Caporegime
Today we lost our beloved Max. He was at least 13 years old.
We first knew Max as an anonymous stray who began sneaking inside to raid our kitchen bin late at night about 8 ½ years ago.
By 2016 he had become a more conventional visitor, and my daughter (aged at 7 the time) surprised us all by re-domesticating him.
It was she who gave him his name, and from that point onward she was his dearest friend. If he wasn't sleeping in the study or the lounge, he could be found on her bed.
We formally adopted Max, microchipped and vaccinated him, and did our best to pacify Carmen (my wife's cat) who was not wildly thrilled with the latest addition to the family.
Max was a large and powerful cat with a history of fighting, but in our home he was always a gentle giant, never raising a paw in anger to any of us (even Carmen, who accepted him eventually!)
^^ Max with Carmen.
In 2017 Max proudly introduced us to his girlfriend (my daughter named her Figaroo) and their three kittens (Scratchy, Starry, and Tabitha). He led them directly to our back door, invited them in, and assumed we would take care of the rest—which we did.
^^ Max with Figaroo.
Max proved himself a loving and considerate father. At feeding time he would not eat until Figaroo had finished, and he always enjoyed snuggling with the kittens.
^^ Max with his kittens.
Once they were weaned, we gave away Figaroo and two of her children, but Starry stayed with us and became my daughter's second cat. It was an easy decision to make, since he was also Max's favourite.
^^ Max with Starry.
Towards the end of his life Max exhibited symptoms of feline hyperesthesia syndrome.
During these moments he was completely unapproachable by anyone except my daughter, whose touch he would accept even in the midst of a seizure.
Max was loving and affectionate. He brought a quiet calm to the household, and we will miss him terribly.
We first knew Max as an anonymous stray who began sneaking inside to raid our kitchen bin late at night about 8 ½ years ago.
By 2016 he had become a more conventional visitor, and my daughter (aged at 7 the time) surprised us all by re-domesticating him.
It was she who gave him his name, and from that point onward she was his dearest friend. If he wasn't sleeping in the study or the lounge, he could be found on her bed.
We formally adopted Max, microchipped and vaccinated him, and did our best to pacify Carmen (my wife's cat) who was not wildly thrilled with the latest addition to the family.
Max was a large and powerful cat with a history of fighting, but in our home he was always a gentle giant, never raising a paw in anger to any of us (even Carmen, who accepted him eventually!)
^^ Max with Carmen.
In 2017 Max proudly introduced us to his girlfriend (my daughter named her Figaroo) and their three kittens (Scratchy, Starry, and Tabitha). He led them directly to our back door, invited them in, and assumed we would take care of the rest—which we did.
^^ Max with Figaroo.
Max proved himself a loving and considerate father. At feeding time he would not eat until Figaroo had finished, and he always enjoyed snuggling with the kittens.
^^ Max with his kittens.
Once they were weaned, we gave away Figaroo and two of her children, but Starry stayed with us and became my daughter's second cat. It was an easy decision to make, since he was also Max's favourite.
^^ Max with Starry.
Towards the end of his life Max exhibited symptoms of feline hyperesthesia syndrome.
During these moments he was completely unapproachable by anyone except my daughter, whose touch he would accept even in the midst of a seizure.
Max was loving and affectionate. He brought a quiet calm to the household, and we will miss him terribly.