[T.H.E. Cat]

Here are some more pictures of my very first cat, Sherlock Holmes. These were taken by my younger brother at my old basement apartment back in 1989. My landlady rented this two-bedroom apartment from her own residence: I occupied the downstairs and she occupied the upstairs. But in November of 1987 I got a furry four-legged roommate who I named Sherlock! My landlady had originally had this cat foisted onto her by her daughter. Since my landlady already owned a cocker spaniel, she ended up giving me her cat.

Since I only had a few grungy basement windows, I made two perches for Sherlock so he could have a couple of small portals to look out of in order to keep an eye on things outside. The following Spring, Sherlock spotted a mouse scurrying along the other side of one of his windows. In so many meows, Sherlock begged me to let him go outside for the first time. When he ran over to the other side of this window there was no longer a mouse there, but Sherlock was so happy to be out in the open air that he began to roll around in the dirt! Needless to say, Sherlock got his very first bath once I brought him back inside for the evening.

As you can see here, I also collected some plush toy cats ... and Sherlock was not amused! The last picture is of me (when I still had hair!) holding Sherlock that was taken by a visiting friend from my hometown.