Kitty Wars Cast:
How I Met Artemis...
In 1991 I went to several pet stores looking for a kitten to replace Nigel - a stubborn tabby cat who decided that he'd rather live with the girls next door than with me. At the time, I was looking for a black cat, but the only one I found in town was a mean, hyper little beast who thought my fingers were lunch. And I'd had enough of that sort of rambunctiousness with Nigel - who used to use my screen door as a jungle gym.
I couldn't find the right kitten anywhere. I was about to give up, when I went into the last pet store in town, and saw Artemis. She was bigger than the other kittens, and quieter, off by herself in the corner. I didn't think she was very cute- her eyes were a muddy brownish color, and I was looking for an all-black cat, remember, not a black-and-white one. But, her calmness appealed to me. The clerk let me pick her up. At first, she didn't really respond - she just flopped back in my arms, legs dangling, and stared up at the ceiling. I thought at the time (being an ignorant 20-year-old) that there was something wrong with her - perhaps that she had a form of kitty retardation. But the clerk assured me that she was perfectly healthy.
"Does she play?" I asked the shopkeeper.
"Of course she plays," he said.
At that moment, Artemis raised up her little head and her muddy-eyes came into focus. She stared right up into my face, and then, she lifted her little to head to mine, touching my nose with her nose in a kitty kiss. As she started to purr, I knew that she had picked me to be her mom. We've been together ever since. As of this writing, she's a healthy, spunky old lady of 15 years. I hope we have several more years together.
-Alpha-Mom, May, 2006
FANCY (Full Name: Fancy Prancer)
Although Artemis considers Fancy her side-kick, Fancy (as the only dog in the house) knows who's really in charge. In the comic, Fancy is happy-go-lucky, and content to let Artemis think she runs the show.In real life, Fancy is a complex little critter - nervous, and high strung, she is a dog of extremes. Because of her rescue background, she is distrustful of strangers, and can be fearful and aggressive. But most of the time she is bright and sweet, and thinks of the cats as her packmates.
Artemis (Nick Name: Fartemis - she was very smelly as a kitten...)
Artemis is the star of the show. Just as in real life, she's super smart, but too much thinking tends to get her into trouble. She is devoted to Alpha-Mom, and loves to boss Fancy around. She takes great pride in being a civilized house cat, and she tries to force her way of thinking on the others around her.
Elvis (Full Name: Elvis Costello Cat)
The only boy critter in the house, Elvis is a force unto himself... He is obsessed with his food, and can get VERY grumpy when he doesn't get his way, but when he wants to be, this big lunk is the most charming of all the animals in the house.
