Sailbourne

Here’s our first cat, Mina. She adopted us in October 1997 while we were visiting Southern California, recording a story about vampires. She was quite the proper lady in her behavior, so naming her after the heroine of Dracula seemed appropriate. Well, at least we thought she was the proper lady. Turns out that she neglected to tell us that she was in the family way when we took her in, and in December 1997 she had four kittens!

We believe that Mina is a Birman, a breed which is believed to have risen from temple cats in Asia. Not only does she have the characteristic markings of the breed, but also the fur which though long, doesn’t mat. She also has the strong will and loyalty to her people and her home which are hallmarks of the Birman breed.

Mina has always been the Queen. No matter how many other cats come and go in the house, Mina always takes it in stride, confident in her position that she’s in charge. Generally she exerts a very benevolent rule, unless someone chooses to get in her face — usually one of the younger Bobtails — in which case the upstart will promptly get smacked into his proper place.

Although she often projects the classic image of the aloof feline, Mina is very tuned in to her people’s feelings, maybe more so than any of the other cats. Whenever either of us are feeling sad or lonely, Mina is invariably there with a purr to try and help us feel better.

Mina’s dignity, of which she possesses enough for every cat in the house and then some, doesn’t often allow for good pictures. The shot on the left comes from Jim Brown, a professional feline photographer, who managed to come up with some excellent poses for her, through a challenging “sitting.”