Max is a male red-mackerel tabby cat who was born in 1992.   Kevin found Max at the Humane Society of Missouri shelter in St. Louis when Max was a year old.  Kevin was struck when Max saw Kevin walk by (among a crowd of people) and nearly ran over to him and started calling to Kevin.  Since he looked so much like the tigers Kevin had loved so much when he was in the circus, he was taken with Max, too.  Max's previous owner called him "Clyde"  --the namesake of the famous lion and tiger trainer, Clyde Beatty.

  However, Kevin's daughter Aileen, who shares the famous Celtic gift of communication with animals that her father has, sensed that his name must begin with an "M" because it was clearly printed on his forehead.  So Kevin called him "Maximus" in honor of one of Clyde Beatty's circus cats (and also after the lion in Gary Jenning's circus novel SPANGLE).  Max knows several circus tricks --ask him to show you some time!

Above: Max keeping an eye on things at the vast Patton estate in Weldon Spring
Left: Max reliving his glory days in the circus

• Max is a practicing master of the ancient and mysterious art of C'at Fu
• Max's cat quotes

Mysté is a female blue-point Siamese cat who was born in 1998.   Kevin was looking for a Siamese cat when his friend Suzie told him about a nice one that had just arrived at the shelter run by the Dardenne Animal Clinic (where Suzie works).  Her previous owners called her "Daisy" but Kevin has a friend and colleague named Daisy who is just as silly and charming as the cat and he feared he would confuse them.  So Aileen, the consumate animal-namer, chose Mysté (pronounced Miss-T) as her new name to emphasize the mysterious (mystérieuse) nature of the cat world that she so clearly personifies. Mysté is not nearly as interested in circus tricks as her friend Max, but Max is hoping she'll come around so he can learn some "doubles" tricks. 

Above: Mysté doing what she does best.

Left: Mysté attracts friends well, too

• For things cats must always remember click here!