This is Chagall, our adopted Russian blue. He loves to fetch with us when we throw this little sparkly ball. Chagall came to us when we were looking for a kitten to keep our Maine coon company. The heartbreak was that the Maine coon terrorized Chagall, making him so ill he was in hospital for a week and nearly died. In the end we realized that we could keep just one of the cats. What broke our hearts was that the only cat that could be adopted had to be a healthy cat. Very sadly we found a new home for the Maine coon. However, after this crisis, Chagall is now back to perfect health and has become an amazingly responsive and funny cat.

Marian “Bing” Bingham and Ken McAdams, Old Lyme

My Pet Pal is a reader-submitted feature that highlights local residents and their favorite furry, feathery or scaly friends. Send a photo of you and your pet, along with a short description of what makes them a great companion, your name and what town you live in to times@theday.com. Include “pet pal” in the subject line.