The Cat Files: Tom

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.