T is for Theophilus

Theophilus

Many of you have read my references to my wonderful cat Theophilus, but you have not had the chance to meet him. Today, you get that chance! Allow me to introduce to you, my buddy, Theophilus. Sometimes we call him Theo for short.

Theophilus is six years old, his birthday happens to be the same as mine, February 3rd. He is an American short hair feline. It wasn't until I really got into my cat (s) that I researched them and discovered what I thought was breeds of cats was simply color descriptions. He is an orange tabby as far as color.

When we moved to our current address, which consists of an acre of pasture, trees, and thick grass I put the word out that I wanted a mouser. One day my co-worker decided I was a good sucker, I mean sport, in order to get rid of his kittens, so he dropped a 5 week old kitten on my desk. Not my idea of a mouser or a good joke, but he was cute and what the heck, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I figured if a mouse didn't get him, he would grow up to be a mouser. And did he? Wow! First class mouser.

So I brought him to home to the only home he has ever known. Yes, he did grow into those ears.

Theophilus likes to sleep on top of my chest at night. He likes breakfast in his dish no later than 5:00 AM and then goes out to do his morning constitution. Then he is off to the barn and stable to see what is over there. Since we are in the country from time to time we have had 2 or 3 strays adopt our barn in order to stay warm and dry. Then he gets some hunting in and he is back by 7:00 AM wanting a snack and some lovin'

Theophilus was born and bred in the Pacific Northwest, particularly southern Washington where we get 46 inches of rain a year. Theophilus doesn't like the rain. He knows how to stay out of the rain and lay low until he gets to come inside. He is a fair-weather cat!

By the way, I named him for Theophilus who was a Roman official that had become a Christian.

 Luke the physician who traveled with Paul wrote his two volume set, The Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in order to instruct Theophilus in his new found Christian faith.

The word "theophilus" comes from two Greek Words "theos" meaning God and "phileo" one of the 5 Greek words for love, meaning a love which consists of the glow of the heart kindled by the perception of that in the object which affords us pleasure. It is the response of the human [soul] to what appeals to it as pleasurable... The word was used to speak of a friendly affection. 


This is like a brotherly love toward someone and of course this is where the name Philadelphia came from. Put these two words together and you have "friend of God", "loving God" or even "loved by God." At any rate, I have a glow in my heart kindled by the antics and personality of my friend Theophilus. He is an awesome cat!

This pic was at 5:45 AM, Theo wasn't quite up to being bothered yet!

He did have this breakfast by then however!

Since he was first dropped on my desk Theophilus loves to sit on my desk. 

Theo is sitting facing me, my lap top is to the right of that document stand. 

He will come in out of the rain and sleep for hours, sometimes in my in-basket!

He won't do any paper work!

This is a shot of Theo's partner in crime - Coco

Theophilus (Theo) and Coco sitting in the my study waiting out the cold rain and supper!

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2010 A-Z Challenge:  T is for Temptation

2011 A-Z Challenge:  T is for Theophilus