Sylvester was sleeping in the front window of the Naples Humane Society when my girlfriend, her son and I went to look for a cat. Although I had grown up around animals, I never had a pet of my own until Sylvester came into my life as a three-year-old kitty in March 1996. I wasn't aware he was a Maine Coon for several months, as I knew little about cats other than that I liked them.

The girlfriend and her son were gone by the summer of 1997 but Sylvester stayed.

He was a quiet animal, with the chirps and cheeps of a Maine Coon. A real showoff, after he decided a visitor was OK, he'd roll around on his back for attention. If a door was shut that he thought should be open, he'd pound on it with a paw until the door was opened. He loved to play "Toss the Mouse", where anything thrown at him would be batted away expertly. Good fun for everyone!! He loved to go outside a few days a week to nibble on grass and chase rabbits. I am sure that both Sylvester and the rabbit knew no one was going to get caught, but it was fun to watch.

I didn't need an alarm clock, as Sylvester would announce "I'm Hungry" plenty early. Aside from a minor urinary tract infection in 1997, he was healthy up until 2009 when his kidneys began to fail. Finally, a decision had to be made, and there were no good choices. He left me at the vet's office April 27, 2010.

It's too quiet in my house with him gone. I miss him terribly.