1863. Jill Hebron

Shao Mao at 11 Years Shao Mao Breed: Domestic Shorthair Cat Variety: Red Tabby Gender: Female Favorite Food: Her favorite things to eat (besides Flint River Ranch, of course!) are fried chicken and Doritos…must be a hold-over from her street cat days. Favorite Activities: In her spare time, she enjoys catching birds and small vermin and playing with cat toys. Favorite Place to Sleep: On the couch and hanging out on my bed on lazy Sundays. Special Skills or Responsibilities: She is an unusually friendly kitty best known for her bright green eyes and greets all of my friends when they come over, purring and letting them pet her and pick her up. She never scratches the furniture or gets into the garbage and even lets me trim her claws with a nail clipper. Story: Years ago in Ohio, some college friends found her hiding under a car and decided to take her in. One of those friends was an exchange student from Taiwan and she often referred to the new pet as “Shao Mao,” which is Chinese for "kitten." After graduation, I decided to take the cat home with me and thought the nickname suited her for a proper name, so Shao Mao it was. Somebody told me once that animals can feel gratitude to humans who have done them a good turn in this life – if so, Shao Mao has been a faithful friend for the past ten years and more than repaid us for taking her in off the streets. Staff: Jill Hebron Home: Montclair, NJ Date Entered into Gallery: October 10, 2007