Cats I Have Known

Gail Arden Minneti grew up as an only child in a charming upper flat in West Racine where her mother Evelyn of German and Norwegian descent loved to cook, clean, and fill her world with beauty and wonder, full of English china cups, china dolls, and classical music. Yet for all her mother’s wonderful attributes, she possessed a phobia – a fear of cats and dogs, which she passed on to Gail. So there were no pets in their home. But little Gail was always curious and her first encounter with what would become a major passion in her life was with Mr. Tom Christianson, the landlord’s downstairs cat, who wandered up the steps wanting to get into their cozy home. It wasn’t until after Gail got happily married, and was thrilled with becoming a homeowner, with a yard, beautiful trees, gardens and four children of her own, did the magical lure of cats find her again. Tales of attempts and disappointments ensued, until the time was right with the cat fancy of fate. Then in 1985, when Gail’s husband Dominic, who always had pets, bought her a Siamese kitten. They named her Princess and Gail’s life was forever transformed.