, or mouse, or bird for that matter, the entire time we have known each other I have realized that more importantly, we are soul mates.”

Likes: Sleeping. Rolling in dirt. Playing with her mink stole. Hanging out with people. Smelling / tasting / rubbing all up on your shoes. Dinner time.

Dislikes: All other cats. Being alone. Flea medicine. Loud noises. Soiled litter.

Favorite Place to Nap: Near windows. Stuffed between couch pillows. Your tummy.

Claim to Fame: Having white pubic hair. Being a world class fly catcher. Peeing in tub drains without a drop of evidence.

Downfall: Extremely insecure. Stresses out when she spends too much time alone, or if a dog is near. “When either of these things happen,” Kristina says, “she develops a bladder problem and pees tiny droplets around the house. She’s a sensitive soul.”

Aliases: None. Just Tom.

Age: ~20 years.

Residence: Miller-Born House, Redding, CA.

Coat/Build: Dry longhair, grey. Currently: Weak and underweight. Historically: Large and in charge.

Meow Type: Whispers.

Back Story: As a kitten he was lost with his sister. After posting signs and traveling the neighborhood the Millers were ready to give up when a knock came on the door. A couple of local teens said they had found Tom and became quite fond of him, but knew returning him was the right thing to do.

Originally, Tom was Chris’s childhood cat, but over the years he grew closer to Chris’s mother, Sue. To date, and for as long as I’ve known him, Tom is always at Sue’s feet, laying by her side or perched on a folded arm. If Sue isn’t around, Tom will settle for whoever is around until she gets home, where he will drop everything and be back at her side, forgetting that anyone else even exists.

Likes: Sleeping. Laying in inconvenient places. Shrinking the self-esteem of other cats.

Dislikes: Being alone, or worse: ignored.

Favorite Place to Nap: Sun spots. Computer desks. Sue’s lap.

Claim to Fame: Impeccable survival skills. Tom was once so overweight that he could hardly be picked up, but last September his health was drastically declining, and he was very close to being put to sleep due to kidney failure. At the last minute some extra tests and treatments were done and Tom’s condition reversed. He came home from the ICU as a thin, fragile kitty with a horrible odor. He’s been that cat ever since.

Aliases: Scruff, Scruffers, OJ

Age: 9 years.

Coat / Build: Long-hair, curly on the belly. Built like a bear.

Meow Type: The Tenacious Attention-Seeker.

Backstory: Scruffy showed up some years ago at Sue and Charlie’s house. Thinking nothing of it (strays are pretty common here) they took him in, unable to believe such a healthy, loving cat didn’t have a home. One day Scruffy disappeared and the loss of his neediness was mourned. Two girls who lived down the street came by to say that Scruffy was their cat, whom they had named “OJ” and thought had died. Right before the girls and their family went on a road trip, Scruffy had gotten sprayed by a skunk, so they put him outside. Being an indoor cat all his life, Scruffy ran away to the Miller-Born’s house, which is a veritable cat paradise. While walking by one day, the girls noticed Scruffy and took him home, and that’s when he had disappeared. However, Scruffy had a mind of his own, and he eventually wandered back to the Miller-Borns where the girls decided to let him stay.

Likes: Attention! Headbutts. Chow-chowing (kneading, making biscuits, etc) on your belly.

Dislikes: Other cats. Being outside. Being ignored.

Favorite Place to Nap: In the rafters of the garage.

Claim to Fame: Having Roman pillars for arms and legs. Being incredibly good-looking for his age.

Aliases: L.C., L, Elsers.

Age: 15 years.

Coat / Build: Longhair, tabby. Old and fragile.

Meow Type: Complainer.

Backstory: Her and another cat named Grey Kitty were taken in as kittens when Chris and Lindy were children. The Grey Kitty was for Chris and L.C. was for Lindy (hence the name). Their family went on a trip and both cats disappeared. Grey Kitty never came back but L.C. did.

Likes: Sleeping. Scratches on the rump.

Dislikes: Currently: Being picked up. Being inside the house for more than 5 minutes. Historically: Being outside for more than 5 minutes.

Favorite Place to Nap: Currently: On a pile of garden mulch. Historically: Lindy’s bed.

Claim to Fame: Ability to shoot hate beams.

Downfall: Uncontrollable drooling.

Aliases: Felix Felicis, Flea-licks, Fleabit, Batly.

Age: ~1 1/2 years.

Coat / Build: Black, short and silky. Long and slender.

Meow Type: Howler.

Backstory: Abandoned shortly after birth by mother, found on the street by neighbors of the Miller-Borns. Adopted by Chris and Kim Miller (that’s us!).

Often Mistaken For: A squirrel or giraffe. The Batmobile. The Wolf monster from the Neverending Story.

Likes: Climbing trees. Long scratches down the spine. Your breath after a tasty meal.

Dislikes: Road trips. Collars. Conventional sources of drinking water.

Favorite Place to Nap: Crocheted blankets. Hampers. Reusable grocery bags.

Claim to Fame: Playing fetch with crumpled receipts. Overcoming the oppression of a collar and growing into a fearless hunter. Having a ridiculously long tail.

Downfall: Tragic addiction to catnip.