Roxie the cat is a cross between a Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat, and turned 11 years of age in April. She originally came from an Ellensburg Pet shop.

"She was actually going to be put to sleep but I was a total loser and I'd go play with the animals because I felt bad for them, "said Katie Parker her owner. "I was joking around with them saying, 'Oh I want her, she's so cute,' and they said, 'We can't sell her to you.' "

Katie pressed the issue with them but at the time Roxie had a hernia and the pet shop didn't want to pay to have the surgery. "I begged them to let me have her and the only way that they would was if I called the veterinarian and got an appointment to have her surgery done, and he said the only way I'll do it is if you get her fixed at the same time. So she got her surgery and got fixed and he gave me half price."

Katie and her husband Jake both noted that Roxie is more dog like in that she likes to follow people around and "hang out near you." She enjoys eating foods that cats don't normally eat like, "parts of your sandwiches and she like Goldfish Crackers."

Jake pointed out that because he travels for work he buys snack foods like beef jerky but Roxie is drawn to it. "If she finds a bag she will shred it, and we've found shredded bags of beef jerky."

"I made Christmas cookies one year and they were cooling down overnight and found them half eaten the next morning. Roxie had jumped up on the counter and gone through a third of them," said Katie.

Because Roxie has such voluminous fur she requires grooming and Katie chose to have her fur trimmed recently to resemble a lion. The work is done by Christie's grooming at 10th and Roanoke in Eastlake. "I had seen it and during the summertime she gets hot and drug down, plus she had a few matts that I could not get out. She was just perky and happy after she got it."

"When she gets that haircut she springs around the house and she wants to be chased," said Jake contributing that special coiffure gave Roxie a "Kitty attitude."

How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:

Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Animal Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.

Photos may or may not be used and our "Pet Reporter" may be in touch with you to arrange to take a photo. Pets nominated will be chosen on the basis of uniqueness of the pet and the quality of the story and information submitted.