In June 19, 1978, a cat was borned in the kitchen of Mama Leone's Italian restaurant. He was called Garfield.He was 5 pounds 6 ounces-that's big for a kitten!-and ever since then he loved Italian food. The restaurant owner, forced to choose between Garfield and closing his doors for lack of pasta, sold Garfield to a pet store. Garfield thought he was a goner until Jon Arbuckle walked in the door.

          On August 7, 1978 Lyman appeared on Jon's doorstep and said, "I'm cold. I'm hungry. I'm weak. Take me in!" And Jon let him stay, but Lyman had brought a dog. The dog's name was Odie. Then he disappeared on some unknown day and left Odie behind and he never came back.

          On October 10, 1978 Garfield found Pooky. He started having nap attacks on November 6. On March 26, 1979 the orange cat became the Caped Avenger who searches out evil wherever it may lurk... the late- morning evil that is.

          Amazingly, Garfield's stomach outgrew his legs on May 14 and became the big fat orange cat like what we see him now. On June 6, 1979 was the first appearance of Irma the waitress.The first appearance of Liz the vet(Liz isn't short for Elizabeth, it's short for Lizard!) was on June 26, 1979. On September 3, 1979 Garfield first met Nermal the world's cutest kitten. Garfield says "He's cute... and I hate 'cute'."

          On March 30, 1980 was Garfield's first cat show. .

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