Simba My Cats Name

by Kevin Johnson
(Trail, BC, Canada)

Simba was named by his previous owner, who decided she loved crack cocaine more than a charming, six month old kitten.

Simba was found tossed outside of my apartment building by a neighbor. It's cold in Edmonton in February, and Simba spent a week alone in his old apartment before I adopted him.
He isn't the prettiest cat. He's a green-eyed black and white shorthair with a domino and at 18lbs he's grown a bit obese despite my efforts and he has some intersex characteristics, and enhances them by barbering. When I had him neutered it was discovered that his ears were caked with mites, I worried for years afterward that his hearing might be damaged, but on the contrary it's quite sensitive. He isn't a very good climber- a properly fenced yard could (and did) keep him secure.
Simba is highly intelligent and perceptive. I kept the name because he is a Leo, but he while doesn't come to his name he does come when he's called another name (no, it's a nice one). He also has a gigantic personality and is a very dominant animal. He's an extremely friendly and tolerant cat to adults but he doesn't care for kids much any more.