Jacey and Mike Crum have three cats. Or maybe the Crum cats have two human housemates. Who oversees the Balloch Court house the Crums have called home for five years? You decide.

Cat Benatar, or “Cat B,” is a Maine coon domestic long-hair. Special Agent “Jack” Meower and Furrank (Frankie) Sinatra are both flame point Siamese. Cat B and Jack, came to the Crums courtesy of Cozy Cat Cottage in Powell. Frankie, joined the “cat pack” through the Fayette County Humane Society.

“Cat B is known as the ‘Director of Operations,’” says Jacey. Both house-humans work from home under his watchful eye. “He spends at least nine hours a day by my side making sure reports get done,” she explains. The rest of his day is spent in a more familiar catlike pursuit: napping. 

Meanwhile, Jack and Frankie patrol the perimeter. “They like spending time on the screened-in porch and checking the garage for any bugs that may have gotten in, just to ensure they do not enter the house,” Jacey says. Office security. So important. 

After the workday, Cat B unwinds with a snack and a thorough brushing. His younger counterparts cut loose on the weekends. “They like Catnip Saturdays and trying to knock one another off of their cat tower,” Jacey says. Nothing like blowing off some steam after the work week.

All three help manage household affairs. “Cat B is very organized and likes to make sure all toys are in one basket,” says Jacey. Jack heads up the welcoming committee by greeting everyone upon arrival. Insects being the obvious exception. Frankie is content to always accompany Mike and Jacey. 

There is a little mischief at times. Jack has a talent for opening doors by hanging on the handle. “That’s why all doors to the outside remain locked,” says Jacey. He also enjoys the highs and lows of cat life. “Jack climbs the Christmas tree as soon as we put it up every year,” Jacey says. Closer to ground level, he burrows under any available blanket. As an athletic pursuit, Jack enjoys ice cube hockey, which involves batting stray cubes around the wood floor.

Cat B has his own superpower. “He is good at playing ‘liquid cat’ and can turn his body into a thin layer of cat to fit under most furniture,” Jacey explains. Being young and fleet afoot, Frankie is an expert at chasing the laser light and catching “da bird” toy. He also enjoys dropping off toys in the water bowl for a swim. 

The three cats are best friends as well as coworkers. Jack took an unscheduled leave of absence for six weeks last year. Fortunately, he was located by a fellow Muirfield neighbor and safely returned. Good thing, too. With the amount of work to do around the Crum house, it’s clearly a three-cat job.