Gunther

"*in apparent healthy cat*"
—Statement by Gunther's vet.
**Gunther** is male Turkish Angora cat who was adopted in 2021. He is one of three current pets, along with fellow cat Max and dog Milo.

Gunther is characterized by his thick fur, curiosity, and high-pitched, youthful meows. His relationship with co-cat Max was slightly strained upon their first meeting in May 2021, but the two learned to co-habitate relatively peacefully.

In May 2022, Gunther relocated to an offshoot household with his owner, making him the first pet to do so.

## Adoption

Gunther, then named Palmer, was pet up for adoption online by his then-owner, who went through a divorce and could not longer care for him. Palmer was brought home on May 29, 2021. Veterinary records suggest that he was born in early 2016, putting him at five years old upon his adoption.

## Naming

Gunther's naming process was relatively long and divisive, similar to the naming of Jinx in 2017. Many potential names were proposed, including Butterball and Skwak. "Grimsby" was proposed and officially selected on May 31, 2021. It was a reference to the Canadian town of Grimsby, Ontario. After Grimsby "failed to take," the cat was renamed Gunther on June 1.

### Names

* Butterball (proposed, rarely used)
* **Gunther** (official)
* Gornk
* Gornkie
* Grimsby (former official)
* Gump
* Gumper
* Gunk
* Gunkie
* Midder *Midder* Gump
* Midder Gump
* Palmer (former official)
* Salted Caramel (proposed, never used)
* Skwak (proposed, never used)

## Relationship with Max

    Gunther and Max were kept separate from each other for the first two days of Gunther's ownership. Upon meeting for the first time, they hissed at each other. They continued to live mostly apart, and would occasionally make aggresive noises when encountering each other. By August 2021, the pair seemed to have grown tolerant of each other. Gunther is more frequently the irritator in their interactions, and has been seen playfully annyoing Max in many ways.

## 2021 Boxing Day incident

Over the 2021 Christmas holiday, Gunther and Max were left home alone for three days, from December 23 to 26. On Boxing Day, Gunther was discovered trapped in a bedroom, meowing desperately. It was unknown how or when he became trapped. After being freed, concerns were raised that Gunther may have gone without food and water for the entirety of the three-day vacation. An emergency veterinary check-up was scheduled for late Boxing Day, but was later cancelled when Gunther showed no signs of dehydration and otherwise "seemed fine". Notably, no urine or waste was discovered in the room where he was trapped, indicating that he had not been confined for more than a day. One theory suggests that Gunther had entered the open room after being left alone at the house and later inadvertently latched the door while attempting to exit, due in part to the restricted geometry of the doorway. This is accepted as the most plausible theory. Another hypothesis argues that the door was originally latched, but Gunther or possibly Max opened it by pawing at the handle.

## Relocation

In May 2022, Gunther relocated to a new home along with his owner, the first member of the Family to leave the house. As such, Gunther is the first pet to leave the main household for an offshoot household. Gunther occasionally travels back to the main household, though these visits are becoming rarer as he does not "travel well". Neither Gunther nor his former co-cat Max seem particularly bothered by their relationship becoming more distant. Gunther has not yet met Milo, who was adopted in November 2022.

## Trivia

* Gunther was adopted one day short of the the fourth anniversary of Jinx's adoption (May 30, 2017).
* Gunther is the latest-born pet ever owned and the first pet to be born in the 2010s decade.
* Gunther was the first cat to be adopted while another cat (Max) was already owned. This makes Max and Gunther the first same-species cohabitating pair since Lila and Tess in 2014 (both dogs).
* Gunther is considered the most aesthetically gifted pet ever owned.

## Gallery

Gunther gazing out the windowGunther loungingGunther and Max staring at each other from a distanceGunther and Max examining a cat towerGunther lounging in a tubGunther and Max hanging outGunther stretchingGunther in a deep slumberGunther's eyes catch the reflection of the camera flash

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Veterinary records
2. ↑ Gunther's Adopt-a-Pet listing

### Notes

1. ↑ Originally called **Palmer**, Gunther had no official name after his adoption on May 29. On May 31, he was given the named **Grimsby**. The next day, June 1, he was renamed **Gunther**. It is pronounced "GUN-thur."