So one day my basset was going off like an alarm system.

He's normally a quiet dog, so I'd learned to listen when he started howling. I ran out to the back porch to check him, and he'd cornered the tiniest little black kitten by the fence. Little fucker was giving as good as he got too... I'm not sure if the cat was cornered or the dog was. It sorta looked like love at first sight.

So I called off basset, and the kitten hit the road... he squirted through the fence and headed for the woods. I pursued. I eventually had to do a diving tackle to grab him... and I brought his tiny flea-barren ass back to the house. That's how we got our Nom (he was really hungry). He was a great little skinny black cat and he befriended our basset closely and tolerated our other two cats. He actually became great buds with my oldest cat Special Agent Kitmin Grey, and they pal'd around a lot.

He was with us for about 8 months. He even came and paid respects in the spare bathroom the night old Kitmin passed away in my arms at like 3am... he was a great little cat.

Then one day he was gone. He just disappeared as suddenly as he'd arrived that spring day. We searched the house and the woods and the neighborhood... we posted signs. But he was gone, never to return.

He was a mysterious little fellow, and we enjoyed our time together. I still have a bunch a pictures of little Nom... drinking outta the kitchen faucet, meeting the family, snuggling with basset hound.

Sometimes it's difficult with pets... you never know how long you have with them.

I don't even know why I typed this all right now. That's been 4-5 years ago... but I fondly remember little black Nom, and Special Agent Kitmin Grey, and all of that. I guess I miss them and wish I could have those days back.