Orange and white short-haired sisters Chou Chou and Cherie were born about the same time as the Steiners' CATS seniors and were acquainted in their youth with "Uncle Beau." Chou Chou crossed the Rainbow Bridge in February 2003, and Cherie followed her on February 3, 2004.

Callie the calico originally came to stay with Melissa on a temporary basis, when Melissa was hired to care for her. When Callie's owner decided she could no longer provide a home for her, Melissa stepped into the breach and adopted her. Callie was, for the most part, a "one-woman" cat; she loved Melissa and growled at nearly everyone else. Callie joined Chou Chou on July 20, 2003.

O, who will mourn a nasty cat
     Chock full of hiss and spit,
Who never liked this relative
     Who came to kittysit?

Why should I cry for one so mean?
     Why should I care at all?
She would not let me pat her head
     Or touch her paws so small.

She saved her love for one alone,
     The one who took her in
When owners had deserted her:
     The vilest sort of sin.

With "Mom" she purred and cuddled up,
     And on "Mom's" lap she sat.
She dined on all the finest food,
     And almost turned out fat.

Then even when mouth cancer came
     And made it hard to eat,
She bravely struggled to the end
     Because she deemed life sweet.

So I will mourn the nasty cat
     As I have her put to sleep;
And I will shed some tears for her,
     And her in memory keep.

Cleo was a free-roaming feline who was fostered by Melissa's good friend Liz in Mount Clawmens. After meeting Cleo, Melissa decided to provide her with a permanent home. Cleo, a brown tabby, is much younger (and plumper) than the other cats and quite playful, spending much of her time searching Melissa's home for good "toys" with which to amuse herself.

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