Henderson

Henderson was originally rescued by my mother's best friend on a mountainside in Hendersonville, NC (thus explaining his name) while she and mom were camping. He cried all night long and she found him in the morning, cold and hungry, and not even two months old. We speculate that something happened to his mother.

Mom thought that since he was so small, that maybe her cat Misty would accept him. Misty HATES other cats and always has. She brought him home. Well, two months later Henderson was STILL living in the bathroom, as Misty would not accept him. My mother told me she was going to give him to a shelter. I threw a fit, and said NO- he was family and I would take him. After all, what's one more when you already have four, right? It took a bit of convincing, but when I told her that if she gave him to a shelter, and not me, I would take off from work and drive around Memphis until I found him, she gave in.

I brought Hendi home, and well, if I thought things were wild with Bosco I was wrong. The pre-Henderson years were "The Quiet Years, Revisited." Never in my life have I EVER seen a more sweetly obtuse little man. He does not acknowledge the word no or any other form of attempted discipline. Luckily for me he is not a ill-tempered or malicious cat, just very mischievous and stubborn.

He and Bosco bonded within 24 hours. They look alike, except for the tails. And in all seriousness? In one regard, he calmed the household down, as he gave Bosco an always willing playmate, which allowed him to quit tormenting his older sisters.

He loves all forms of meat, as when he was found, mom and her friend fed him whatever they had leftover- he developed a love of fish, chicken, steak, shrimp and lobster. What a culture shock to come to my house where we have DRY FOOD. I sneak him can food to keep him happy. And Cheez Whiz. He goes nuts over Cheez Whiz.

When he's eating something he loves (translation- MEAT) he purrs and makes the cutest sound- like a growl that sounds like he is saying "nang nang nang." So, that's our code word for when I sneak him food that the other cats can't have- they have dietary issues.

I'm glad mom's cat never accepted Henderson. Because I knew the moment I saw him I was going to find a way to steal him from her.