Smudge

Smudge was foisted upon the authors in 2009 by a white witch. Small and unassuming, she seemed to be a benevolent cat, so she was allowed to stay. By 2011, she was appointed CEO of Smudge Publishing, LLC—she is better than some and worse than others (although she displays an unerring apathy to food photography and copyediting). She is best known for sneak attacks from the stairway railing, the patented “Barrel Roll of Joy,” and her soft belly, widely recognized as the mushiest spot on Earth.