Kohaku and Chihiro

February 20, 2010

Neal says: Kohaku and Chihiro are twin tuxedo cats who live in western Massachusetts. There was a large, aggressive dog in the house where they were born so they lived the first three months of their lives in an upstairs bedroom with two grade-school girls. They were never put down as babies so they're very friendly and always want to be with their humans. Their names come from the two characters in the anime classic Spirited Away. Kohaku was the river spirit and Chihiro was the girl who helped him escape from an evil wizard.

True to his name, Kohaku is a water cat, always running to get in the bath tub for a drink after someone finishes showering, and he often leaps to the kitchen counter and begs a drink straight from the faucet. When they first arrived they were quite concerned about the spaniel, Zoe, who already lived in the house. They soon settled down, began sleeping together, and now Zoe and Kohaku wrestle sometimes. Chihiro is dainty and proper -- no rolling around on the floor with the dog for her.

All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Neal Rauhauser

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Chihiro

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Kohaku

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Chihiro

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Kohaku and Zoe

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Comments and LOLs:

Holy Cuteness - 14 years, 2 months ago

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Awww, really cute twins, must be a joy to have them around!

Kayli - 14 years, 2 months ago

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307 points

These two are beautiful, and I especially love their little white paws!!

WC - 14 years, 2 months ago

They are just precious.

Kephara - 14 years, 2 months ago

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289 points

What sweetie-boots these two are!

Tracee - 14 years, 2 months ago

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115 points

All the pics are sooo cute - hard to pick a favorite! They are just adorable twins!! =)

jillian - 14 years, 2 months ago

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awwww! my kitties love to zizz in the sunshine just like this!! sooooo cute.

Lindsay - 14 years, 2 months ago

36 points

They are beautiful! Lovely markings.

Squirrelmonster - 14 years, 2 months ago

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3 points

Squirrelmonster - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

You've got two little cuties there. Adorable!

Gabby - 14 years, 2 months ago

398 points

What beautiful babies!!!!!!!!!!!

docsquid - 14 years, 2 months ago

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642 points

Oh, those cute little white feet! Lovely.

Koala10 - 14 years, 2 months ago

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70 points

Koala10 - 14 years, 2 months ago

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70 points

Aethyr - 14 years, 2 months ago

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19 points

mma - 14 years, 2 months ago

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1405 points

total acceptance

boodie - 14 years, 2 months ago

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111 points

what a handsome pair of babyboos they are, so cute.

henrob2 - 14 years, 2 months ago

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22 points

Neal Rauhauser - 14 years, 2 months ago

Yes, these two are beautiful, but they're a handful. The pictures are two months old - they're rambunctious adolescents now, tearing up the house and terrorizing the poor dog :-(

Neal Rauhauser - 14 years, 2 months ago

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Zoe is a very nervous, motherly dog. She came running when kittens cried from the minute they got home, but it took a couple of months before she'd let them get close to her like this.

peacerunner - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

Thank you for choosing Kohaku and Chihiro for The Daily Kitten. I have lots more fun pics and some amazing videos of them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peacerunne…

enjoy! And thank you also for all the comments. These kittens and my silly dog fill my days with so much joy. Lately Haku has started kissing me right on the lips. :-)

peacerunner - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

If I am sitting in one spot for more than a few minutes, one or both kittens will begin pawing and sucking on me. They like thin cotton fabrics best. It's fun....unless those needle-like nails need a trim. Why do kittens do this?

peacerunner - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

One of my favorite videos. He jumped in an open picnic basket....she investigates, then seems quite innocent when she traps him. http://www.flickr.com/photos/peacerunne…

skyeltd - 14 years, 2 months ago

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249 points

peacerunner - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

Best pic of all is Chihiro at the top of the Peacemas tree. She thought she was the "star" and on a daily basis would climb up, bend the real star over, and sit. She likes to be the highest thing in the house. Best Christmas ever! http://www.flickr.com/photos/peacerunne…

i wish I knew how to make those lol cat things.

kittycatluvr - 14 years, 2 months ago

125 points

Looks like they've found their foreverhome. Cute kitties! Reminds me of my Sylvester (rip).

Natthecat - 14 years, 2 months ago

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∞ points

I am enchanted to the point of deliberately looking for a tuxedo cat. I have never had one. I especially love the way sunlight brings out the basic tiger stripes in their fur.

Natthecat - 14 years, 2 months ago

∞ points

Peacerunner--You asked why kittens paw and suck. We can't know what's in their minds, and your kitties seem happy and content. Nevertheless, they feel some anxiety and revert to babyish behavior. My cat Spider did this till he was 18, and I realized his days with my bigger cat were fraught with unspoken worries. Too late.

peacerunner - 14 years, 2 months ago

3 points

they mostly do the sucking as a routine prior to a nap. They have tried it on the dog...but NO WAY!

Sambo'sMom - 14 years, 2 months ago

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20 points

Love the whiskers here, it's hard to know where one cat begins and ends but the whiskers are awesome.

P.S.To Peacerunner, just click on lol or Comments under the picture of your choice and "Voila", I had trouble with this too when I started commenting on the pictures,sadly my computer was out of order for over a week and I lost all my points and had to start over.

kibblegirl - 14 years, 2 months ago

1057 points

Such beautiful kittens. I love their black silky coats. I am glad that Zoe relaxed around the twins.

chazerz - 14 years, 2 months ago

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11 points

scorp1109 - 14 years, 2 months ago

30 points

this is so unfair! typically it is easy to pick out a favorite picture each day to vote for, but today, i need at least 3-5 votes. these kittens are so sweet, would love to have them. you are very lucky, as i am sure they are too to have you! thanks for sharing such wonderful photos of your babies. (also think it is so neat how the white face mark on chihiro looks just like a hershey kiss - how perfect - kiss kiss kiss)

scorp1109 - 14 years, 2 months ago

30 points

reading above comments.... first of all... pawing is the highest sign of affection a cat can give you (even though to us it typically hurts! :) second, the suckling is a comfort thing and what they do to their mom... if anything its a sign of love... not stress. Also if they do that, they are basically "marking their territory", claiming you as their own

LeCrosse - 14 years, 2 months ago

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67 points

Complete and total SQUEEE! Insanely cute.

LeCrosse - 14 years, 2 months ago

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67 points

Really, there is nothing better than a sun-warmed kitteh!

wokkawokka - 14 years, 2 months ago

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229 points

Like a fuzzy Hershey's Kiss! So adorable

kittymombo - 14 years, 2 months ago

42 points

love the kitties and it looks like the dog loves them too.

Smooch - 14 years, 2 months ago

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736 points

Very cute - especially the little black tip on her paw! They are very lovely kittens and I bet they much prefer Zoe to the dog they first lived with!

Natthecat - 14 years, 2 months ago

∞ points

TO SCORP1109. SO YOU ARE A CAT MINDREADER. However, you are mistaken in this instance. Reverting to behavior of sucking is, as you say, a comfort thing and as peacerunner says it precedes napping. This household has two adults and a big dog. However nice they are, and I am sure they re lovely, there is underlying stress for these cutie -patooties. Actually, I hope this behavior doesn't continue into wool and fabric sucking--also a comfort device.

BirmanMama - 14 years, 2 months ago

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951 points

Adorable babies and lovely photos!

Rattler - 14 years, 2 months ago

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244 points

vicgag - 14 years, 2 months ago

171 points

What gorgeous pics and what sweet little kitties and doggie too.

catiam - 14 years, 2 months ago

220 points

Kohaku, Chihiro and Zoe are an adorable little family.

Rattler - 14 years, 2 months ago

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244 points

Rattler - 14 years, 2 months ago

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244 points

Reds - 14 years, 2 months ago

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23 points

This place is going to the dogs...

Reds - 14 years, 2 months ago

23 points

Please, don't take my picture...I can't do a thing with my hair...

BooksandCats - 14 years, 2 months ago

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502 points

Love this photo! Reminds me how my Siamese, Pye, and our German Shepherd,
Lady, used to snuggle. Think Lady thought she was just a really large cat. She'd constantly groom Pye and loved to steal the cat food!

BooksandCats - 14 years, 2 months ago