Cat: Booger
Owner: Jennifer
Appearance: B
The bad: One of his eyes is constantly dry, due to a virus passed to him by his mother. Because it’s dry all the time, it appears cloudy and dull. He’s also oddly proportioned, with a small head, tiny ears, no neck, and short legs.
The good: Booger’s coat is gorgeous. Solid black, with a wooly undercoat and silky topcoat, with long guard hairs. His tail is long and silky and whiskers plentiful and broad.
His stocky body and diminutive features make him even cuter, but he’s not perfect because of his eye, so I give him a B.
Sociability: A
I know from experience that hand-raising an orphaned kitten does not guarantee its sociability later. Booger, however, became the sweetest cat to me and my husband and the other cats and dog. He has truly never raised a paw to any of the others—even the bully cats. He is best friends with the big bully cat, in fact, often grooming him and initiating play-sparring matches (Booger always loses). He does not bully the girl cats who are scared of him, and is just laid-back, in general. He’s very friendly to humans, but not overbearing; he can take a hint, in other words.
Usefulness: A
He clears every flat surface in the house with ease, and ensures our floors are adequately equipped with keys, remote controls, mail, and pens. He fetches his toys, leaving them at my feet so I don’t forget to play with him. He keeps my feet warm when I sit at my computer and helps the dog finish her dinner each day.
Obviously, those aren’t exactly useful activities, but he is hilarious and makes me laugh at least once a day, and smile multiple times. If that’s not useful, I don’t know what is.
Huggability: A++
Booger is fond of laying on his back in high-traffic areas of the house. With his paws curled at his chest and his hind legs spread eagle, I can’t resist rubbing his belly, picking him up, and holding him like a baby. With his head resting on my arm, his top fangs stick out, making him look like a little vampire teddy bear. He is almost always willing to be held, and will humor us as we become overwhelmed by his cuteness. He ranks high in huggability, with an A++.
Overall Grade: A+
