B.J.

B.J. was tired by the time he decided to move into my sister's home. At the time, he was living on the Cincinnati streets with other alley cats, fending off his territory and scraping up any leftovers he could find. My sister fed B.J. whenever she saw him in her driveway, which he always appreciated.

One day, B.J. caught a cold, so she took him to the vet's office. He didn't like her as much that day, but it was a good thing they went. It turned out that he had contracted FIV from his pals, and his immune system had taken a hit. While B.J. dismissed this news as an annoyance, my sister insisted he come live in the safety of her warm, dry house. Always a lone traveler, B.J. prefers the open air and sky. He had come from the Wild West, and his early days under stars on the prairie forever remained in his blood. Still, although worried he'd miss the outdoors, he couldn't pass up such a generous offer.

To his great surprise, being an indoor cat suited him just fine. Eternally grateful for his good fortune, he became an increasingly happy-go-lucky cat. Named Bob, Jr., after Bob, an identical orange kitty my sister used to care for before he settled into a friend's home, B.J. shared Bob's good nature. He got along with everyone, except for Norman. (Comet and Ashes assured him that Norman rarely got along with anyone, but B.J. always tried.)

He loves watching Paul Newman and Jimmy Stewart Westerns and playing board games. He most enjoys conversations about the day's events. There's nothing better than a sunny spot by a window so he can keep up with his old pals, spy on new ones, and check out his neighborhood's happenings. He'll tell you all about it.

Side note from The Mother Kitty: In older illustrations, you may notice that B.J. appears in bright orange colors. Throughout his youth, he dyed his hair in these electric colors as a way to announce his unique presence in any crowd. He’s still punky like that, but since the pandemic started, he’s relaxed on the upkeep. These days, he prefers his natural shades. What a grown-up!