Each and every pet is precious in their own way, but Tucker De Noble, a one-year-old black tabby cat, has a special connection to this publication. Kathy De Noble was first introduced to Tucker through Stroll Lake Windcrest publisher Hope Schubert, who found Tucker living alone near some pickleball courts. Tucker stayed with Hope and her husband, Bryson, for a few days, but everyone soon agreed that he would be perfectly at home with the De Nobles. When Kathy decided she wanted to adopt Tucker, it wasn’t just a new pet joining the family; it was a full-on covert operation.

Kathy’s husband, Brian, had made it clear that they did not need another animal in the house, saying they had reached “maximum cat capacity.” Kathy had other plans. At the time, Tucker was small enough to fit in two hands and was similar in color to one of their adult cats, Scotty. Kathy says that resemblance “sparked an idea that was equal parts brilliant and ridiculous.”

“Your dad will never notice,” Kathy told her boys. “If he sees the kitten, we’ll just say it’s Scotty. He’ll never know the difference.” The boys looked at Kathy like she’d lost her mind, knowing their dad would never fall for it. Kathy accepted that challenge. Later, a few hours after Tucker’s arrival, Brian narrowed his eyes at the small creature trotting across the room. “What was that?” Brian asked. Without missing a beat, Kathy shrugged. “That’s just Scotty. She’s been running around like that all day today.” Brian stared, Kathy stared back, and the boys stared at both of their parents in silence.

Kathy left the room to prevent a laugh, and Brian soon followed. That’s when the admission came. “I told him that it was a kitten I was going to try and find a home for, and the boys didn’t believe that I could pull off fooling him, so I told him, 'don’t let them know you know and let's see how long they will believe you believe,'” Kathy said. Brian played along. He raised an eyebrow, nodded slowly, and said, “Okay, but they will never believe that I am falling for that.”

The boys were stunned, “absolutely floored,” according to Kathy. They whispered to each other like they were witnessing a magic trick. For two whole days, they kept up the act, referring to Tucker as “Scotty” and tiptoeing around the secret. “Meanwhile, Brian and I exchanged silent, smug glances like co-conspirators in the world’s gentlest heist,” Kathy says. “I was playing both sides so that by the time everybody finally learned the truth—that dad had figured it out immediately and was just helping me 'win'—it didn’t matter. Tucker had already worked his way into everyone’s hearts.” That’s how the tiny undercover kitten became their beloved baby boy and the only male pet they have ever owned.

Around his new home, Tucker mainly hangs out in the yard with the other cats, occasionally chasing a mouse or two. In Lake Windcrest, Tucker likes to hang out at the 12th tee box and watch the golfers. If Tucker could go on any adventure in the world, Kathy says he would love to visit a Scottish castle, as he is always trying to play with the cats from the Hogwarts Legacy game, which is when he wears his McGonagall glasses.

Tucker has the unique ability to reach up and try to turn the door handle when he wants to go outside. He also really enjoys whipped, foamed half-and-half from Kathy’s coffee. One of the De Nobles' favorite things about Tucker was how he made fast friends with their late Catahoula, Hallie, before she passed; Tucker stayed by Hallie’s side when the De Nobles couldn’t be there and was a great comfort. It’s certain Tucker arrived into the De Nobles’ lives in a special way and found his own special way to stay. Adventurous as he is, when it comes to being in the De Nobles’ hearts, he’s not going anywhere.