BELDIN is the black and white office cat pictured on the left.  He came to us with a broken hip and a broken tooth.  The removal of that tooth has left him with a curl to his lip reminiscent of Elvis.  Beldin was extremely mischievous as a kitten but has matured into an 'uncle' who is very good with new kittens who come to the clinic.  He is often found on the receptionist's desk, acting as a paperweight or greeting clients as they arrive or leave.

PEARL (of the World), on the right, was dropped at our doorstep, badly matted and severely underweight, in July 2006.  We think Pearl is about four years old and was a breeder cat whom her owner no longer wanted.  After she was spayed, we worked on socializing  her so she could be adopted, but as she learned to be a pet, no one wanted to part with her.  She now begs for attention and relishes having her nose rubbed.

NIGEL was brought to the clinic by a client in May 2010.  He had numerous gashes across his back, and Dr. Montgomery thought he had either been shaken by a dog or picked up by an eagle some weeks before we got him.  After numerous surgeries to close the injuries that crisscrossed his back (during which time he was affectionately known as Frankenstein), his fur began to grow back and he learned to be a cat.  He was so successful at becoming a cat that the staff decided not to adopt him out, and he became an office cat.  Some people confuse him with Pearl, but Pearl is darker, and her nose is more smashed in.  Nigel loves catnip and sleeping. 

There are also various other cats, collectively known as The Wildkins, who were rescued years ago from one of the feral colonies behind the clinc and are still very cautious around people.  Carol Burnett is a tortoise-shell/tabby; Vincent is a big brown and white tabby; and Ripley (named for Sigourney Weaver's character in the 'Alien' movies) is a brown tabby with white toes.  They have the run of the clinic, but we only catch fleeting glimpses of them during the day.  Although Carol now lets us pet her, and Walt is out more and more.