Yes, their names are from Star Wars.  You can blame that on Mom.  It should also verify what I’ve said all along: My science fiction fetish is all her fault; she was the one who got us kids hooked on the original Star Trek more than 30 years ago.

So, these are her new kittens.  After losing Smartie, Nuisance, Sam, and Zach in the last twelve months, she had only Smudge to patrol the farm and keep rodents in check.  These two are new trainees engaged to supplement Smudge’s activities while also providing him with a bit of company (he became very lonely after Smartie disappeared; he needs some playmates).

Chewy is the black kitten and Yoda is the tabby.  Let me say after seeing them on Thanksgiving that this photo does little justice to Yoda’s markings.  His stripes are broken enough so that he looks a lot like a Bengal cat (although not so much that he could be mistaken for one).

Chewy is the lover.  He wants attention, enjoys being held, and despite his kitten craziness, he’s all about people.  Yoda, on the other hand, is a wild child hell-bent and looking for trouble.  He has little interest in or time for humans aside from food and water and play.

[picture via Mom]