posted July 21, 2004 05:58 PM         

The cat's small stature has been verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. It officially lists him as the smallest living domestic cat.

Mr. Peebles lives in the Good Shepherd Veterinary Clinic in Pekin. The clinic's employees serve as collective co-owners.

"I was at a house doing vaccines on a dog and saw Mr. Peebles. He was very cute and I asked the owner 'Can I have him?' She said, 'Yes, if you can catch him,'" says Dr. Donna Sassman.

A doctor at the clinic said that Mr. Peebles has a genetic defect, and he's expected to hold onto his title for some time. Because he's already past the age when a cat reaches normal size, Mr. Peebles probably won't get any bigger.

"I have to feed him at least four times a day to sustain his weight," says Robin Sbendsen, co-owner of Mr. Peebles. "I do bring him to bed with me at night between my husband and I. And he curls up in my arms and sleeps next to my neck when it's cold. And one of his best habits, he'll lick me on the chin at night to give me a kiss."

The clinic said he was named after a ventriloquist's dummy on an episode of "Seinfeld."

http://www.wftv.com/news/3558819/detail.html

posted July 21, 2004 10:54 PM         

(My standard reaction to anything 'miniature'... but especially a cat!)