Owner's Name
Venita Wood

Please include a short paragraph that tells voters something fun or interesting about the cat(s) and other animals in the photo. Which cat is diabetic? Is one or more a DCIN rescue? How long have the animals been a part of your family? Give some interesting information about the animal(s) in the photo that will encourage others to vote for your photo.
What could I ever say about the greatest group of kitties I ever had the joy to live with? This photo is from their youth, and shows B&W littermates Ennis (left) and Maxwell (right) and the interloper (from Maxie's point of view) Lily who literally and figuratively came between them. Ennis, on the other hand, was enamored of Lily, at least for a few years. Maxie would try, at least daily for the rest of his life, to eat her and she would run screaming every time. Lily saw Maxie as the ultimate terrorist.

Maxwell introduced me to feline diabetes, which I didn't know could be a feline condition, in March 2005. He taught me so much and went OTJ in four months, shortly after I changed his diet to low-carb wet. I diagnosed Ennis with diabetes one year to the day later; he was an "easy diabetic" but remained hyperglycemic for 4+ years. Maxwell, Lily, and Ennis have since left their Earthly home with us, all from cancer, but still send their love to me from the Vastness. I embrace their visits. They sometimes bring me newly-departed cats to comfort and so that I can send messages to those cats' grieving beans.

Ennis helped me found Diabetic Cats in Need and was DCIN's grumpy fundraising spokescat for a few years until his failing health caused him to retire. You may remember him showcasing Avon jewelry and other products for DCIN fundraisers. Nothing like a stoic male kitty in a bra and panties, or wearing swimming flippers and goggles.

I thank all who have made DCIN a reality, but especially Ennis and Maxwell. DCIN would not be here if it weren't for them. For that reason alone, this photo deserves your vote.