Daisuke and Momiji [5]

Monte says: At 12 weeks old, Momiji (left) and Daisuke (pronounced: dice-kay) left the Tabbypatch Maine Coon cattery in Oakland, California, to travel across the bay to their new home in San Francisco. They were born near same time but are not littermates or otherwise related. We picked them out when they were eight weeks old and we went back a month later to bring them home. Due to to the general friendliness of the breed, it didn't take them long to decide that our adult shorthair cat Fred was going to be their uncle whether he liked it or not. Fred was an excellent role model for the baby boys and they still adore him. On overcast days, they all sleep in a big pile on the futon in my office and Fred still cleans them whenever the mood strikes.

Since they are Maine Coons, they obviously didn't stay tiny for too long. They both have the friendly and curious personality that is typical of the breed. As they've grown into adulthood, both of them are are still very affectionate and good-natured. Daisuke is pretty much a walking stereotype of Maine Coons being "gentle giants." Momiji is the chattier of the two and goes nuts for anything that crinkles. A friend of mine likes to quip that "being as big as they are, it's a good thing that Maine Coons are so good-natured or they would probably be illegal." But I'm certainly glad they are not because these boys are an absolute joy.