Both Mr Tom and his Shadow are in full glorious long winter coats. They still come over for brushes, and I caught a couple pictures of their rubbing ritual. This cat greeting behavior is how I convinced Shadow to get brushed, because he would rub on Mr Tom and I would sneak in a brush stroke. For the longest time I think he thought the brush was Mr Tom not me. He knows now though, and likes his coat groomed even more than Mr Tom.

Mama cat is also long haired and performs the greeting ritual. I actually managed one brush stroke along her back, but she is much more wary than even Shadow.

Yes, they are my neighbor’s cats.