Dogs of the North Family and Friends Feisto

Feisto owns Duffy's parents, Esther and Harold Taylor, who live in Eaton, Ohio. An impressive cat, Feisto took over the Taylor's home in June of 1998 when he made the journey to Eaton from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like Alexander the Great, Feisto was looking for new worlds to conquer, and to put it mildly, conquer he did! It took him all of thirty seconds to look Esther and Harold's home over and proclaim it his own. Every chair in the house bears his name (and a few of his hairs, too!). He demands daily walks (on a leash even!) unless he deems the weather inclimate. He gets regular treats and generally rules the roost.

Feisto's origins remain a mystery. All we know is that he got picked up by the St. Paul animal control people at the age of about a year. We suspect that he dug up someone's flower garden and got himself busted and thrown in jail. Apparently the public pound was full because animal control boarded him at the same kennel that Adam, Kate, and Daisy use. When Feisto's seven days were up and he faced execution, the kennel owners decided to adopt him.

His first act of gratitude was to knock up a little stray cat that was hanging around and present his kind hearted rescuers with a litter of kittens (he somehow managed this just hours before his neutering appointment). His second act was to make it very clear that he didn't care to live with any other feline, male or female, large or small. Around other cats, sweet, affectionate Feisto turned into Attila the Kitty Hun!! Since the kennel is home to a number of adopted cats who have been rescued over the years, this would simply never do!

Sadly, his rescuers caged him in the kennel and began looking for a single cat home for this very handsome, very friendly, orange tabby with white feet and bib. Enter Duffy. Exit Feisto. Look out, Esther and Harold!!

Seriously, though we joke about Feisto a lot, he is in reality a pretty cool cat. He is VERY smart!! He is continually expanding his vocabulary to include such words and phrases as "Feisto, you want to go in the house?", "Treat", "Show me what you want", "Lead me to your dish", "Do you want to go in the garage?", and (my all time fave), "Feisto, you're a bum".

When visitors come, Feisto makes it a point to greet them at the door. When Harold was still working, Feisto knew the precise time he was expected home, and would jump up in the window to watch for him. When Harold and Esther come home from an outing, Feisto plops on the floor in front of them and rolls back and forth with happiness at their return.

Let's face it. This is a match made in heaven!