I may not have the spelling right—two words or perhaps “C” instead of “K”—but the name is correct. This forlorn little thing came to her current owner quite unexpectedly about three years ago. A young man and woman came by looking for the, ah, pet parent after witnessing some beastly human kicking the cat in the face, injuring her jaw and breaking considerable number of teeth.
They were going to drive the wounded cat to San Diego Humane Society but instead left her behind. The couple had come to the home of an animal lover. She puts out food for stray cats, possums, skunks, squirrels, crows, and other birds. She once rescued a snake whose tail got crushed by a car. She nursed it back to health and had it released six months later. She likewise cared for KitKat (and had help from a relative who is a veterinarian).
KitKat isn’t the happiest-looking feline. Her fur is someone matted, and she is mostly intolerant to combing or cutting. But her owner tries. Because of the permanently damaged teeth, KitKat only eats pate cat food or mashed up tuna.
I used Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to capture the Featured Image, today. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 64, 1/1600 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 3:37 p.m. PST. Location: Undisclosed cross-streets along Madison. In post-production, I produced several edits that reduced shadows and overall improved the luminance upon the cat. In the end, I chose to publish an unedited portrait. Yes, KitKat’s fur could be brighter, but the ambiance is more appealing as shot.
From the archives: Scruffy, Roly Poly, Woo, Skull, Biscuit, The Colonel, White, Chipper, Frisky, Stretch, Honey Bunny, Farfisa, Mates, Hunter, Pee-Pee, Blue, Blue Too, Bonded Pair, Patience, Fess, Jumper, Frenemy, Looker, Cozy, Scout, Lurks, Skit, Mini, Betty, Black and White, Stalker, Bell, Chill, Sammy, Scratch, Poser, Star, Grey and White, Watcher, Herman, Comet, Roman, Willow, Chub, Nimbus, Watson, Lilo, Kit, Pepe, Henry, Sebastian, Spot, Booger, Ash, Veruca, Riley, Mellow, Bonde, Cocoa, Glass, Black, BeBe, Fang, Bruce, Siamese, Pounce, Penelope, Haiku, Fraidy, Peso, Daniel Tiger, Dusk, Stride, Dainty, Spry, Tabby, Betty Too, Still, Levi, Shadow, Sophie, Wink, Ferals, Momma, Charlie, Tux, Cool, Benny, Bandit, Itchy Valentino, Goldie, Anthony, Amanda, Siesta, ChaCho, Charlie, Too, Mika, Crystal, Seeker, Mittens, Dancer, Smokey, Monkey, Captain Blackbeard, Johnny, Maeven, Tink, Chunk, Curious, Hanoi, Bella, Tarry, Guido, Maxine, Mr. Kitty, Peohe, Panda, Frankie, Moose, Twain, Willow, Too, Nelson, Reddy, Burglar, Laramie, Lupe, Bright, Norman, Charm, Buddies, Milo, Ohana, Seer, Fresh, Token, Lola, Carl, Bramble, Finny, Cal, Lilly, Zander, Mew, Penny, Charlie (the Third), Bob, Apple, Persepolis, Sebastian, Too, Holiday, Snow, Desire, Luci, Torbie, E.T., Bushy, Cali, Precious, Gracie, STAR, Sky, Amble, Aylin, Lucky, Herbie, The Love Bug, Roadie, Harley, Kit (Coon), Dizzy, Moophie, Lucy, Choontzy, Abby, Kitty, Stella, Tigger, Mimi, Sweet Pea, Donuts, Envy, Vivienne, Stripe, Smokie, Dare, Gipper, Little, Bushy Black, Princess Leia, Darth Mew, Phil, Maui, Patch, Royal, Sleepy, Spice, Dutch, Striker, Maxie, Fluff, Gazers, Georgia Twain, Friends, Cupcake, Caddy, Ginger, Shrub, Brumble, Junebug, Patriot, Backyard, Prim, Tuna, LilyTiger, Nala, Poise, Amazon, Night, Olive, Honey, Shine, Sugar, Clarity, Alfredo, SID, Bashful, maow maow, Sentinel, Grape, Usher, Serenity, Teach, Tocino, Stark, Huey, Tranquil, Storm, Mitsie, Monarch, Ruff, Shadow, Too, Calm, Brick, Shy, Mewl, Valentine, Siamese Twins, Tony, Mao, Starlet, Sly, Alley, Luna, Sphynx, Jake, Rocky, Peanut, Giotto, Swirl, Rosie, Smudge, Bliss, Charlie IV, Risky, Pinky, Patches, Ninja, Cat, Olive Oil, Toasty, Mandy, Ludwig, John Adams, Hawk, King, Fuki, Pace, Astral, Zeppelin Pom Pom, Forrester, Glow, Cricket, Lively, Gucci, Misty, Topper, Jester, Sable, Dragon, Leo, Sentry, Zephyr, Floyd, Jedi, Pedro, Namaste, Kitty (Oh, Boy), Chums, Spunky, Zero, Hero, Meadow, Dash, Savvy, Squint, Poinsettia, Sparkle, Gem, Kip, Ranger, Maceo, Sparky, Glory, Petri, Autumn, Buttercup, Huck, Ash, Too, Spy, Keen, Danger, Promise, Chum, Jolly, Shade, Shelter, Digger, Mercy, Mustachio, Tang, Pebbles, Sprint, Blossom, Birdy, Jingle, Bella, Too, Lily, Velvet, Scamper, Sylvester, Friday, Candor, Hope Tangerine, Rebel, Alvin and LB, Snowy, Cocoa, Too, Chancy, Frosty, Speckle, Whiskers, Spur, Charger, Houdini, Mona, Pepto, Sundown, Spirit, Prowler, Sadie, Puss, Domino, Sundae, Measure, Lovely, Angelo, Tails, Peek-a-Boo, Bubbles, Demure, Stern, Cobby, Grasshopper, Gleam, Weepy, Blueberry, Buff, Champagne, Pepper, Clover, Peach, Bello, Dido and Dodger, Paws, Goose, Olive, Too, Breezy, Alcatraz, Aisho, Curly, Mane, Gallant, Amanda Too, BonBon, Spooky, Leery, Mr. Frankie, Schroeder, Annie, Majestic, Tango, Suave, Smooth, Joy, Jasmine, Bear, Wary, Plush, Georgy, Carrot, Sweetie, Romper, Noir, Posy, Honcho, Loki, Samba, Gracious, Winston, Silver, Snuggles, Rick, Spalding, Mocha, Bold, Grit, Cookie, Delilah, Ozzie, Droopy, Cutie, Jax, A.C., Gypsy, Winter, Petey, Spartacus, Damsel, Jack, Pixie, Parker, Squeaky, Meowy, Springer, Scooch, Tinsel, Queenie, Cinnamon, Gazer, Happy, Smokey (Maine Coon), Kittens, Pudding, Mizu, Muncher, Cuddles, Saunter, Tucker, Dragon Claws, Solemn, Champ, Posey, Little Spunky, Mittens, Too, Bleu, Noire, Chicken, Regal, Creamy, Wilbur, Leo, Too, Rosie, Too, Kuro, Oreo, Scooter, Dagger Tooth, Coy, Conrad, Sheen, Tom and Jerry, Apricot, Sharky, Dreamer, Jade, Frost, Coal, Fabby, Juicy, Arrow, Chocolate Pan, Guapo, Defender, Doodle, Blackie, Solo, Jabba, Twinkle, Sneaky, Meegels, Forest, Lanky, August, Retro, Homey, Nugget, Tracker, Quizzical, Butterscotch, Oliver, Shakey, Lonesome, Boo, Mariner, Nutmeg, Jet, Fancy, Thin and Slim, Scamp, Tula, Sphynxes, Comber, Destiny, Pawky, Baron, Raven, Peeky, Aristocat, Scorpius, Timber, Sunny, Cotton, Bristle, Floofy, Oliver, Too, Firecracker and Dynamite, Cuddles, Too, Mouser, Mickey, Nickel, Liberty, Twilight Twins, Moonpie, Tsuki, Cheshire, Romeo, Muffy, Mochi, Marble, Marvel, Whisper, Milo, Too, Aura, Forlorn, Pumpkin, Esther, Silky, Priceless, Zoe, Gorgeous, Coalette, Oliver and Harvey, Peek-a-Boo Too, Puff, Diana, Peep, Rascal, Champion, AI, Blaze, Lavish, Pops, Mousy, Ivy, Kiko, Guy, Jot, Jux, Aurora, Smore, Vim, Bear Bear, Rainbow, Tag and Tig, Yuki, Mr. Norris, Pussyfoot, Chippy, Calicoo, Charmer, Oliver (the Fourth), Gummy, Red, Kitten. Creamsicle, Topcat, Blush, Tip and Tap, Mango Cat, Mystic, Sage, Kello, Brisk, Cowbell, Tempest, Spaz, Plump, Rusty, Stubby, Double Stuff, Buster, Tinkle, Batman, Brim, Peppers, and Swarthy.