If there ever was an angel in cat form, you'd definitely find it in "El Magnifico", our twelve year old, 22-pound Maine Coon cat.
"El Magnifico" (or "El" for short) is a stunning specimen: he has a huge, bushy tail that's about half as long as his body (he loves to wrap it around himself when cold or sleeping), huge, nearly-round green-gold eyes that miss very little, a magnificent head, tall, very furry ears topped with long, black tufts, like a lynx, huge, furry paws, a solidly-built, well-musculared body, long, flowing fur that is striped, and long, long whiskers.
He is a giant among cats. He weighs over 20 pounds (22 to be exact, according to the vet at his last checkup) and is in perfect health. No sign of illness or disease to be found anywhere, much to our relief.
Even as big as he is, he has a comical, high-pitched meow that has endeared ourselves to him even more. Every time we hear his chirpy meow or floor-vibrating purrs, we melt like butter. He has the personality of an angel; he is the purfect pet.
El is so tolerant of us he will let the children carry him around like a sack of potatoes; he doesn't care; he loves the attention. He also enjoys being petted, brushed, being tended to. As long as the Humans (us) are lavishing love or paying attention, he's happy as a clam. He loves to be scratched behind the ears or on his belly, and he adores his daily "massages" or brushings we give to him.
El still has a lot of life in him. Sometimes he'll run around the house in reckless abandon (particularly at night or during the morning before he settles down for a nice, long catnap), and when he sleeps, he snores like a man. LOL You can hear him all over! Sometimes I think he rivals my husband in terms of noise! LOLOLOL
I wish everyone could have an "El Magnifico" in their lives. The world would certainly be a nicer place!
