Some pets are carefully chosen. Others seem to have a way of choosing their people. For the Sommer family, both Maxi and Minny found their way home through a little bit of chance and quickly made it clear they were exactly where they belonged.

Minny, an eight year old American Shorthair, joined the family as a kitten after being adopted from McKamey Animal Center. While the family was spending time with several kittens, one tiny black kitten decided to make the introduction himself. He jumped onto Marshall’s back, settled in, and wasted no time winning everyone over with his cuddly personality. Even his name became a family story. His original name tag read Miney, part of the familiar Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe rhyme. The kids read it as Minny, and the new pronunciation stuck. Years later, Maxi arrived in an entirely different way. Friends had found the tiny silver tabby near their home but were unable to keep him. The Sommers agreed to give him a place to stay for one night.

One night was all it took.

Now three years old, Maxi is an inseparable part of the family. His name was inspired by just how small he was when he arrived. Next to Minny, the new kitten looked especially tiny, so giving him a big sounding name like Maxi made the contrast even better.

Their names may complement each other, but these two have personalities all their own.

Maxi is the mischievous one. He loves to play rough while remaining remarkably gentle, and he has perfected the art of disappearing. An open closet or pantry door is an invitation to sneak inside, where he will quietly wait until someone eventually notices he is missing and begins the search. His purr is just as distinctive, sounding more like a high pitched chirp than the familiar rumble you might expect from a cat. Minny prefers a different kind of adventure. The moment someone sits down, he considers the newly available lap his personal invitation. He is also a dedicated member of the household cleanup crew, always happy to inspect any dishes that might have been left behind. The pair have two cat condos and several scratching posts available for lounging and play, although Maxi occasionally prefers the family’s upholstered chairs. At the end of the day, however, both cats are most likely to choose the beds for a good nap.

Home is unquestionably their favorite place to be. Maxi once experienced an attempted outing on a pool mat, but the experiment did not exactly inspire a newfound love of the outdoors. These days, both cats are perfectly content keeping their adventures inside. After 13 years in the neighborhood, the Sommer family has come to appreciate the way Riverview families support one another, particularly when busy schedules require an extra hand getting children from one activity to the next. At home, Maxi and Minny add their own version of companionship to the mix. One arrived by climbing onto a family member and making himself comfortable. The other came for what was supposed to be a single night. Neither ever really left.

Sometimes, the best pets simply have a way of making the decision for you.