THE PURR RESERVED FOR SOJU

"Mandu plays the gremlin."

— Mattho Mandersloot

Mandu came into Mattho Mandersloot's home as a foster kitten from Jacksonville Humane Society, along with his littermate, Dubu.

At first, the kittens were kept in a separate room from the family's dog, Soju. But the animals were curious about one another, patiently sitting on opposite sides of the window in the door and staring at each other.

Once they were introduced, the connection was unmistakable.

As Mattho puts it, Soju essentially adopted the kittens on the family's behalf. They got along so well that what was supposed to be a temporary foster placement became permanent.

Mandu's Korean name means "dumpling," a name that seems especially fitting now that the once-little kitten has grown into a rather dumpling-shaped adult cat.

His personality is just as distinctive. Mattho describes Mandu as the aloof "gremlin" to his sister's affectionate "princess." He can race through the house with Dubu one moment and be curled up with her on the couch the next.

Mandu also has a softer side, although he appears to reserve his purrs for someone special.

Soju.

Mandu reportedly only purrs when he's cuddled up with the dog who helped make him part of the family.

Even at his portrait session, the supposedly aloof Mandu showed another side. He cuddled up with Randy, happily let himself be picked up and held, and repeatedly tried to jump back onto the set while Dubu was being photographed.

Perhaps the gremlin isn't quite as aloof as everyone thinks.

And perhaps Soju knew that all along.