Orion is a very large cat, with luxuriously soft, long fur.  He has oval gold eyes and normally wears a sensitive, gentle expression.  His age is unknown, approximated to be of 6 years of age.  He is a reserved cat who respects his space, but at the same time will gladly purr at your hand’s touch if approached correctly.  Orion, or “Rion” as he is affectionately called, most closely resembles a small lion.  His nickname is derived from the its meaning of “Little King” which seems to fit this domestic cat-sized king of the beasts.  His fur is golden colored, as a lion’s, with a large ruff encircling his neck and shoulders.  The fur on his chest and belly is a soft white color. He has not domestic cat paws, but lion paws… large tufted toes only fit for such a majestic gentleman.  It is my belief that Rion, as with Freya, is of Norwegian Forest Cat or of Maine Coon deScent.  This is based on photos I have seen of purebred Norwegian Foresters, some of which bore a striking resemblance to Rion.
     I adopted Rion from an animal shelter on April 27th, 2000.  Oddly enough I was there in search of a canine companion when I came across a bold, yet soft-spoken male domestic long hair.  As I browsed through the cats in a kennel run, I heard the familiar crash of the kennel door swinging shut.  I looked up and caught sight of a magnificent animal that was marching steadfastly over to the fence with his tail held high in the air.  I extended my hand carefully and stroked his soft fur.  He gave off a deep purr and looked into my eyes with a slow, affectionate blink.  He then sat down in an almost deliberate manner, settling into his haunches and changing expressions to a look of “What took you so long?”
     As I learned from his shelter caretaker on that fateful day, Rion’s specialty is other cats.  He adores them, taking it upon himself to treat them as guests in his presence.  As a kindly host he does well, having manners and a noble charm of elegance.  He is particularly taken with Freya, and the two play often, with him having no qualms at her energetic kitten tackles.  He is also very fond of Josie, and the two share a mature bond of admiration.  She is of a more independent nature, and prefers human companionship, which does not seem to bother him.
     He also is not a people-needy cat, preferring his own company at times.  He will bestow affections upon you if in the mood, which can be a normal occurrence, but not always.  Instead, he is content to watch over his domain from behind the miniature paws of the sphinx, emoting a calm and peacefulness that quells all life.