Meet our newest kitty of the week, Murdo! He's a gorgeous, 12-year-old boy from Alaska.

After being kicked out by his owner, Murdo found himself alone and hungry, struggling to survive.

That all changed on one fateful day when someone decided they'd had enough of watching this sweet boy suffer…

Murdo's mom, Maxine, tells us all about this sweet boy in the story below.

A King Needing a KingdomMurdo (formerly called Rusty) was hanging around my brother's apartment building.

He frequently asked to come inside and always seemed very hungry.

The neighbor told me that he'd been kicked out by his former owner and she fed him but couldn't keep him inside since she already had too many pets.

Winter was right around the corner and I was also terrified he would get killed by passing traffic on the nearby highway.

After a few weeks of being worried sick, I took a cat carrier to the apartment and called his name.

Sure enough, he ran right up to me.

I then asked him if he wanted to come home with me.

He dashed into the open carrier without a second thought!

When I brought him into my home, he marched out like he owned the place.

He wasn't wrong– he definitely owns the place!

The king had finally entered his palace.

What is Murdo's personality like?

Decades ago I had a cat that looked a lot like Murdo whose name was Murdoch.

Both reminded me of Scottish heros, so I named Murdo after Murdoch's nickname.

I suspect Murdo's previous owner couldn't tolerate his "neediness".

He cries a lot when he wants cuddles or supervised outside time.

Murdo is very hyperactive – he needs a lot of mental stimulation.

His attention needs are more similar to dog than a cat.

He chooses times that are very inconvenient to beg for attention, like when I'm focued on a task, or on the phone or zoom meeting.

But I don't mind! What's "needy" for one person is the perfect dose of affection for another person.

Murdo's qualities are special in that they make him who he is. I wouldn't have it any other way.

He's taught me patience and we've worked together to find a good balance for the both of us.

He's extremely loving and affectionate. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What does Murdo like to do for fun?

Since he's probably part Maine Coon, his favorite activity is hunting.

I feed the birds and 3 resident red squirrels, so he is harnessed and on a long leash for yard time and walks.

Murdo is remarkably intelligent, something that is characteristic of Main Coons.

He loves cuddling and has trained me to give him head scritches by reaching up and touching my hands with his left paw.

He curls up on my lap and snuggles next to me in bed.

Murdo is definitely a people pleaser!

He turns the charm all the way up for visitors, running to shower them with love and attention.

Murdo's appetite for food matches his appetite for adventure.

He loves to indulge in tuna juice, fancy feast (chicken and tuna formulations), and nibble on cat grass.

Murdo is very healthy and a bit of a clean freak.

Despite being a senior cat with a beautiful mane, his long hair never matts.

He loves being brushed and comes into the bathroom every evening to get his teeth brushed, followed immediately by head scritches.

I'm so happy I found him at the right time. He's the light of my life!

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