Patch basically “adopted” us. She was living in our yard when we moved into our house and finally after 2 1/2 years she decided we would make good staff. And of course she was pregnant at the time; we had her spayed shortly after the kittens were weaned.
As for Apple, we got her at a shelter about three years ago, and again she pretty much chose us. As soon as the shelter worker handed her to my wife, she gave my wife a head bonk. She’s a very sweet, affectionate cat (and very chatty!).
Monkey is the youngest of Patch’s last litter, and we just fell in love with her as soon as she was born.
Saw your conversation on rescue cats. Here is a live web cam of a cat rescue center in LA. I watch it some nights rather than TV. Great fun !
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/kitten-rescue-cam
There are other live animal webcams at the site (service dogs for wounded warriors, osprey nests, Alaska bears...).