>I had a cat for 8 or 9 years (until about 6 months ago when he passed) and his name was William. He was a huge black and white farm cat. I've had many others over the years but he was a family member.

Yeah. Mine are all family members. I've had others over the years too, but they've gone to the big kitty litter in the sky. Mine have always been adopted strays. Usually, I put food out for them and after a few months they begin to feel comfortable around me. That's when I snatch them and take them to the vet. Then they are confined indoors for a while until they get used to it. Sometimes when that's happening, I have to wear earplugs to bed. Eventually it works out.

It's nice and easy if you can get them real young. My latest two (Ben and Virgil) were born to a barn cat, and I took them on.

Charlie was actually a feral (I think). I'm pretty sure he'd never had a home, and he was in fights all the time. The first time I saw him, he looked like he'd had a war with a lawnmower. As it turned out though, he ended up being a real mush. When I brought in Ben and Virgil, he didn't bat an eye.

>
>
>>>What kind of cats are they?
>>>
>>>Both are persians - almost 2 years old. They're brothers (same father, different mothers).
>>>
>>>We also have a seal-point siamesse.
>>>
>>>My wife picks great names for cats....Ben, Jerry, and Cosmo....they are three of the most mellow cats you've ever seen
>>
>>How about that. One of my cats is called Ben. The others are Virgil, Charlie, and Highway 7 (but I call her 'hwy' for short).