Cats

We moved to West Virginia in 1991 with three cat buddies, Snowy and Socks who came to us in 1979 and Friend who appeared on our doorstep some years later. Friend died in 1993 and six months later Winstanley appeared, starving, out of the woods. We eventually found that she didn’t get along with other cats so she has led a life apart. Snowy died in 1994 and later that year we came upon Viva, who had been hit by a car, in the middle of River Road. Not able to find her humans we adopted the injured but resilient Viva. She was a good buddy for Socks who sorely missed her sister Snowy. Socks died in 2000 and is still missed terribly for her wisdom and humor. Bobo came to us as a kitten shortly after to be a buddy for Viva. He proved a bit much for all of us. Luckily, Rafine wandered out of the woods to stay with us and help raise the kitten. Now we share our lives with Winstanley (the shack and nighttime are hers) and Viva, Bobo and Rafine (the house and daytime are theirs).

	Snowy looks so thin in this picture(George called her his ”cinder block cat”). She was a shy “odd-eyed white” who loved the woods and her special sleeping nooks under the trees and on logs.
	Socks was a wise matriarch who loved cheese with a passion. As she grew older she spent more and more time on George’s lap. There are some pictures of Socks’ Frog Pond.
	Friend appeared one day, half-starved under a burdock leaf. She was much older than Snowy and Socks and loved Molly’s lap where she lay chewing the edge of Molly’s sweater.
	Windstanley our “little digger cat” is frightened by other cats and so is aggressive. She enjoys her shack and prowling at night.
	Viva is so good-natured. When we found her and took her to the vet she purred in George’s lap, even with a broken pelvis and other injuries. She recovered and now romps and plays in the yard. She is another “cinder block cat” like Snowy.
	Bobo is Bobo. He hardly sits still all day long, he loves the woods and ventures far. He sleeps well each night and is eager to go out again each morning. He likes popcorn, crackers and other good foods. See Bobo in the bushes
	Rafine had a dislocated hip when he came to us. He still prowled the yard constantly. He was better a year later, a good diet had helped alot but then he started to have new problems and died the spring of 2002. He was a good buddy for young Bobo.
	Grey Cat visits Bobo and the others often. He comes about 3/4 of a mile from his home to chat and romp. He’s very shy with us, but as time passes lets us come closer.