Cat of the Month, September 2017: Steel Panther

On December 6, 2014, Lisa and Jaymee McGuire received an early Christmas present: a Russian Blue kitty. “He showed up at our window at 5:30 am, meowing sadly and super skinny,” Jaymee says. “As soon as we went outside, he jumped right in our laps, and we were in love. So we started feeding him, and after about 5 days, he decided to brave the dogs in our apartment and came inside. He’s been with us ever since.”

Named after the comedic glam metal band, Steel Panther also answers to Poussoir (pronounced pus-wah ), SwaSwa, PussPuss, and Poo—in fact, mostly Poo. Although Poo originally had another name. “When he decided to come live with us, we started calling him Lemmy”—after British metal band Motorhead’s frontman—“but that quickly changes to Pussyface and then Poussoir” and eventually Steel Panther.

Now about 9.5 years old, Poo is the Rainier Veterinary Hospital Cat of the Month, and he recently visited us for a wound repair. His owners and our staff agree that Poo is a super mellow and sweet cat. “He loves all sorts of cuddles and belly rubs, but most of all, he likes to eat his catnip,” Jaymee says. Other favorites are Da Bird and making his “brother” Beefcake feel insecure.

Lisa and Jaymee’s pups, Beefcake and Hatchet, are our September Dogs of the Month—read all about them! Other members of the family include Ruger the ferret and Count Bitey Carnage the albino corn snake. “Somehow, all of the critters love each other,” Jaymee says, although Poo was unsure of the dogs at first. “But after about two years of Hatchet trying to be his friend, Poo warmed up and now really likes them.”

And where does everyone sleep? Like most cats, Poo makes himself cozy in bed. “He attempts to take up all the space,” Jaymee says, “when he isn’t trying to wake us all up to let him outside.”

Although the other animals have a favorite human in the house, “Poo is kinda fickle,” Jaymee says, “and his favorite changes by the day—but Hatchet is his favorite dog.”

Well, Poo is definitely one of our favorites, Jaymee and Lisa, and we’re so glad that you’re all a part of the Rainier Vet family!

About Our Cat of the Month Program

Here’s how our Cat of the Month program works: Each staff member provides a nomination for the distinguished honor, and then we vote. The highest vote wins! Any kitty patients who visit us during the prior month are eligible.