We adopted Miss Noire soon after our return from a trip to France (hence her name – it’s pronounced “Nar”, by the way. I’m terrible with French). My beloved Hex had died while we were away, and I needed a new companion. Noire was one of three kittens, and the shyest of the three, but she let me pet her and hold her and I fell for her and we took her home. How things change…We have several cats, but visitors would think we only have one – Noire. She’s fearless. She will talk to anyone, especially if they’re standing anywhere near one of her toys. Noire lives to play. Her favorite toys are sticks, ribbons, and felt balls (which we have to replace periodically as she has a tendency to eviscerate them). If you happen to be near any of these toys (or anything that looks, in Noire’s eyes, like a toy), she will BEG you to play with her. If she goes outside on our deck, she will gather sticks and haul them to the door. (We say she’s nesting.) She also has the best purr. There’s really nothing more relaxing than having Noire on my lap boofing at me. She’s gentle and loving and funny and weird. I adore her.