Uno. Dos. Tres. Seis?!

Every house needs a cat to make it a home. When we moved into this, our very first house, we knew we needed a cat. But, would one cat be happy all on its own? Ought we then to have two cats? Then they could keep each other company and we could each have a lap cat of our very own.

And so began our steady accumulation of cats. When we reached four, we knew we had more than enough and swore not to get anymore. But. There was the small kitten found abandoned behind the bookstore. And there was the starveling manx who wouldn't stop haunting our front step.

And so now we have six. Six.

Hedwig.

Not named for the owl of Harry Potter fame nor for Hedwig of the Angry Inch, but rather because as a kitten she was small, mottled, and gnomish looking. A perfect hedge witch's cat. "Hedge witch" quickly devolved into "Hedwig," and there you have it.

Oedipus.

Weird and freakish cat. When we first brought Oedi home from the Humane Society, he was a boney mass of matted hair and anxiety, but I could see he might grow to be a handsome, kingly cat. I'm still waiting on that.

Shadow.

Named for the cat in The Follower, a children's book by Richard Thompson. "On Monday, / Dark as shut your eyes, / It followed her home . . . / Down the lane, over the lawn / Past the Marble Frog and the Granite Swan. / She cast a glance -- and quick as that -- / It was gone."

Little Dude.

Even as a kitten, it was obvious Little was alpha male material. Swaggering, bossy, and me, me, me all the bloody time. Even now, he wants what he wants when he wants it and don't you get in the way.

Catzilla.

Completely obsessed with getting her tongue up your nostrils. Cat Five was an impulse -- someone abandoned a lot of kittens behind the bookstore, and who could say no to such cuddliness? Look at that wickle face ... Isn't she twee? Just watch out for that tongue.

Hawaii.

Showed up one Easter morning wearing tags from the Hickam AFB Vet Clinic in Hawaii. He just walked in the door and never left. Very insistent about being fed regularly and a little bit nippy (just like his mum).