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Sneakers lives on an old farmstead on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan. He was born in 1998 on a nearby dairy farm and came to live at his current residence when he was about 7 weeks old. As might be expected for a barn cat, he experienced some early medical challenges, but after a persistent problem with ear mites was solved, he grew rapidly into a healthy, friendly and curious family pet.

His family consists of Dad - his chronicler, Mom - his personal servant, and Myska - a German Shepherd and his companion. Myska isn't his first dog - there were two other dogs, another German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever, in his early life. From the dogs, he has always gotten the respect that he deserves, due in no small measure to the fact that he still has his claws. He rarely uses them, but Myska is very respectful of them. Myska and Sneakers are good buddies, and Sneakers frequently tries to tempt Myska into chasing him. Once in a while Myska manages to catch him, but Sneakers quickly escapes and usually enjoys his freedom only briefly before renewing the game by languishing in the middle of the floor in front of Myska. Good fun!

Sneakers spends a lot of his time following sunbeams around the house during the summer and tucked in next to a chimney during the winter. Other activities include prowling around the basement looking for little friends to play with. He is a pretty adept mouser - in an old farmhouse, this is one way to earn his keep. When he manages to catch one, however, it frequently winds up - still active - in the bathtub. He figures that, since they can't escape, he can come back and play with them at his leisure. So far he has been unreceptive to the suggestion that there are better ways to handle this.

Sneakers is an inside cat, only rarely managing to sneak through a door to the outside. Once outside, he is curious and relatively timid in a new and unknown environment. He tends to stay in the yard, either near the house or under a nearby bush. Myska will keep an eye on him and can usually find him for us when it is time to return to the house.

September 23, 2008. Sneakers had a minor operation. Dr. Cole at the Copper Country Vet Clinic removed a lump behind his right front leg. The tissue was examined by a pathologist and diagnosed as a fibrosarcoma. He recovered over the next few months, but eventually developed another growth.

March 5, 2009. Sneakers again had surgery to remove a growth on his back behind his right front leg. He came home on March 6.

June 10, 2009. We lost Sneakers, a result of spreading cancer. We had done all we could to save him, and it was obvious that his quality of life was non-existant. He will live on in his books as his adventures in the Keweenaw find their way into print.