On September 3rd, 2008, a neighbor came to inquire if I knew the owner of an adorable, six-month-old kitten, who had a rhinestone collar on, and had taken quite a liking toward humans.

Turns out, the little guy had been "dropped off" in our neighborhood and had nowhere to live. After the neighbor mentioned how loving the kitten was and how it "followed" her wherever she went, my daughter came up with the name of Moonshadow.

"I'm being followed by a Moonshadow ... Moonshadow, Moonshadow."

Then began the begging ... the pleading ... the logic ... the reasoning ... the always-wanted-a-kitten-like-this-one story.

I firmly said no. Our two cats, PickyDoo (7) and AppleSauce (4), were enough cats for me, thanks. I've spent many years now covered in cat hair and engulfed in cat love. (Let's not mention the furniture.)

A few hours later, my daughter CONVINCED me to take the kitten temporarily ... and she would talk her dad into taking him. I agreed.

Later that afternoon, the neighbor was nowhere to be found ... and not long thereafter we learned that Moonshadow had been taken to the humane society. Oh, no!

Not only was my daughter upset ... I was upset as well.

One week later, after my daughter had left for college, I got the idea to call the Knox County Humane Society, just to see if in fact that's where he had been taken.

Turns out, that's where he was ... he'd been separated from the rest of the cats, had been wormed, gotten all his shots and was scheduled for surgery to be neutered the very next day.

Having recently moved here, I had not visited the humane society before, but Janice was nice enough to meet me the following day, so I could verify it was, in fact, the kitten I was looking for ... and I wanted to pay for him, so he'd be reserved just for me on adoption day.

The total price for everything was $55.00. In my checking account was $55.59.

September 13, 2008, Moonshadow came to live with me, and his two older brothers. These pictures were taken as soon as we got home.

He is the most wonderful, loving, sweet, talkative, happy, loud-purring kitten I've ever had.

Thank you so much!

Laura Tirronen Mt. Vernon, OH