Basho always sat there gazing idly at some mysterious invisible world out of view from everyone else. He liked to avoid eye contact, keeping his eyes shut, and even when he looked at you he would do so as if to say "I am busy meditating right now, please do not interfere and I will be back shortly".



Basho would go crazy for chicken. His pupils would become giant black voids begging for a little taste. He loved the outdoors, tended to get into trouble at night, thinking he was a tough warrior cat able to defeat all the other cats in the neighbourhood. When kept indoors at night, he would circle the house, approaching doors to see if they would open only to walk around a table and try the door again.



If you so much as spoke directly to him and at his face, he would automatically start purring. Never looked at you directly, in fact he often closed them and just purred.



Basho was an incredibly content cat and when in pain he suffered silently. 



He also had bad breath, which made patting him an issue because he would enjoy it so much that he would start to drool. When rubbing his tummy, he would knead the air invisibly with his paws. This we found to be highly amusing and funny.



Although he did not like (or understand) direct eye contact, Basho would occasionally lick you. Grooming you with his smelly-breath tongue seemed to be his way of acknowledging and appreciating you.



Basho's usual facial expression was one of complete idleness, as if there wasn't much thought going through that flat potato-shaped head of his. Not the most intelligent looking face, but it made us all laugh which made us happy and hopefully him happy. 



No matter how many times you accidentally stepped on his tail accidentally, Basho would always forgive you instantly. A nice pat would be all he needed. 



Basho never judged anyone. He was the most easy-going and people-trusting cat around. If you had a hand that could pat him, you were his friend. If you had food, you were his master :)



Basho had very simple pleasures. He was very easily pleased, and not easily offended. He helped me realize that life really isn't worth taking things so seriously. When angry and stressed about something all you had to do was see Basho sitting at the kitchen bench with his tail neatly wrapped around his little grey feet with his wonky surgery-operated leg sticking out slightly. And in this position, his face would exhibit a glorious look of vacant content. Slitted eyes shut and mouth smiling slightly.