Mr. Leo was rescued and adopted on Fathers Day 1999, and quickly became an integral part of the family.

He's a little high-strung, and both needs and demands lots of attention.

Although Leo isn't a big cat, he's reluctantly taken on the role of defender of the turf. So he's first in line when the yard needs defending from wandering strays. He's not well equipped for the role, but he does as well as he can. Luckily, he's only occasionally called to perform his duty.

Silverman moved in back in September 1999 while we were on a trip to Chicago. We returned to find him lounging on the deck with the other cats and inviting himself into the house for meals via the cat door.

He still disappears for large parts of each day, returning regularly for meals and when the weather is bad. We wish he would just declare himself tamed, but he won't make those final concessions to domesticity.

Silverman is an unusual combination of silver-gray tiger with big blue eyes. A very handsome combo.

Harry (a.k.a. Harriet) is still a work in progress. She's almost three years old. Her sister, Lizzie, disappeared a year ago without a trace, and we've struggled to keep Harry in the household. She has a favorite corner of the yard where she likes to spend her time, and there are periods where she doesn't come back inside unless I go out, make my way through the brush, and physically carry her back with me.

But in the last few months she seems to be responding, getting more regular, and figuring out that people have some real good food for dinner that a cat can share if she's inside at the right time.

Maybe she just wants us to know that we'll never be able to take her affection for granted. And we don't.