June Hendley missed having a cat around her since the death of her 13-year-old cat, Sheba. To offer her love and affection to other cats without having to get another pet, she visited C.A.R.E.'s cat quarters and played with its boarders. In the beginning, June was determined not to adopt another cat. Her objections, though, quickly faded, and she conditioned a potential cat adoption to an older animal.

Jasper, an adult cat, seized the moment. Crestfallen because of his return to the shelter, he applied all his kitty skills to charm June. He cuddled up to her, kneading her while purring with delight. He was sure he had won her over.

"Hummmmm," he thought. "We have a sucker here!"

June, however, didn't know it yet and left without him. Not being able to forget Jasper, June came back two days later and filled out the adoption papers for him. It was the beginning of a loving companionship between June and Jasper, each complementing the other.

"I love him very much, and he seems to be happy with his choice of mom. He needed me as much as I needed him," June said.

Jasper adjusted to his new home without any problems. June's granddaughter, staying together with her mother at June's home when Jasper moved in, made the transition easy and fun, playing with him all the time.

Although Jasper's toy mice are his cherished furry companions, he has one special friend, a squirrel. Jasper meets it when the weather is nice and he relaxes on the screened porch. He loves to sit there and converse with the squirrel, meowing back at the squirrel's chatter. His other favorite pastime is to hide his mice under the sofa and then have his mom retrieve them.

If Jasper isn't playing or talking to his friend, he likes to nap on the sofa or to keep June company on the recliner, curling up on her lap and blissfully purring. During the night, he sleeps on June's bed.

Having a hearty appetite, Jasper is not a finicky eater but has self-regimented eating hours. He expects breakfast to be served at 7:30 a.m. and dinner around 4:30 p.m. His timetable only runs errant during an approaching rain. He hates rain and when he senses rain is coming, he heads for his hiding place, the litter box.

Jasper enjoys having his mom's friends coming for a visit. He welcomes everybody and relishes the attention they give him. He pretty much gets what he wants, having June trained to listen to his wishes. He is a happy fellow and it shows on his smiling face.

Jasper seems to remember June's daughter from the early adoption days at his new home.

June said, "When my daughter calls me from England, he purrs down the phone to her. I am sure he recognizes her voice. He just puts his nose right to the phone and purrs away."