I have to admit that I was not initially a cat fan.  The first time I visited Taro, I literally left with an itchy nose and by the time I arrived at Cuban Bistro to have dinner with my friends, I was sneezing and my eyes were red and watery.  However, about two years ago, I asked Taro if he wanted a cat because he is a big cat lover.  I figured it might be worth a try – and I thought cats were low maintenance and pretty much their own little boss; this is definitely not the case, but I will explain in a bit.  I pretty much ventured out looking at cats up for adoption.  There were a bunch of cute kittens and some that were rascals and much more feisty; the feisty ones scared me a bit.  And then, one day, I saw this cute, little furball sitting in his litter box.  He was calm, slightly intimidated, and not at all wild and crazy like the other kittens.  I knew he was the one.  But Taro actually did not care for him; he thought the cat was too anti-social.  I convinced Taro regardless.

Yes.  Peanut is anti-social.  It takes quite a few meetings before he will make an appearance.  And if there is a group larger than six, he will definitely hide and shy away.  But when it is just me, Taro, and Peanut, he transforms into a column hopping, mad dashing, cricket killing lion.  Yes.  Lion.  He walks with authority, yet purrs, rubs against your leg, and bites with love.  I want to say he is not a typical cat.  He has a magnificent tail and is filled with affection; he licks Taro’s face every single night!  And low maintenance?  Definitely not.  He cannot stand either one of us working from home – Taro on the computer or me grading papers – and will do everything possible to focus attention on him.  I cannot tell you how many clips, pens, and highlighters he has swatted off the table in order to say, “Look at me!”

This is my love.  Peanut.  Nutty.  Nut-nut.

Even as I type this post, Peanut is meowing for attention and gently hitting my back.  As Taro and I would say, “What a nut!”