This is Moxie the Manx. She doesn’t have a tail and yes, she was born that way. The Manx breed mutated naturally on the Isle of Man, off the coast of Scotland. She’s technically a Cymric, which is a long-haired Manx.
Moxie is her own little self. She comes around to say hi and play with her brothers on her own terms, but is quite happy alone. She’s 3.
This is Thor, a Maine Coon. Maine Coons are the only native American cat breed, originating in, well, Maine and the Northeast. They’re long-haired and tend to be large cats, though he’s only about 16 pounds. He’s technically a brown tabby.
Thor is a sweetheart. He hangs out wherever his people are and loves his cat family. He also loves to eat, a huge advantage. Thor is nearly 2.
This is Gus, another Maine Coon. Gus is only a month younger than Thor but never caught up because he was rescued, starving with distemper, from a breeder. 
He’s as long as Thor, about 3 feet, but very lean and not that into food. He’s also a polydactyl, which means he has an extra toe on each front paw.
Gus is a scrapper, which made him a little alpha. We’re glad his thumbs aren’t opposable. At playtime, everyone else has to sit back and watch Gus. But he’s also the best snuggly lap cat.
This is Beau, a Siamese mix. He was a rescue too and is at least 15 now, which makes him an elder. Beau has Chronic Renal Failure, so he’s not in cat school. But the boys love him and we all make him as comfortable as we can.
I’m Sara, the one with opposable thumbs. I’ve had a few different careers, even fewer long-lived cats and live with my husband and the catpack in the mountains. I’m not a crazy cat lady. You have to have at least 5 cats to qualify for that.
