Wednesday, 08 April 2009

• Mr Ornery 7/04 - 4/09

  He's been a dominant mark in a "not a cat" household for almost 5 years. So much so he appeard in the book video.

  I suspected a couple months ago he came back to say goodbye. Mr. was an independent sort - a maverick who was not a normal cat. From kittenhood he had more dog mannerisms but in a cat's body. In Peoria we wanted a cat but not just any cat would do; had to be the right cat. In a multiple dog household a shy or scared cat would be terrorized. I was in the pet store one day and noticed kittens being given away; as I checked out there was one left. As I debated someone walked in with a Pyr and this little mite took one look at that dog and swelled up like he was gonna kick the dog's butt. I said THAT is the cat that can hold his own and took him home. He let Jim (border collie) carry him around by the head until Mr got too big. He'd take on a dog if necessary and wouldn't hesitate to smack them. He preferred being an indoor/outdoor which we didn't like due to the busy street and his penchant for going across the street to sit on the sidewalk and see how big of a meltdown he could cause from the pitbulls over there.

  He went with me in the disastrous move to GA then here to AL. By then he preferred outside and after we moved here it's as if he knew it was settled...he'd take off for a while then come back for a few meals, a visit and showing off his war wounds - a missing toe. We tried keeping him in but he'd always manage to find an opening and was out again. He came back in January and looked ragged. A trip to the vet and he was wormed, mites in his ears treated and pronounced ready to slick up and be a big cat again. He never did really come back and fleas started. I'd given him a bath and dipped him trying to relieve the fleas but he died overnight. He'd had bouts of diarrhea but the vet clinic didn't seem concerned when I called to question why it hadn't gone away; nor about the occasional discharge from his eyes or congestion.

  Mr wasn't one to get excited about "here kitty kitty" - he hated to be cuddled but loved sitting between my feet as I worked. He liked contact especially as he got older, but it was on his terms, jumping up on a counter.We'd developed a little thing of silent meows where he'd meow but it was more a whisper or silent and I'd do the same to him...he'd walk over and brush up against me. He'd catch food like a dog but used his cat skills to get up and open the cupboards. He outlived everyone from the move south except Bruiser and MissKitty who looks to be pregnant. He'll be buried near Jim - those two had an unusual friendship. He'll be missed.  

  

  photo taken last weekend.

   

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