What!!! Much as I want time to stand still, another year has passed and it is already time again to say Happy Birthday to our sweet Zee, who turns 9 today! Sigh…That’s right – Zee was born on September 7th which makes him a Virgo and he certainly fits the bill for the tendencies of his astrological sign –  a delightfully fussy and fastidious feline who needs routine and order in his life, and as long as he has it, then he is as happy and content as can be.

Zee came to us back in 2005 as a curious, bold, and independent kitten (actually kind of bratty and naughty), not really liking human laps or petting all that much and as he has aged, he has become a very loving and clingy boy who insists that the humans in his life exist to cater to his needs. And when I say cater to his needs, I mean his EXTREMELY SPECIFIC AND ORDERLY needs.  As in this cat could have played the character Raymond in the movie Rain Man… He does not like a single thing out of order in his world and if anything is a tiny bit out of place, such as putting his feeding bowl to the left of him rather than to the right, he will become perturbed!

This was Zee when we got him back in 2005 – you will notice right away that he had not developed his gorgeous Maine Coon full coat yet!

I don’t know if it is due to his maturity or the fact that the dynamics of the household have changed with the recent addition in the past couple of years of Kizmet, and then Jazmine, but Zee has become much more possessive and assertive about the order in his life and how and when he gets the attention he wants and requires. Laps and petting that he once shunned are now seeked out in mega doses and he also demands that you must carry on lengthy conversations with him when he wants it so as not to upset his fragile ego. Being that he is such a darling boy, who am I to say no? I find his quirky habits to be endearing and I am more than happy to provide for his every need and desire.

He especially loves to be groomed (approximately 7:30 pm according to his clock) and when I brush him, he swats at any of the other cats if they dare come near his personal space – he wants his time with me to be his alone and he makes that all too clear. When it is near to bedtime (precisely at 11:00 pm) he becomes visibly agitated at about 10:45 pm, waiting for Dan and I to come into the bedroom. Once we are there, until BOTH of us are safely tucked in the bed, he remains agitated and paces on the floor, vocalizing his concern.

I am brushing Peanut and Zee is telling me in no uncertain terms to stop so that I can concentrate on him!

Once he is satisfied all is well, we then MUST put his special pillow on the bed for him to lie on or he will scold us with his unique language that sounds similar to the gruff and huffing noises the Cowardly Lion would make in the Wizard of Oz! Then and only then will he settle down to sleep for temporary amounts of time as he finds it emphatically necessary to come and go throughout the night to gather a bevy of stuffed toys to leave on the bedroom floor as gifts for Dan and I.

With each passing year, I marvel at the cat he has become and I love him so, so much. Sure, at times he can be a bit grumpy and cantankerous – being both a father to Mia, Peanut, and Rolz as well as quasi-husband to Zoey – it can be taxing on him because they all love him so much. They all shower him with snuggling, loving, head bonks, kisses, and licks and sometimes he just wants to be left alone! But I don’t blame them – he is just so darn irresistible and every time I see him, I smother him with love and kisses too!!

In honor of his special day, I thought I would share a montage of pictures that captures just some of the many personalities he has. Hope you enjoy them – please feel free to tell him if you have a favorite Zee picture and thanks for stopping by to wish him a Happy Birthday – he loves, appreciates, and deserves the attention!!

Classic Zee. Timeless and so handsome…

Regal Zee. His perennially favorite pose with an outstretched paw.

Petulant Zee. Yeah… I’m naughty… what of it?

Pondering Zee. Outside reflecting on the simple beauty of life.

Playful Zee. Always time for a good toy toss…

Wild Zee. Grrr… Enough said…

Possessive Zee. MY SHOES.

Sexy Zee. He’s sexy and he knows it…Wink, wink…

Dazed and confused Zee. How and why am I in this box?

Vulnerable Zee. Somebody needs a hug…

Mentor Zee. Showing the ropes to Kizmet.

Papa Zee. Zee with his beloved children – Mia, Peanut, and Rolz.

Soulmate Zee. Zee with his one true love, Zoey.

Trepidatious Zee. Seeing himself in flat pet form, Zee is absolutely terrified and spooked! Joining in the photo are Mia, Zoey (not terrified at all), Rolz (bored), and the late Mr. Jazz.

Silly Zee. Nothing like a goofy cat bearing all!

Sage and wise Zee. This is Zee just a few weeks before his birthday – he has aged so gracefully and is such a wise, sweet, and beautiful boy…