Earl the Cat and His Short Stop at the Shelter

At about 7 years of age, Earl was turned over to the Humane Society and that is where I met him. The purpose of my visit was to drop off handmade cat blankets and NOT to adopt a cat. Unable to resist giving the inmates some attention, I first spied "Earl the Cat" as he sat regally and tall in his cage, confident, self-assured, and seemingly unconcerned about his future. As his human name would seem to imply, his temperament was like a little human in a cat's body. He did not respond to the usual cutsie kitty-kitty's and only briefly acknowledged me when I read his name on the card. So, he came home with me that day. It has been almost 11 years and, at about 18 years of age, he still acts like a little human in a cat's body -- with a little arthritis thrown in. Sometimes human names allow cats to break through the "Kitty" stereotype and really shine as the individuals they are.