Swiss Army Kitty

Introducing Paco, fierce son of Possum and mini-me of Roamie.

We know this little guy's family back to his grandmother on his mother's side. But his father is of questionable origin.

Grandma was Sukey, a rescue kitty. She gave birth to Possum and four siblings under a house in the ghost town. Sukey was a lean yellow bird-killer with a machine-gun purr and the irritating tendency to be always underfoot. I say "was" because sometime after the kittens were farmed out, she disappeared. When that happens in the desert, it's usually for keeps.

Roamie is another story. He might have been raised by coyotes for all we know. Or javelinas. An apparent desert feral, he just showed up one day and lived on the periphery of our lives for a year or so, knocking up young Possum and constantly tormenting poor Niko. Roamie was quite literally edgy; even after a year, he kept his distance and wouldn't let us near him. If we accidentally spooked him or got in His Space, he would hiss shamefully at us.

Bless his heart, Roamie's since been relocated as a barn cat. I know, I'm usually taking in kitties, not finding another home for them. We were driven to it. Niko, who has alpha cat aspirations, started developing nervous habits so disgusting I can't even tell you about them unless I know you really well. I have to say that without Roamie stalking Niko around here, life is more pleasant for everyone involved.

But, back to Paco ... Here's his very first photograph:

We don't know where Paco and siblings Fredo and Oso were born. As a teenage mother, Possum hid her shame by having her babies and raising them in secret. By the time Possum let us discover her kittens, their eyes were open and they were already scampering about. Possum was a cat that followed her instincts. (Yes, I say "was" because Possum has not come back from a July hunting trip. Not yet.)

As a mother, I have my own theory as to why Possum waited so long to introduce us to her babies. I think they got big enough to start pestering her so much she just needed some outside help. I swear I could see the relief in her face when we helped her discourage the little guys from nursing so she could get back to hunting and start being a kitty again herself.

Little scruffy Paco looks like Roamie's clone. He's a little skittish, but without his dad's sass. When it's his idea, he's a real cuddle-cat. He hunts grasshoppers, lizards, flies, ants and moths. And his brother Fredo. And Niko and Hoodie. Basically, he just goes after anything that moves. I've caught him twice swatting at something on TV.

He's got Possum's eyes. And a strong purr, almost as loud as his mother's and grandmother's. The past two days he's been on a grasshopper-maiming rage, giving the roadrunners some competition.

Still, he's a jumpy little guy. Not a bad trait for an orphan in this war zone.