We tried everything that we could think of to feed to him to try to put some weight back on him but it was all to no avail. Every day he was getting thinner. We would feed him by hand and he did try to eat but he suddenly he had trouble swallowing and chewing. We took him to see Julian the vet who gave him an injection of some anti inflammatory drug because he said he had a sore mouth which was due to the Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). He said bring him back the next day to see how he was but the following morning our beloved cat just laid on the floor in the kitchen. We got on the floor with him and we realized enough was enough. We decided the time had come which we had dreaded more than anything to put him to rest so he did not have to fight this awful illness anymore. He was so calm and peaceful at the end and we stroked and kissed him but now we must stop crying and remember the good times and what a special character he was.
Moses was born in April 1993. We had had another cat before called Tiger who had died and after about six weeks we missed having a cat in the house so we went to see a lady called Kathy Evans who was a breeder of Persian cats. We decided we did not want a kitten but a two year old who was less likely to climb curtains and claw furniture.
She had a house full of Persian cats. About 18 I think. The kittens were absolutely gorgeous. Some were coffee and cream coloured and some were chocolate coloured but we said we wanted an older cat. She then said that there was a special cat she had who was her darling but he did not like other cats and constantly caused trouble with the kittens and that she would sell him to us if she was assured that he would have a good home because she adored him and he was such a character.
We said "where is he then". She said over there. Sure enough over in the corner of the room scowling at all the other cats was this gorgeous Persian Red. Mick picked him up and we just fell for him. We said we will have this one and although Kathy Evans was in tears she agreed to let us have Moses. (His name was Noodles then). She told us not to leave any milk bottles on the work surface in the kitchen because he will knock them over to get at the milk because he absolutely loved milk. We said not to worry because we always bought milk in cartons. We took him home and so started the most rewarding relationship imaginable. Cats are noted for being independent but not this one. He was more like a dog.
The first night he found to his delight that he could knock over milk cartons if he really shoved them. We had a very large garden and he just loved to play outside. I remember the first time we let him out we put him on a lead and walked him around so he would get his bearings. Some time after Mo was playing in the garden and we looked out and there he was chasing a baby fox around the garden at top speed. Woe betide any animal that came into his territory.
One of his bad habits was really quite funny. He just loved leather shoes but only when they were on the owner. We had some friends who were on their way to a function and had to call in to us on the way and obviously to go with the dinner suit our friend was wearing he had on beautiful shiny leather shoes. Mo had a habit of slowly walking up to someone to be petted but we knew it was the shoes he was after and too late we saw him. Yes the shiny leather shoes now had a unique pattern called "cat claw" all over them. It was not very funny.
Other than the shoes Moses never scratched or damaged anything else. There were plenty of times that he accidentally got shut in a room but he never ruined the carpets. He just waited patiently for someone to let him out.
His feeding habits were something else. We were advised to feed him dry food because it was best but one day I was watching him and he dropped one of his pellets of food. I picked it up and dropped it in his mouth and so started a lifetime of hand feeding. From that day he absolutely refused to pick the food up himself. Every time he wanted food he would let me know and I would hand feed him. I tried to stop it but even if he was starving he would not pick the food up himself. After all why should he when he had a mother who would drop it in his mouth for him. This feeding habit lasted nearly 17 years but you know what I didn't care because he was such a loving special animal. Oh there was one type of food he would pick up and that was his treats. He could manage them fine!!
Long haired cats have to be brushed every other day and he loved it. As soon as he saw the brush he would role over on the floor waiting for Mick to start brushing him. In those days it was a pleasure but in the last few months it was quite painful for us to brush him because he was so thin and we were scared of hurting him.
Now he is at rest and not suffering anymore and we feel we did the right thing. This beautiful regal cat who gave us such love for nearly seventeen years was dying before our eyes and we wanted him to go with his dignity still intact. I hope I can stop crying soon and just remember the magnificent animal that he was and what a good life he had with us and how we spoilt him in every way.
Goodnight Moses. We will never forget you.
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Sheila P
321-784-1468 Tech Support
