One day at work, Kathy called me to tell me there were six new tiny kittens in the yard.  They were very wild and she could not get a hold of any of them.  I told her put out kitten food and I would get them when I returned.  By the time I got back home a week later, three were already gone and one other disappeared shortly after.  That left Starburst and Tuck.  

At first Fluffy and Brother were less than excited about the new arrivals.  Brother eventually adopted them to some extent and brought them in the garage to stay. Initially they were very wild and ran in terror if they even saw us at the windows.  Slowly Starburst tamed to touch and Tuck shortly after.  Soon they were a tight knit little clan with Brother and more grudgingly, Fluffy.  Starburst now loves to come in the house at night with Fluffy.  Of all the cats, she enjoys sleeping in a lap the most.  She has the most unique, pleeding little meow.  I can tell her voice from all the others immediately.

UPDATED JUNE, 2005

Over the past year, Starburst has probably changed the most.  She no longer seems to have any desire to go out, except to occaisionally work with me in our water garden.  She prefers to stay in the house and hangs very close to Kathy.  She also has become an acrobat of sorts.  We have a 35 foot high brick fireplace that she likes to climb up half way and then jump flying squirrel style into a lounge chair. In the garage, she tries to climb to the highest points and wants to climb the garage door screens just for the fun of it.  Starburst likes to sit in the kitchen bay window seat and watch the birds eat at the front feeders.  When the larger birds come, she lets out this shrill little call that reminds me of the cry of the Banshees of Nordic mythology.  Such a frightening wail from such a tiny cat.  Starburst only weighs about 8 pounds. 

UPDATED, OCTOBER 2006

At four years of age, Starburst has decided to display full blown tortitude (the attitude almost every tortiseshell cat gets).  She will have her own way and be allowed to do whatever she wants or else.  She has decided that Splash's hair is a great play thing and feels she should be allowed to remove pieces of it whenever she gets the urge.  Needless to say Splash does not agree.  She will be fine for weeks and then all of sudden decide Splash is just there for her amusement.  Oh well, it could be worse.  She remains a petite little lady and loves to sleep on the sofa.