The background

I've been a cat fan for years.  Growing up, there were always at least two cats in the house at any given point, as well as several dogs.  I always gravitated towards the cats.

I got my first "very own" cat when I was 17 and lived behind my parents in their "mother-in-law" house.  I purchased Elmer from A1 Pet Shop in Rockford for the sum of $5.00.  The kittens and puppies at A1 generally came from local people who didn't know where to take accidental litters and the only other option was "the pound."

Over the years, my living quarters have always housed at least one cat and generally two to three.  Before owning my own home, apartment choices were always limited to those that welcomed cats.  That generally meant higher deposits and a $10 monthly "per cat" surcharge at one complex, but to me it was always worth it.

As the years have progressed, cats have come and gone in my life and Elmer became the only cat I purchased from a pet store.  The brood that currently occupies the humble abode are all rescues in one way, shape, or form.  From Noah and Molly, who were found underneath a boat cover at the boat dealership next to our family business at 5 weeks of age, to Lucy Talulah Lulabelle (we call her Lou), the 7 month old neighborhood stray that finally picked the right flowerbed to hang in, they all have amazing stories.

At the urging of a coworker, I've decided to record their stories as well as my stories about what an awesome place they make my little corner of the world.

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