The Magnificent Bob Cat

by Andy Marsiglia
(Denver, CO)

We had a very gregarious year old male cat that needed a playmate and a young male kitten seemed like a good choice. I started calling pet stores in the Denver area but could only find female kittens until I called a store that had a single male “tiger” cat.

We quickly drove to the store arriving a few minutes before closing time. The clerk took us to the kitten enclosure where we found two kittens curled up together sleeping.

When the enclosure door was opened, one of the kittens, a small cute female, immediately bounded to us. The other kitten, the male “tiger” cat, got up and slowly started walking toward us but when we picked up the first kitten the male slowly returned to it’s sleeping spot and laid down again. The clerk said he often did that because no one would pick him up because he had a “fused” tail which was about one-third the length of a normal tail and was solid bone. I told the clerk that did not matter, we wanted him anyway.

As soon as I picked held him in my arms the little guy started purring loudly with an occasional soft meow. He stared at my face with his sparkling eyes and I immediately knew this kitten was a keeper. Right away I named him “Bob” because of his bobbed tail.

As we were checking out the pet store manager came to the counter and said she was surprised the kitten was still there. Being 12 weeks old and having a fused tail made kitted difficult to sell so the next morning Bob was scheduled to be sent to the animal shelter. Obviously, we arrived just in time to save him.

Bob turned out to be a magnificent grey tabby with the most gentle, amiable disposition. As several family members have stated, “Bob simply demands love.” For 12 years “Bob the Cat” has been a consistent, loving lap-cat and family companion. What a blessing to have found such a feline treasure!