Hello my name is Dan. I am Smokey's owner. Smokey and Dan's Story. I first saw Smokey in an apartment complex. He was just a kitten about 3 months old. He was a Maine Coon Mix. He was wondering around and I saw him. I was with a girlfriend at the time. Her name was Kathy. I lived on the top floor. When I called to him Here Kitty-Kitty. Smokey came running all the way up three flights of stairs to meet me. He started rubbing on my legs and meowing. My girlfriend (Kathy)at the time asked if I knew where he lived. I said no that I had seen him before just wandering around. Kathy and I put out fliers and asking around if anyone lost a cat. After a week there was no response. Kathy said she has all the stuff I need to get started being a new cat owner. I could not say no to Smokey's pretty green eyes. Smokey picked me out from the start. I named him Smokey because of his coloring. We both fell in love with each other and from there I was Smokeys daddy, his owner. I love him very much. He is and was very special to me and unique. Smokey was a very loving cat. He would lick my face all the time. Whenever I was home, he was there with me. I learned responsibility more so than ever. I promised him I would go hungry before he ever would. I valued his more than my own. When I would be cooking in the kitchen, Smokey would jump up on my shoulders to watch me cook. I have so many memories of him. One time he chased a bird that flew in the apartment and chased it out on the balcony, and he went off the balcony. I had to go out and look for him. I couldn't find him for a while, and I was scared I would lose him. I kept looking and I found him under a truck in the motor area. I pulled him out and took him home. He was covered in grease. I took him to the bathroom and put him in the tub and cleaned him up. Then I took him to the vet to have him checked out. I was lucky to have found him and got him back. Later Tammy and I met and became lovers. I moved him with her after we were married. She had cats of her own and Smokey had to adjust to that. Smokey did fine and got along with her cats. When I would come home from work, Smokey would be sitting in the window watching for me or waiting by the door. He would meow at me and rub on my legs. I would pick him up and give him kisses and a long hug. At Christmas time he knocked a few ornaments off the tree, but he never climbed the tree. I made sure he had lots of presents and toy under the tree. I loved that cat more than anyone or anything. He was different from all the other cats that I have ever seen but in a good way. He loves going outside on the balcony when I lived in the apartment. I had a cat tree out there for him. He would go lay out on the top and just look around watching birds fly around and people walking by. At night Smokey would sleep with me down by my feet or by my side after he came up and licked my cheek. There is just so many memories too many to mention. In short, I loved him and I know he loved me too. I will miss him for the rest of my life, and I hope he is well in kitty heaven. My heart is broken but I will live on. I hope to see him again. Smokey passed away from kidney disease at the age of 17. Dan Wynkoop