Absolutely lovely stories, and having looked at the pic, this was just meant
to be. Perhaps your Mum did have  a hand in things!

(snip)

All of them. ;)

Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

Yes, I've had long term friendships with some of my  friend Vee's cats.
First of these was Leonardo, (For daVinci, not Di Caprio) a retired show
cat.  In a way, it WAS rescue, as Leo's former owner was more interested in
showing and breeding  than in the cats for their own sakes. With Vee, Leo
got lots of love and attention.  Leo was a deep red classic tabby American
shorthair, and an extraordinarily beautiful animal. He also had one of the
sweetest, friendliest dispositions I've ever known in any cat.  He was a
gem, and a definite lap sitter. His nickname was "Barishnicat" as he would
chase the cat dancer with tremendous, balletic leaps.

Vee also adopted Leo's sire Bapu, a retired stud cat, and Hodge, who was
Leo's half-brother from another litter. Bapu was also a marvelous fellow,
and quite beautiful in his own way.  He and Hodge were both brown tabbies,
and all three  of those gentlemen  are indirectly responsible for
Francesca's adoption, since I'd lusted for a tabby of my very own for years
due to my association with them .  Hodge was adopted as a three month old,
undersocialized kitten  who was desperately shy and nervous all his life.
He was definitely one of those cats who spends most of their lives under the
furniture or in the closet.  Vee got him fairly inexpensively, as he was not
a show-quality kitten, but he too, was a beautiful pussycat.  All three of
those gentlemen have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Leo was still hale and
hearty when he very sadly developed a brain tumor.  Bapu and Hodge were 23
and 21 respectively when they were put to sleep.  Vee was giving Bapu weekly
SubQ sessions toward the end, wanting to put off the day of having to say
farewell to him.  The poor cat was taking so many pills by the end that he
almost had no  room to eat regular food.  She does now  acknowledge that she
held onto both Bapu and Hodge for too many years.

Vee's present cat is another retired show cat named Tripper, another brown
tabby retired stud cat, but from a different breeder. Tripper is the
undoubted King of the Household, even though he has to share the love with a
German Shepherd named Mia.  Tripper is a very sweet cat, but he's not into
being held, and he doesn't particularly like sitting in my lap.  But he is
very relaxed and confident, and he'll just flop down on the livingroom floor
and loll, showing off a very nice spotted tummy. =o) He'll even let you rub
his tummy  as long as you don't get too far below his rib cage.  He's a big,
solid cat, very manly  and with a very lordly attitude.  His nose is
somewhat out of joint, as his household now includes Crysanthemum, a red
tabby female.  Crysanthemum joined the household in December, as Vee had
been on the lookout for a red tabby female.  Cryssy is still rather shy, and
seems to be another "Under the furniture" cat. But she will venture out, and
when spoken too gently and quietly, she will allow herself to be caressed.
She has potential, but is in awe of Tripper who is definitely the Alpha Cat.

Melissa

Well, there are all the cats that my family have; my sister's two, my
brother's two and my niece's two. I have a soft spot for them all. After
all, they're family too, just as much as the hoomins.

There was also Igor, Frank's nephew, who had one of my friends as his
slave. He was the most outgoing cat I have ever met. He was all black,
except for a white cross on his chest. I thought that was a pretty cool
marking. Whenever anyone visited, he would climb into their laps the
minute they stepped in the door - yes, while they were still standing.
When you sat down, he would be all over you. My friend told some funny
stories about having visits from people who were not cat people. They
were pretty terrified by Igor, who was just as interested in them as in
people that liked cats. Sadly, Igor passed away at age ten from CRF.

Because of stepfather problems when I was 13ish a lady who lived down the
road used to let me go to her house until bedtime.  No relation at all,
she'd just realised what was going on. Made me supper every evening and we
played board games.
She was quite wealthy, apparently, and she asked my mom if she could take me
on holiday with her to a hotel in Wales.  Me, who had never been for a
holiday except in my great aunt's caravans in Skegness or Ingoldmells!
It was wonderful, a completely different world.
The hotel had two Siamese seal point cats, crossed blue eyes, the lot.
Sometimes one of them would come into my bedroom and get on my bed for a
while before I got up.  I was thrilled and honoured.  I said to myself I'd
have a Meezer when I was older.  I never have, though.

Tweed

What wonderful stories -- thank you so much for sharing.  I'm very sorry
about your Mom but I agree that when it is time to go I can't think of a
better way than with a kitty in my lap.
hugs and purrs,
Christine